In March 2026 Canada, Canada will have a lot of new rules policies that will directly affect millions of Canadians from coast to coast. Here’s everything you need to know about what’s changing this month, from limits on bank fees to rules about guns to requirements for professional licenses. Here is a full list of all the new laws rules, deadlines, or policy changes that will take effect in March 2026.
Starting on March 15, there will be a $10 limit on bank NSF fees.
On March 15, 2026, the federal government will limit non sufficient funds fees to $10 for personal joint bank accounts at federally regulated institutions across Canada. This is one of the most important changes.
Right now, Canada’s Big Five banks charge between $45 and $48 for each NSF transaction. This means that if your account is even $1 short when a payment tries to go through, you could be charged $48.
| What Is Changing | Before March 15 | After March 15 |
|---|---|---|
| Highest NSF fee | $45 to $48 | $10 |
| How often you have to pay fees | Many fees are possible | One fee every two business days at most |
| Small overdrafts | Full fee | No fee if less than $10 short |
| Types of accounts covered | N/A | Individual and joint accounts |
These new rules change everything for Canadians who have been hurt by these unfair fees:
- NSF fees can’t be more than $10 per incident.
- Banks can’t charge more than one NSF fee in a two-business-day period.
- If your account is short by less than $10, you won’t have to pay an NSF fee.
The federal government thinks this will save Canadians about $619 million in the first year alone.
The Department of Finance says that about 34% of Canadians pay at least one NSF fee each year. This means that there will be about 15.8 million NSF transactions in 2023 alone.
Who can get it:
- Anyone who has a personal or joint deposit account at a bank that is regulated by the federal government
- People who bank with RBC, TD, BMO, Scotiabank, CIBC, or National Bank
- People who are members of federal credit unions
Who doesn’t meet the requirements:
- Accounts for businesses and corporations
- Accounts at credit unions that are regulated by the province (this varies by province)
Important warning: NSF fees are capped, but this doesn’t apply to late payment fees that merchants may charge you separately when your payment bounces. This means that your landlord, utility company, or other service provider may still charge you their own returned payment fee.
Deadline for declaring assault-style firearms: March 30
Gun owners in Canada have until March 30, 2026, to sign up for the federal Assault Style Firearms Compensation Program.
Canada has banned more than 2,500 types models of assault-style guns since 2020. The compensation program gives eligible owners the choice to get paid for turning in or permanently deactivating their banned guns.
Timeline: What needs to be done
| Date | Action |
|---|---|
| MArch 15 to March 30, 2026 | Open declaration period |
| After April 30, 2026 | Collection appointments start |
| October 30, 2026 | The amnesty period is over |
Main points:
- You can send declarations online through the ASFCP portal or by mail.
- Paper declarations must be sent by mail by March 30, 2026.
- Declarations are handled on a first-come, first-served basis, depending on how much money is available.
- Around $250 million has been set aside for compensation.
- The business program has already collected and destroyed more than 12,000 guns.
How payment works:
The amounts of compensation are based on the average retail price of each banned make and model. This was checked with the Canadian Sporting Arms and Ammunition Association and by looking at prices from manufacturers, retailers, and auction listings.
| Type of Gun | Typical Range of Compensation |
|---|---|
| Rifles with an AR-15 pattern | $1,000 to $2,500 |
| Other banned semi-automatics | $500 to $3,000 |
| Upper receivers (M4, M16, AR-10, AR-15) | Changes based on the situation |
Important warning: You don’t have to pay, but you do have to follow the law.
All owners must get rid of or permanently turn off any illegal guns before the amnesty ends October 30, 2026.
After that date, having a gun that is not allowed is a crime that could get you in trouble with the law and lose your PAL.
Firearms that are allowed include those that are not allowed in:
- May 2020 original ban on more than 1,500 models
- December 2024 324 more makes and models
- March 2025 179 more makes and models
For most Canadians, firearms that were previously banned and registered with the Canadian Firearms Program will automatically show up in the online portal.
If you live in Quebec, you need to manually add any guns registered with the Québec Firearms Registration Service to make sure they show up in the system.
Provincial problems: Some provinces have fought against the program. Alberta and Saskatchewan, for example, have made technical legal challenges, according to Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree.
But no matter what the provinces say, all Canadians are still subject to federal gun laws.
Foreign lawyers must learn a new language and follow Indigenous law.
The National Committee on Accreditation will put in place two new requirements for internationally trained lawyers who want to work in Canada starting on March 15 2026.
| Details about the new requirement | Description |
|---|---|
| Language Testing | You have to pass an English or French test before you can take the test. |
| Indigenous Law Proficiency | Must show that they have a basic understanding of Indigenous Law and Peoples |
Language Screening Requirement
Before their qualifications are looked at, all people who want to work for the NCA must now take a language competency screening test in either English or French.
