The main compliance frameworks for Canadian businesses are PIPEDA (federal privacy), Quebec's Law 25 (stricter provincial privacy), ITSG-33 (federal IT security controls), SOC 2 (service-org attestation for SaaS), and PHIPA (Ontario health data). Most businesses face PIPEDA plus one or two others.
| Framework | Who it applies to | Core requirement | Penalty / risk | Typical org |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PIPEDA | Federal — private sector handling personal data | Accountability, consent, breach reporting | Up to $100k/offence | Most Canadian businesses |
| Quebec Law 25 | Quebec — all private businesses | Privacy officer, PIAs, explicit consent | Up to $25M or 4% turnover | Any business operating in Quebec |
| ITSG-33 | Federal IT systems / vendors | IT security controls (NIST 800-53 based) | Loss of ATO / contracts | Federal vendors & gov suppliers |
| SOC 2 | Service orgs (SaaS, hosting) | Security, availability, confidentiality | Lost deals / audit failure | B2B SaaS & cloud providers |
| PHIPA | Ontario — health information custodians | Safeguards for health data, consent | Fines + IPC orders | Ontario healthcare & vendors |
Which frameworks apply to you?
PIPEDA is the federal baseline for almost every Canadian business. If you operate in Quebec, Law 25 applies and is stricter. If you sell software B2B, customers will ask for SOC 2. If you supply the federal government, expect ITSG-33. If you touch Ontario health data, PHIPA applies. Build to the strictest framework you face and the others largely fall into place.
Deep dives: PIPEDA compliance checklist, Law 25 checklist.
FAQ
What compliance frameworks apply to Canadian businesses?
PIPEDA (federal) applies to almost all; Quebec's Law 25 applies in Quebec; ITSG-33 to federal vendors; SOC 2 to B2B SaaS; and PHIPA to Ontario health-information custodians. Most businesses face PIPEDA plus one or two others.
What's the difference between PIPEDA and Law 25?
PIPEDA is the federal baseline; Quebec's Law 25 is stricter, mandating a named privacy officer, privacy-impact assessments, and far higher penalties (up to $25M or 4% of turnover).
Do I need SOC 2 in Canada?
SOC 2 isn't a law — it's an attestation B2B SaaS and cloud providers obtain because enterprise customers require it before buying. If clients ask for it, you effectively need it.
What is ITSG-33?
ITSG-33 is the Canadian government's IT security control catalogue (based on NIST 800-53). Vendors selling to federal departments must align with it to obtain an Authority to Operate (ATO).
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