Home Services About Blog
Free Assessment
Home› Services› Law 25 Compliance
Law 25 / Loi 25 — IT Compliance Montreal

Law 25 Compliance
for Montreal BusinessesConformité Loi 25
pour les entreprises de Montréal

Quebec's Law 25 is fully in effect. Every Montreal SMB that collects personal information must comply — or face fines up to $25 million CAD. We make compliance practical, documented, and built into your IT environment.La Loi 25 du Québec est pleinement en vigueur. Chaque PME de Montréal qui collecte des renseignements personnels doit se conformer — ou faire face à des amendes pouvant atteindre 25 millions de dollars.

Get Free Compliance AssessmentÉvaluation de conformité gratuite Read Our Law 25 GuideLire notre guide Loi 25
$25M
Max penal fine (or 4% global revenue)
2023
Fully in effect since September 2023
30
Days to compliance for most Montreal SMBs
What Law 25 Requires

The IT Compliance
Checklist

Law 25 isn't just a legal requirement — it's a mandate to implement real technical controls, document your data flows, and respond to breaches. Here's what your Montreal business needs:

Privacy Officer designation
Data inventory & flow mapping (what you collect, where it lives, who can access it)
Privacy Impact Assessments (PIAs) for new systems & IT projects
Documented security measures (encryption, access controls, MFA)
Public-facing privacy policy in plain language
Breach notification protocol (CAI + affected individuals)
Third-party vendor agreements covering data handling
Data portability procedures (<30 day fulfillment)
Our Compliance Process
1
IT Environment Audit
Identify all systems touching personal data
2
Data Flow Mapping
Document what data you collect, where it lives, who accesses it
3
Security Gap Assessment
Compare current controls to Law 25 requirements
4
Technical Controls
Deploy MFA, encryption, access controls, backup
5
Documentation Package
Privacy policy, PIA templates, breach response runbook
Industries

Who Needs Law 25
Compliance Most

Law Firms

Client confidentiality + solicitor-client privilege + Law 25 = mandatory documented controls. Legal firms are a primary target for CAI scrutiny.

Accounting Firms

Financial and personal tax data are among the most sensitive categories under Law 25. CPA firms must have documented controls and breach protocols.

HR & Recruitment

Employee and candidate personal data is heavily regulated. Recruitment firms and HR departments face elevated compliance obligations.

Healthcare-Adjacent

Clinics, wellness centres, and health-service businesses face the strictest categories under Law 25. Health data has elevated protection requirements.

E-Commerce & Retail

Any business with a website that collects contact forms, purchases, or user accounts has Law 25 obligations. Most SMB websites are not yet compliant.

Professional Services

Consultants, architects, engineers, and financial advisors all handle personal data. Law 25 applies regardless of headcount or revenue.

FAQ

Law 25 Questions
Montreal SMBs Ask

Does Law 25 apply to small businesses?
Yes. Law 25 applies to any organization in Quebec that collects personal information in the course of carrying on business — regardless of size. A 3-person firm is subject to the same law as a 500-person corporation.
What are the penalties for non-compliance?
Administrative penalties up to $10 million or 2% of global revenue. Penal fines up to $25 million CAD or 4% of global revenue. The Commission d'accès à l'information (CAI) actively investigates complaints and can impose mandatory orders.
When did Law 25 come into full effect?
The final phase of Law 25 came into effect in September 2023. All requirements — including data portability, Privacy Impact Assessments, and breach notification — are now fully active.
How long does it take to become compliant?
For most Montreal SMBs, a practical compliance baseline takes 4–6 weeks. We have onboarded legal firms with zero prior IT documentation in under 30 days, including full data mapping, security controls, and a privacy policy.
Is Law 25 compliance included in managed IT services?
Yes. Law 25 compliance guidance and technical controls are included with all Evolv I.T managed services engagements. We don't treat compliance as an add-on — it's built into how we manage your IT environment.

Not Sure Where Your Law 25 Compliance Stands?Pas sûr où en est votre conformité Loi 25?

Book a free 30-minute compliance call. We'll tell you exactly where the gaps are — no obligation.Réservez un appel de conformité gratuit de 30 minutes.

Book My Free Law 25 AssessmentRéserver mon évaluation Loi 25 gratuite