warre & vavasourBudget 2026 Explorer

Chapter 5 · 5.2 Keeping Canadians safe at home

Making online spaces safe for everyone

Program spending
AI & digital

$177M net impact on the budgetary balance over five years, 2026-27 to 2030-31.

Net impact by year, CAD millions (accrual)
$8M2026-27$33M2027-28$50M2028-29$57M2029-30$30M2030-31

The cost line

Chapter 5 cost table, millions of dollars, accrual basis. Budget 2026, p. 283 (PDF p. 299).
Line2026-272027-282028-292029-302030-31Total
Making online spaces safe for everyone833505759206
Less: Costs to be recovered————−29−29
Net fiscal impact833505730177

… no change to existing funding or no fiscal implication · – a further extension will be considered later · 0* less than $0.5 million. Positive numbers cost the budget (spending or forgone revenue); negative numbers improve it.

What the budget says

“To help implement the Act, Budget 2026 proposes to: Establish the new Digital Safety and Data Protection Commission of Canada to enforce the Act, ensure compliance, and work toward creating a safer online space for Canadians.”

Budget 2026, p. 271 (PDF p. 287)

“Budget 2026 proposes to provide $176.3 million over five years, starting in 2026-27, and $29.3 million ongoing to Canadian Heritage for this work.”

Budget 2026, p. 271 (PDF p. 287)

Amounts named in the text

Stated amounts can cover different periods, cash or accrual bases, previously announced money and loans. They are not additive with the cost line above.

  • $176.3 million over five years, starting in 2026-27, and $29.3 million ongoing

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