The cost is included in the assessment fee, and you can get to it directly through the NCA portal.
If an applicant doesn’t meet the language screening requirements, they will have to take a formal language test and pass it before they can get their Certificate of Qualification.
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Indigenous Law Skills
One of the following must show that applicants have a basic understanding of Indigenous Law Peoples:
- A course offered by the Canadian Centre for Professional Legal Education (CPLED)
- A course at a Canadian law school that the NCA has approved
These changes will affect all applications that are reviewed on or after March 15 2026, and they will affect foreign-trained lawyers who want to work in any Canadian province or territory.
CRA Simple File Starts on March 17
Starting on March 19 2026, Canadians with low incomes simple tax situations will be able to use the CRA’s Simple File services.
People in Canada who qualify can use SimpleFile to file their taxes for free, quickly, and safely, either online or by phone.
How the SimpleFile Option Works
- SimpleFile Digital File online with the CRA My Account
- SimpleFile by Phone A system for filing phone calls automatically
Who can apply:
- People with less money
- Easy tax situations (no income from self-employment, rental property, or capital gains)
- Look for an invitation in the mail or check CRA My Account in early March.
Last tax season, over 2 million people were invited to use SimpleFile. This year, even more Canadians will be able to use it, even those who didn’t get a formal invitation.
You may get your SimpleFile invitation in your CRA account even if you got a paper invitation last year. So, make sure to check both your mail and your online account.
Deadlines for Tax Slips and Information Returns
In early March there are a few important deadlines for businesses, partnerships, and trusts.
| Who It Applies To | What Is Due | When |
|---|---|---|
| Employers | T4 information returns for 2025 | March 15, 2026 |
| Partnerships | Returns of partnership information | March 20, 2026 |
| Trusts | Returns for trust income tax | March 30, 2026 |
For employees: If you don’t get your T4 slip by the end of March, get in touch with your boss to get a copy.
The CRA says to file as soon as you can to avoid the rush at the end of the season and get your refund faster.
If you put money into an RRSP, you will get receipts for contributions made between March 10 March 16, 2026, by March 31, 2026.
If you gave money in the first 60 days of 2026, wait for this second slip before filing your return.
Important dates for Canadians in March 2026
| Date | What’s Going On |
|---|---|
| March 15 | The NCA language screening and Indigenous Law requirements go into effect. |
| March 16 | Deadline for filing T4 information returns. |
| March 17 | SimpleFile services from the CRA open. |
| March 18 | The NSF fee cap of $10 goes into effect. |
| March 19 | Deadline for declaring assault-style firearms. |
| March 20 | Last day to file partnership and trust return. |
March 2026 is a big month for financial help and regulatory deadlines that affect millions of Canadians from British Columbia to Newfoundland.
The NSF fee cap alone could save Canadians hundreds of dollars on unfair banking fees. The federal government thinks that consumers will save $619 million in the first year.
The RRSP deadline is the last chance for people who are planning their taxes to lower their taxable income for 2025. If they miss this deadline, any contributions will count toward 2026 instead.
Gun owners in Canada need to pay attention to the March 31 deadline for declaring their guns. Compensation is optional, but following the law is not. The October amnesty deadline is coming up quickly.
Questions and Answers (FAQs)
Does the $10 NSF fee cap apply to my credit union?
It depends on whether your credit union is regulated by the federal government or the province. The Bank Act says that the cap only applies to federally regulated banks and credit unions. Most provincial credit unions in places like Quebec, British Columbia, and Saskatchewan are not included. If your bank is federally regulated, the $10 limit goes into effect on March 15 2026.
I have a gun that is not allowed, but I don’t want to get paid. What can I do?
You have a few choices: you can permanently deactivate your gun at your own cost through an authorised business, give it to the police for free, or export it if you have a valid permit. You can’t keep it after October 30 2026, because possession becomes a crime after the amnesty ends.
Do the new NCA rules have an effect on lawyers who are already licensed in Canada?
No, the changes that will take effect on March 17 2026 only apply to new applicants who want to be evaluated by the National Committee on Accreditation. These rules don’t apply to you if you already have a licence to practise law in any Canadian province or territory. They affect lawyers who were trained outside of Canada and Canadian civil law graduates who want to get certified to work in common law areas.
How much will the new NSF fee cap save me?
It depends on how often you have to pay NSF fees. At the current rate of $48 per NSF fee, four fees per year would cost you $192. If you only had to pay one fee of $10 for each occurrence, you would pay $40, which would save you $152 a year. Canadians who live pay cheque to pay cheque and get multiple NSF charges every month could save more than $500 a year.
