Canada is popular for its flexible and technology-friendly approach
concerning contracts and their execution. The Personal Information Protection and
Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA) of 2004 was implemented on a federal level. Under
PIPEDA, all types of eSignature are recognised as equivalent to a physical one and are
also valid in court. All companies operating in the Canadian market are free to use both
electronic and paper documents, as the law does not distinguish between their validity.
On the provincial level, nine provinces have adopted the the Uniform Electronic Commerce
Act (UECA) of 1999. The essentials of a valid eSignature under UECA and PIPEDA are quite
similar.