Transport Canada's New Drone Security Powers Take Effect: What Operators Need To Know
Bill C-15 gives Transport Canada clearer authority around drone security risks, including authorizations for certain entities to interdict drones that present security threats.
On March 26, 2026, Bill C-15 received royal assent. Transport Canada says the law updates the Aeronautics Act to more clearly prohibit unlawful interference with drone operations and allows the department to issue authorizations to certain entities to interdict drones that present security risks.
The change is structural, not cosmetic. For commercial drone operators, the practical effect is that the regulator now has clearer legal authority to address drones that threaten security, not only drones that violate ordinary flight rules.
What Bill C-15 Changes
The headline update is in the Aeronautics Act itself. The new language addresses unlawful interference with drone operations and creates a clearer framework for dealing with security-threat drones.
The second piece is the authorization mechanism. Transport Canada can authorize certain entities to interdict drones that present security risks. That matters for airports, critical infrastructure, government facilities and other sensitive sites that need a lawful process for responding to unauthorized drones.
The 2026 Drone Landscape
Transport Canada's April 2026 Drone Zone also says that, as of March 31, Canada had 118,232 registered drones and 133,505 Basic Pilot Certificates issued. The regulator is managing a larger fleet and a more complex operating environment, and the new powers fit that context.
The same update notes that the March 19, 2026 edition of the Transport Canada Aeronautical Information Manual added updates to the RPA chapter, including sections on special events, NOTAM procedures, Advanced and Level 1 Complex operations and flight reviewers.
What Operators Should Update
Review how your company handles security-related drone incursions. If you fly near critical infrastructure, airports, government facilities or sensitive client sites, your internal procedures should make clear who reports an incident, what gets documented and which authority gets contacted.
Bill C-15 does not change how you fly this season. It does not change airspace rules, Remote ID requirements or the status of any specific aircraft. It does clarify that drone security response is becoming a more formal part of Canadian aviation law.
The Bottom Line
The useful question is whether your operations or your clients operate in places where a security-threat drone would be a real concern. If so, understanding the new authorization process and updating internal procedures is worth the effort.
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