Canada is currently exploring a possible expansion of its GI regime to Craft and Industrial Geographical Indications (CIGI). It also wants to understand how these changes might affect Indigenous knowledge, cultural expressions, and the use of Indigenous place names.
Currently, the Canadian GI regime is protected under the federal Trademarks Act, and covers agricultural, food, wine and spirit product names: 49 recognized across the country.
In an engagement paper, the Canadian authorities have identified possible benefits related to the expansion of its GI regime:
- With more Canadians choosing to buy Canadian products, GIs can add an extra level of transparency and authenticity.
- Awareness of GIs can drive tourism to Canadian regions.
- Expansion of the GI regime can benefit local economies.
- The expansion of the GI regime can help Canadian products gain a better international reputation.
- The expansion of the GI regime would address concerns about the misappropriation of Indigenous products by non-Indigenous businesses, which has reduced their reputation and value.
The Canadian authorities are also seeking inputs from producers, businesses, industry associations, Indigenous Peoples and the public to assess whether changes to the GI regime could deliver fair, transparent and meaningful benefits for Canadians. The public engagement period started on May 28, 2026 and ends on August 27, 2026. More information is available here.
One of the government’s largest goals through this exercise is to uphold its commitment to the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, which recognizes the rights of Indigenous communities to maintain, control, protect and develop their own Intellectual Property (IP) over cultural practices, traditions, and knowledge. Consequently, one of the major questions in this expansion is how GIs can support Indigenous people in protecting their culture, which has no protection under current federal laws. Indigenous groups want collective stewardship and perpetual protection. CIGIs can enable collective ownership, perpetual association with the land, an official recognition of traditional methods, and further cultural and economic empowerment.
