The emergency legislation, Bill C-13 received Royal Assent today. It includes amendments to the Patent Act to allow compulsory licensing “to respond to the public health emergency”.

The amendment would add a section 19.4 to the Patent Act, requiring the Commissioner to grant a license:

19.4(1) The Commissioner shall, on the application of the Minister of Health, authorize the Government of Canada and any person specified in the application to make, construct, use and sell a patented invention to the extent necessary to respond to the public health emergency described in the application.