Bill C-276: the Access to and Use of Cash Act

I had the privilege to rise in the House of Commons and table my Private Members Bill, Bill C-276 for a Framework on the Access to and Use of Cash.

Our economy, like all economies, is driven by the exchange of goods and services, or in other words, commerce. Typically the settlement for that exchange is currency.

In recent years, digital transactions have grown rapidly, but millions of Canadians still depend on cash for daily life. Seniors, Indigenous communities, newcomers, people living in poverty, those in remote and rural regions, and victims of financial or domestic abuse rely on cash because it is accessible, reliable, and safe. Likewise, charities, community organizations and remote communities rely on cash to achieve their worthy goals.

Further, cash is the only form of payment that does not depend on the internet or the electrical grid. Cash does not fail. It works in every circumstance, for every person. The framework this bill establishes will ensure that cash infrastructure remains resilient.

Additionally, in a world where government, corporate, and financial-sector data collection is expanding dramatically, cash remains the only truly anonymous form of payment.

Finally, this C-276 will amend the Bank of Canada Act to require parliamentary approval before a central bank digital currency can be developed or issued. It is important that Parliament, not unelected institutions, decide the future of our financial system.

This legislation ensures that future digital systems remain optional, not forced, and that Canadians retain control over their own finances. It protects privacy, strengthens resilience, and defends those who depend most on physical currency.

You can find the Bill here: https://www.parl.ca/legisinfo/en/bill/45-1/c-276

If you would like to provide your suggestions on my Private Members Bill, please comment below:

---