North America: Government, Public Sector

The Canadian federal government has extended its consultation period on sweeping reforms to major project reviews, proposing to consolidate federal decisions into a single approval within two years. The discussion papers outline fundamental changes including concurrent permit reviews, Federal Economic Zones with pre-approved development categories, and reassigned review responsibilities for energy and nuclear projects that would reshape how infrastructure, energy, mining, and transportation projects navigat

The U.S. General Services Administration has released a significantly revised draft of proposed regulations governing how large language model AI systems must handle government data. This second iteration addresses industry concerns from the initial January 2026 proposal while establishing comprehensive safeguarding requirements for contractors and service providers.

A Manitoba court has certified a class action and granted summary judgment finding that Canada and Manitoba breached First Nations' Aboriginal right to self-government in Child and Family Services. The decision modifies traditional tests for establishing Aboriginal rights and addresses systemic failures in funding, regulation, and culturally appropriate service delivery that substantially impaired Indigenous communities' ability to raise their children within their own cultures and traditions.