Bill C-34: Changes To Foreign Investment Laws Will Impact the Technology Industry

Aird Berlis | Sairam Sanathkumar and Saumia Ganeshamoorthy | Feb 10, 2023

Image: Unsplash/Matthew Henry

Bill C-34 – National Security Review of Investments Modernization Act, tabled in the House of Commons by the Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, on December 7, 2022 (the “Bill”).

• The Bill makes significant amendments to the national security review regime under the  Investment Canada Act(“ICA”), the federal legislation that provides for the federal government's review of foreign investments in Canada on criteria that include “net benefit” to the economy.
  • The last significant amendment to the ICA was in 2009, when the review thresholds for the acquisition of control of a Canadian business were progressively increased.
• The Bill is “country agnostic,” as Minister François-Philippe Champagne called it, even as he readily admits it is the result of changing geopolitical realities (read: security threats from China and Russia by way of cyberattacks, transfer or acquisition of Canadian intellectual property, etc.).
• Proposed key amendments to to the bill:
  • Requirement to notify certain investments prior to their implementation in prescribed business sectors
  • New powers for the Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry (“Minister”)
  • Increased penalties for non-compliance with the ICA
  • New rules for the protection of information during the course of judicial review

See:  Fintech Cybersecurity Best Practices

• Impact to tech industry:  There are already concerns that the Bill could stifle foreign capital for technology startups and discourage innovators from setting up shop in Canada. The Bill aligns Canada's national security review process with similar regulatory beef-ups in Australia, United Kingdom and the United States for similar reasons.
  • With the new requirement to notify certain investments prior to implementation, the worry that the timelines for closing transactions can be further stretched is not without merit. The average time taken for national security reviews currently is 133 days with the possibility to extend. Companies, particularly technology startups that are looking at expedited capital inflows, should plan for these contingencies of time.

Continue to the full article --> here

The National Crowdfunding & Fintech Association (NCFA Canada) is a financial innovation ecosystem that provides education, market intelligence, industry stewardship, networking and funding opportunities and services to thousands of community members and works closely with industry, government, partners and affiliates to create a vibrant and innovative fintech and funding industry in Canada. Decentralized and distributed, NCFA is engaged with global stakeholders and helps incubate projects and investment in fintech, alternative finance, crowdfunding, peer-to-peer finance, payments, digital assets and tokens, blockchain, cryptocurrency, regtech, and insurtech sectors. Join Canada's Fintech & Funding Community today FREE! Or become a contributing member and get perks. For more information, please visit: www.ncfacanada.org

AI Investing Tools: A Practical Guide to Using AI Without Outsourcing Your Judgment

NCFA Weekly Fintech Intelligence Aug 22-28, 2026

CSA Keeps Sports Prediction Markets Outside Securities Rules

Privacy Commissioner Wants Changes to Canada Open Banking Rules

Meta’s $17.1B Settlement Targets Teen Engagement Features

39 U.S. Banking Associations To Build Shared Blockchain Network

Elevate 2026 Agenda Puts Fintech, AI And Capital In Focus

Bank Of Canada Publishes Nine RPAA Enforcement Notices

CRSHMARKET Launches Livestream Prediction Markets

RBC Global Transaction Banking Targets Corporate Cash