<p>Several new laws are set to take effect in Canada, bringing changes that will impact Canadians nationwide.</p>
<p>Canada will see a number of laws and measures implemented this March, and changes range from firearms regulations to new language requirements for lawyers trained abroad.</p>
<p>But perhaps the new rule that&#8217;s most likely to impact most Canadians is the upcoming cap on insufficient funds banking fees. Starting in March, banks can only charge a maximum of $10 for transactions declined due to insufficient funds.</p>
<p>And although it&#8217;s not new, an ongoing initiative that will compensate some firearms owners is slated to end in March.</p>
<p>Here are all the laws and rules kicking in soon.</p>
<h2>Cap on insufficient funds banking fees</h2>
<div id="attachment_2246872" style="width: 2570px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-2246872" class="size-full wp-image-2246872" src="https://images-dh-production-baselayer.dailyhive.com/uploads/2026/02/shutterstock_2333435069-scaled.jpg" alt="canada laws" width="2560" height="1707" srcset="https://images-dh-production-baselayer.dailyhive.com/uploads/2026/02/shutterstock_2333435069-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://images-dh-production-baselayer.dailyhive.com/uploads/2026/02/shutterstock_2333435069-500x333.jpg 500w, https://images-dh-production-baselayer.dailyhive.com/uploads/2026/02/shutterstock_2333435069-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://images-dh-production-baselayer.dailyhive.com/uploads/2026/02/shutterstock_2333435069-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://images-dh-production-baselayer.dailyhive.com/uploads/2026/02/shutterstock_2333435069-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https://images-dh-production-baselayer.dailyhive.com/uploads/2026/02/shutterstock_2333435069-1200x800.jpg 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px" /><p id="caption-attachment-2246872" class="wp-caption-text">Elena_Alex_Ferns/Shutterstock</p></div>
<p>Next month, Ottawa is implementing a cap on the amount that Canadian banks can charge for non-sufficient funds (NSF) fees.</p>
<p>Starting March 12, the NSF fees will be capped at $10 when a customer doesn&#8217;t have enough money in a personal deposit account to cover a payment. Banks charge NSF fees when a cheque or pre-authorized debit (PAD) payment is declined due to insufficient funds, and the customer doesn&#8217;t have overdraft protection. With those fees typically ranging from $45 to $48, the cost can add up.</p>
<p>&#8220;These fees disproportionately impact the financial well-being of low-income Canadians who do not have access to overdraft protection and can perpetuate debt cycles by reducing the amount of available funds with which a consumer could pay their bills,&#8221; the government notice reads.</p>
<p>Banks can only charge one NSF fee per account over two business days. Learn more about the new policy on the government <a href="https://gazette.gc.ca/rp-pr/p2/2025/2025-03-26/html/sor-dors96-eng.html" target="_blank">site</a>.</p>
<h2>Assault-Style Firearms Compensation Program (ASFCP) ends in March</h2>
<div id="attachment_2246874" style="width: 2570px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-2246874" class="size-full wp-image-2246874" src="https://images-dh-production-baselayer.dailyhive.com/uploads/2026/02/shutterstock_2376162195-scaled.jpg" alt="canada laws" width="2560" height="1707" srcset="https://images-dh-production-baselayer.dailyhive.com/uploads/2026/02/shutterstock_2376162195-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://images-dh-production-baselayer.dailyhive.com/uploads/2026/02/shutterstock_2376162195-500x333.jpg 500w, https://images-dh-production-baselayer.dailyhive.com/uploads/2026/02/shutterstock_2376162195-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://images-dh-production-baselayer.dailyhive.com/uploads/2026/02/shutterstock_2376162195-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://images-dh-production-baselayer.dailyhive.com/uploads/2026/02/shutterstock_2376162195-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https://images-dh-production-baselayer.dailyhive.com/uploads/2026/02/shutterstock_2376162195-1200x800.jpg 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px" /><p id="caption-attachment-2246874" class="wp-caption-text">JHVEPhoto/Shutterstock</p></div>
