The Government of Canada recently began a public engagement period to re-assess the scope of its Geographical Indications (GI) regime. The public engagement began on May 28, 2026 and will last until August 27, 2026.

GIs are a form of IP, governed by the Trademarks Act, that communicate to consumers that a product originated from a certain region. They act as a signal to consumers that the reputation and quality associated with the region can be attributed to the product. They can also be helpful in enabling products to gain stronger national and/or global recognition.

At present, GIs in Canada can only be used on a limited number of agricultural products and alcoholic beverages. The public engagement is intended to help the government determine whether the regime should be expanded to include other types of products. In particular, the government wants to understand how GIs can be used to better protect and promote Indigenous knowledge and culture.

In conducting the public engagement, the government will be welcoming the perspectives of all Canadians interested in contributing to the discussion. Additionally, they will be holding targeted roundtables featuring Indigenous partners and subject-matter experts.

When the public engagement is complete, the government will publish a report summarizing the results and feedback. The feedback will be considered in determining what, if any, policy changes should be made.

More information about the public engagement, and how you can participate, is available here.

For a detailed overview of the topics to be reviewed during the public engagement, you can access the government’s Engagement Paper here.