CRTC to lead future telecom cybersecurity rules: gov’t document

The Liberal government plans to have the CRTC be the body in charge of developing and then enforcing telecom regulation related to future cybersecurity laws, according to a memo for Heritage Minister Pablo Rodriguez obtained through access to information law. In this year’s budget, the federal government outlined $144.9 million over five years to “help to protect Canada’s critical cyber systems including in the finance, telecommunications, energy and transport sectors.” The budget document didn’t break down how that funding would be doled out, but the CRTC will receive $11 million of that over the next five years, according to an email from a Finance Canada spokesperson. The memo to Rodriguez, dated a month after the budget’s release in March 2019, asks him to sign off on supplementary information for the budget, and says that the CRTC will get $2.545 million in 2019-20 for the initiative. The memo noted that Public Safety is in charge of overseeing the initiative, which will be “implemented by departments and regulators responsible for identified sectors, in partnership with Canada’s Centre for Cyber Security.” “As the regulator for the telecommunications industry, the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission will be responsible for ensuring that critical infrastructure owners and operators abide by the standards set out in the legislative and regulatory framework,” the memo said. “First steps, once enabling legislation is in force, will be to develop regulations, and consult with stakeholders in order to foster a balanced approach to protecting Canada’s critical infrastructure.” CRTC spokeswoman Patricia Valladao confirmed in an email that the regulator is waiting for the legislation to begin work on the initiative. The CRTC hasn’t yet received the money outlined in this year’s budget, with a Public Safety spokesperson confirming in an email that “the use of those funds would first require a decision by the next Government on the introduction of relevant legislation.” But that might still be a long way off, since that legislation wouldn’t be introduced until after the federal election. In response to a question about what happens to the funds outlined for this fiscal year if the legislation isn’t introduced until after it’s passed, a spokesperson said “certain financial mechanisms can allow for unspent funds to be re-profiled to later fiscal years.”

CRTC to lead future telecom cybersecurity rules: gov’t document

Brief | July 22, 2019

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CRTC to lead future telecom cybersecurity rules: gov’t document

Brief | July 22, 2019

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