<p>Since May 2020, the Government of Canada has banned over 2,500 assault-style firearms in an effort to tackle gun violence.</p>
<p>Businesses and individual firearms owners must permanently deactivate or safely dispose of any assault-style firearms by Oct. 30 this year. Failure to do so could result in criminal charges.</p>
<p>&#8220;The Assault-Style Firearms Compensation Program (ASFCP) was developed to provide an option for eligible businesses and individuals who own these prohibited firearms to comply with the law,&#8221; reads the government <a href="https://www.canada.ca/en/public-safety-canada/campaigns/firearms-buyback.html?utm_campaign=ps-sp-asfcp-piafsaa-25-26&amp;utm_source=ggl&amp;utm_medium=sem&amp;utm_content=ad-text_en&amp;adv=2526-825300&amp;utm_term=assault-style+firearms+compensation+program&amp;gclsrc=aw.ds&amp;gad_source=1&amp;gad_campaignid=23437070823&amp;gbraid=0AAAAABjA_sw45SFDmysPIiL69Qp7F2fCA&amp;gclid=Cj0KCQiAtfXMBhDzARIsAJ0jp3CjyGEiaOK9hQp_iL-JL-1WkV708bijxh0U92bselmRwymbWh0j_x0aAsMDEALw_wcB" target="_blank">website</a>.</p>
<p>To be eligible for compensation, Canadians must declare their firearms by <a href="https://www.canada.ca/en/public-safety-canada/campaigns/firearms-buyback/submit-firearm-declaration-individual/start-declaration.html" target="_blank">March 31</a>.</p>
<h2>New language requirements for foreign-trained lawyers</h2>
<div id="attachment_2246878" style="width: 2570px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-2246878" class="size-full wp-image-2246878" src="https://images-dh-production-baselayer.dailyhive.com/uploads/2026/02/shutterstock_2265409959-scaled.jpg" alt="canada" width="2560" height="1706" srcset="https://images-dh-production-baselayer.dailyhive.com/uploads/2026/02/shutterstock_2265409959-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://images-dh-production-baselayer.dailyhive.com/uploads/2026/02/shutterstock_2265409959-500x333.jpg 500w, https://images-dh-production-baselayer.dailyhive.com/uploads/2026/02/shutterstock_2265409959-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://images-dh-production-baselayer.dailyhive.com/uploads/2026/02/shutterstock_2265409959-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://images-dh-production-baselayer.dailyhive.com/uploads/2026/02/shutterstock_2265409959-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https://images-dh-production-baselayer.dailyhive.com/uploads/2026/02/shutterstock_2265409959-1200x800.jpg 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px" /><p id="caption-attachment-2246878" class="wp-caption-text">Burdun Iliya/Shutterstock</p></div>
<p>Starting on March 1, lawyers in Canada who were trained abroad must soon meet the updated Language Screening Requirement, according to the National Committee on Accreditation (NCA).</p>
<p>&#8220;This requirement requires that all applicants to the NCA complete a language competency screening test, in either French or English, before their qualifications are assessed,&#8221; reads the <a href="https://nca.legal/updated-nca-policies-approved-to-come-into-effect-on-march-1-2026/" target="_blank">notice</a>.</p>
<p>To meet the English requirement, applicants must complete a proctored Versant English Placement Test (VEPT) with a minimum overall score of 61. Applicants can demonstrate their competency in French after completing one of three language tests.</p>
<p>Read the NCA&#8217;s language requirements on its <a href="https://nca.legal/updated-nca-policies-approved-to-come-into-effect-on-march-1-2026/" target="_blank">website</a>.</p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1"><ul class="article-see-also"><strong>You might also like:</strong><li><a href='https://dailyhive.com/canada/canada-puerto-vallarta-mexico' target='_blank'>Puerto Vallarta trip turns into 24-hour nightmare for Canadians</a></li><li><a href='https://dailyhive.com/canada/cineplex-canada-family-favourites-march-2026' target='_blank'>Here are the $3.99 movies playing at Cineplex Canada this March</a></li><li><a href='https://dailyhive.com/canada/uk-eta-required-feb-2026' target='_blank'>Canadians are now required to get an ETA to visit the U.K.</a></li></ul></span></p>


Vancouver

Calgary

Toronto

Edmonton

Several new laws are set to take effect in Canada, bringing changes that will impact Canadians nationwide.