"The government has determined that Hikvision Canada Inc's continued operations in Canada would be injurious to Canada's national security," Joly wrote on X (formerly Twitter). The minister did not provide specific details about how the company posed a threat, nor did her statement explicitly mention China or the Xinjiang region, which has been at the centre of human rights allegations involving the firm.
Hikvision—formally known as Hangzhou Hikvision Digital Technology Co—is the world's largest manufacturer of video surveillance equipment. The company has long faced international scrutiny, including sanctions and restrictions in the United States over alleged involvement in the surveillance of Uyghurs and other Muslim communities in China’s Xinjiang region. Rights groups have documented widespread abuses in the region, including the use of advanced surveillance technologies to monitor and repress the population.
In 2023, five of Hikvision’s subsidiaries were placed on a U.S. trade blacklist. In response, the company said it had exited contracts in Xinjiang through those subsidiaries. The Chinese government has repeatedly denied all allegations of human rights abuses in Xinjiang and has criticized foreign firms for cutting ties with suppliers in the region.
In Canada, human rights advocates have also raised concerns about the company's role in enabling high-tech repression in Xinjiang. Last year, Ottawa announced it was reviewing the possibility of sanctions on Hikvision and other Chinese surveillance firms in light of these allegations.
Minister Joly’s announcement on Friday went beyond banning new contracts: the government will also prohibit the purchase of Hikvision products across all federal departments and agencies. Additionally, authorities will review existing government properties to ensure legacy Hikvision equipment is phased out.
While the order specifically targets Hikvision’s Canadian operations, Joly noted it does not extend to the company's affiliates outside Canada. However, she “strongly” encouraged Canadian businesses and consumers to “take note of this decision and make their own decisions accordingly.”
Neither Hikvision's Canadian and U.S. offices, its parent company in China, nor China’s foreign ministry immediately responded to requests for comment on the ban.
The move highlights Canada’s growing caution over foreign technology suppliers that could pose national security risks, aligning with broader concerns shared by allies such as the United States and the United Kingdom about safeguarding critical infrastructure from foreign interference.