Beyond the numbers: Here are the proposed law changes tucked into the spring economic update

One year after Mark Carney’s minority win, the Liberals now hold a majority and unveiled a mini budget. Mike Le Couteur explains what it means for Canadians.

OTTAWA – The 2026 spring economic statement released Tuesday provided a revised look at the state of the country’s finances, but tucked in the document were also a slate of proposed legislative reforms that are poised to pass, given the Liberals’ majority in Parliament.

Finance Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne has given notice of a new bill – “An Act to implement certain provisions of the spring economic update tabled in Parliament on April 28, 2026” – that is ready to be tabled in the House of Commons imminently.

From reviving a plan to let law enforcement search and seize Canadians’ mail, reforming employment insurance and pension offerings for some, to evaluating the future of Canadian airports, here are some of the non-tax-related measures from the back pages that could impact your life.

Allowing police to search mail legally

Beyond one mention of “increases in expected losses from Canada Post,” the spring economic update offers nothing new for the embattled Crown corporation.

Though the legislative annex does flag that the Liberals want to revisit a previous proposal – abandoned amid civil liberty concerns – to allow police to search and seize Canadians’ mail.

The government plans to do this by amending the Canada Post Corporation Act “to enable law enforcement to lawfully search and seize mail as authorised under an Act of Parliament.”

Any further specifics would be articulated in eventual legislation.

Assessing future of airports, complaints

The update included a pair of pledges related to Canadians’ experiences at airports, that while still needing more clarity, could be consequential.

One is declaring an intention to clear the backlog of air travel complaints by engaging “a neutral, third-party dispute resolution organization.” This, the government says, would be based on “a proven model in the U.K. and EU.”

The other is connected to a pledge dating back to the 2025 budget to reform Canada’s airports to “better position airports to attract private investment.” It appears the Liberals are in the early stages of talks about potentially privatizing airports.

Connected to this, the government wants to amend the Canada Transportation Act to give the transport minister the ability to compel airfield operators and related parties to provide any information needed to evaluate transportation policy.

Reforming EI for some, pension rate

The federal government is also making a few changes that, if passed, could mean more money in Canadians’ pockets. One is to employment insurance for seasonal workers, to provide up to five extra weeks of employment insurance for those eligible in 13 specific regions through to 2028.

The other would amend the Canada Pension Plan (CPP) to implement a reduction in the base contribution rate. Starting January 2027, the CPP rate will be reduced from 9.9 per cent to 9.5 per cent.

The Liberals estimate this will translate into annual savings of approximately $133 for an employee earning $70,000 a year, with comparable savings for their employer.

New ministerial powers, defence agency

Lastly, the budget also proposes to create new ministerial powers in two respects.

The government will be legislating to establish the pre-promised Defence Investment Agency “as a departmental agency,” that would be presided over by “a new minister.” Related changes would grant this minister enhanced financial and transactional authorities.

And, through amending the Proceeds of Crime (Money Laundering) and Terrorist Financing Act, the Liberals intend to grant new ministerial directive powers and expand the Financial Transaction and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada’s (FINTRAC) ability to crack down on Money Services Businesses (MSBs).

The government also wants to make it a criminal offence to operate a cryptocurrency automated teller machine.