Canadian consumers and brands could benefit from data portability: Competition Bureau Report and Framework

This week, on January 15, 2026, the Competition Bureau (the “Bureau”) published Your Data, Your Control: How data portability can unlock competition and empower consumers, a report examining how data portability, defined as the ability for consumers to securely transfer their personal data between service providers, could enhance competition in Canadian markets. The report uses the insurance sector as a case study to assess the impact of reducing barriers to switching providers.

The Bureau estimates that introducing data portability in the insurance market could generate between $1.10 billion and $3.83 billion in annual savings for Canadians. These projected savings include up to $1.57 billion in monetary savings from switching to less expensive insurance plans and an estimated $2.26 billion in value from time savings. The findings are informed by behavioural economics research, a survey of more than 3,000 Canadians, and a comparative analysis of data portability regimes in other jurisdictions.

Notably for brands, while the analysis focuses on insurance, the Bureau emphasizes that similar benefits could arise in other data-intensive sectors, including banking, health care, and digital services. By lowering switching costs, data portability may increase competitive pressure and improve consumer choice across a range of markets.

The report also identifies key considerations for policymakers when designing a data portability framework in Canada, including robust privacy protections, clear consent requirements, effective oversight, and interoperability standards to ensure systems can exchange data securely and efficiently. The Bureau highlights international frameworks, such as open banking in the United Kingdom and the Consumer Data Right in Australia, as examples of how data portability regimes can operate in practice.

The report forms a broader policy discussion on data portability in Canada and may inform legislative or regulatory initiatives aimed at promoting competition in the digital economy.   

You can read the full report here: Your Data, Your Control

If you have any questions about data portability in Canada, you can reach out to our trademarks team.