Outlook Series 2026: Key Business, Legal, and Regulatory Issues Shaping Canada
The business, legal, and regulatory landscape is shifting fast, and 2026 will reward organizations that are prepared. Our Outlook Series 2026 provides forward‑looking analysis of the most important legal, regulatory, and market developments affecting Canadian organizations, across areas including private equity, competition and foreign investment, power and infrastructure, public procurement, tax, and technology.
Even organizations that successfully navigated 2025 are reassessing strategy as regulatory enforcement, market conditions, and technology risk continue to intensify in 2026.
Key Takeaways for Canada in 2026:
- Regulatory enforcement is increasing across competition, foreign investment, and tax
- Private equity markets remain constrained by valuation pressure and exit challenges
- Electrification and decarbonization are accelerating transformation in the power sector
- Public procurement is evolving with greater oversight and accountability
- AI, data governance, and cybersecurity are driving new legal and compliance risks
On Target: 2026 Private Equity Outlook
Market conditions for private equity remain complex, shaped by shifting deal dynamics, capital deployment pressures, and increased regulatory scrutiny. We highlight the developments most likely to influence investment decisions and outcomes in the year ahead.
What we cover:
• Deal activity, valuation trends, and exit dynamics shaping Canadian private returns in 2026
• Fundraising conditions and capital deployment
• Regulatory and policy developments affecting private equity
• Sector‑specific opportunities and risk areas
Competition/Antitrust & Foreign Investment Outlook 2026
Increased enforcement is raising competition and foreign investment risk in Canada in 2026. We review the key competition, antitrust, and foreign investment developments shaping this shift.
What we cover:
• How new Canadian competition and foreign investment enforcement powers are being used in practice
• Increased scrutiny of transactions and commercial conduct
• Expanded policy objectives, including national security and labour
• Key compliance and risk considerations for 2026
Power Perspectives 2026
The power sector is undergoing significant transformation driven by electrification, decarbonization, and rising demand. We review the regulatory, market, and project developments reshaping the industry across the country.
What we cover:
• Nuclear refurbishment and life‑extension projects in Canada’s power sector
• Renewable generation, transmission, and storage trends
• Regulatory and market developments across regions
• Emerging technologies and investment drivers
Public Procurement 2025 Year in Review
Public procurement continues to evolve amid policy reform, increased oversight, and heightened expectations for transparency and accountability. We review the key legal and policy developments affecting public procurement over the past year.
What we cover:
• Notable Canadian court and tribunal decisions affecting public procurement
• Policy and oversight changes affecting suppliers
• Risk allocation and compliance trends
• Issues likely to shape procurement activity ahead
Tax Perspectives: Review of 2025 and 2026 Outlook
Ongoing legislative change, evolving jurisprudence, and increased administrative focus are reshaping the tax landscape. We analyze the most significant tax developments from 2025 and the issues expected to shape 2026.
What we cover:
• Key Canadian tax legislative and policy changes
• Significant judicial decisions from 2025
• Audit, administration, and dispute trends
• Tax issues expected to dominate in 2026
Technology Perspectives Outlook 2026
Technology continues to reshape how Canadian organizations operate, invest, and manage risk. In 2026, developments across AI, digital infrastructure, payments, and data governance are unfolding alongside heightened regulatory scrutiny and evolving legal frameworks. We review the key technology, legal, and regulatory developments affecting Canadian businesses in the year ahead.
What we cover:
• AI adoption, emerging litigation risk, and evolving regulatory expectations
• Venture markets, corporate venture capital, and strategic technology investments
• Digital infrastructure development, including data centres and networks
• Privacy, cybersecurity, and data governance priorities for 2026
