A New Parliament, A Renewed Commitment: Reviving the Can't Buy Silence Act

Today, Canadians are choosing the next chapter of our country’s leadership. An election is more than a transfer of power — it’s a chance to choose the kind of future we want to build.

Before Parliament was dissolved, Bill S-261 — the Can't Buy Silence Act — was on the table. It aimed to protect survivors of harassment, violence, and discrimination from being silenced through the misuse of non-disclosure agreements (NDAs). It had momentum. It had broad support. It mattered. And yet, with dissolution, the bill died on the floor without becoming law.

The Can't Buy Silence Act was simple but powerful. It sought to limit the ability of institutions, especially those funded by public dollars, to bury wrongdoing behind NDAs. It called for transparency. It demanded accountability. It put the rights of survivors ahead of the protection of reputations.

Today, as a new Parliament forms, we call on every political party — no matter their platform — to put this bill back on the agenda. Justice and transparency are not partisan values. They are Canadian values.

At The Restitution Project, we believe the silencing of survivors through secrecy contracts must end. Survivors deserve better. Canadians deserve better. Our democracy deserves better.

We urge the new government to reintroduce and pass legislation that reflects the spirit and intent of the Can't Buy Silence Act. Survivors’ voices must be heard — not hidden.

What You Can Do:

• Contact your local Member of Parliament and ask them to support reintroducing protections against the misuse of NDAs.

• Raise awareness among your networks about the importance of transparency and survivor-centered justice.

• Stay engaged. Stay vocal. Silence has never been the answer — and it never will be.

The election marks a new beginning. Let’s make sure it's one that includes justice for those who have waited far too long for their voices to be honored.