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On 24 March 2021, the Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry (“Minister”) issued updated Guidelines on the National Security Review of Investments (“Updated Guidelines”). The Updated Guidelines outline additional factors and clarify existing factors the Canadian government will consider in assessing investments for potential national security concerns under the Investment Canada Act (ICA).

These new factors include sensitive personal data, intangible assets, certain sensitive technologies, and critical minerals. The Updated Guidelines also formalize that investments by state-owned or state-influenced investors will likely be subject to enhanced national security scrutiny, and confirm the non-exhaustive nature of the enumerated factors.

Since 2009, the ICA has explicitly provided for the review of foreign investments where the Minister has “reasonable grounds to believe that an investment by a non-Canadian could be injurious to national security”. This regime is separate from the economic “net benefit” regime that applies to a more narrow subset of investments; for a more detailed discussion of the two regimes, see our 30 June 2020 alert, Foreign Investments in Canada: Still Open for Business, but Caveat Emptor.

In 2016, the government published the original National Security Review of Investments Guidelines (“2016 Guidelines”), which set out a non-exhaustive list of factors the government would consider when assessing an investment for potential national security risks. As the ICA does not define “national security” or elaborate on when an investment could be “injurious” to national security, the Updated Guidelines expand on the 2016 Guidelines and provide foreign investors with clearer insight into what types of investments may give rise to potential national security concerns.

All risk factors set out in the 2016 Guidelines remain unchanged. For a detailed discussion of the Updated Guidelines, which expands the list of factors, please see the full article here.

Author

Yana Ermak is a partner in Baker McKenzie’s International Commercial Practice Group and a member of the Global Antitrust & Competition Group focusing on competition/antitrust and foreign investment law. Yana also advises domestic and international clients on all aspects of Canada’s Anti-Spam Law (CASL).

Author

Arlan Gates is a member of Baker McKenzie's Global Antitrust & Competition Practice Group and leads the Antitrust & Competition practice in Canada, which has been ranked by The Legal 500. His primary focus is antitrust and competition law, with an emphasis on merger control and on compliance and counseling in the areas of competitor collaboration, trade practices and misleading advertising. Mr. Gates is also a member of the Firm’s International Commercial, Information Technology & Communications and Pharmaceutical & Healthcare practice groups and has significant experience in consumer protection, digital marketing, social media, and technology, communications and pharmaceutical, health and consumer product regulatory matters.

Author

Sarah Mavula is a senior associate in Baker McKenzie's International Commercial Practice Group and the Global Antitrust & Competition Group in Toronto. Recognized as a 2022 Precedent Setter in Precedent Magazine's Precedent Setter Awards and a Vice-Chair of the Canadian Bar Association (CBA) Competition Section’s Young Lawyers Committee, Sarah practices competition/antitrust and foreign investment law. Sarah also regularly advises clients on product regulatory compliance.

Author

Jacqueline Rotondi practices commercial, regulatory, competition and international trade law as a member of Baker McKenzie's Global International Commercial and Trade Groups.