🍁 civid v1

Status and purpose

• Bill C-276 was introduced at first reading on May 4, 2026. It would require the federal finance minister to develop and implement a framework for continued access to cash across Canada.
• The bill is relevant to people and businesses that use cash, financial institutions, and non-profit and community organizations. Its preamble identifies seniors, Indigenous peoples, newcomers and people with low incomes as groups among whom cash use is especially prevalent.

Review and framework

• Within 90 days after the Act comes into force, the minister would have to undertake a comprehensive review of existing legislation, regulations and policies concerning cash availability within financial institutions.
• The framework would have to include measures to:
  • Ensure access to cash, including infrastructure for withdrawals and deposits, and determine a reasonable travel distance for those services.
  • Protect the ability of people and businesses to use cash despite the availability of digital currencies, including cryptocurrencies.
  • Remove barriers and disincentives to cash donations to non-profit and community organizations, without compromising efforts against financial crime.
  • Support the long-term effectiveness, resilience and sustainability of cash-sorting, storage and distribution infrastructure.

Reporting deadlines

• Within 18 months after the Act comes into force, the minister would have to prepare a report setting out the framework and related recommendations and table it in each House of Parliament within the specified sitting-day period.
• The report would have to be published on the Department of Finance website within 10 days after it has been tabled in both Houses.
• Within three years after tabling in both Houses, the minister would have to review the framework’s implementation, effectiveness, and social and economic impacts, and table a report with findings and recommendations.

Changes to other laws

• The bill would repeal a provision of the Currency Act and amend the Bank of Canada Act. According to the bill’s summary, these changes would remove the Governor in Council’s power to call in coins and notes.
• It would prohibit the Bank of Canada from issuing a digital form of the dollar.