Is it legal to record a conversation in Canada?

Short answer: Canada is a one-party consent country. Under the Criminal Code (s. 184(2)(a)), it's legal to record a private conversation as long as you are one of the people in it — one party's consent (yours) is enough. Recording a private conversation you're not part of is a crime (unlawful interception).

What "one-party consent" means in practice

You can record any conversation you're taking part in — a call, a meeting — without telling the others.
You cannot secretly intercept a private communication between other people.
This is federal criminal law, so it applies across all provinces and territories.

Important limits

Privacy and other laws still apply. Provincial privacy statutes, employment law, and how you use or share a recording can create separate liability even when the recording itself was legal. Publishing a private recording is a different question from making it.
Workplace and PIPEDA context can add obligations for businesses recording customers or employees.
Lawful ≠ automatically admissible or useful — authenticity can still be challenged.

How to record a conversation in Canada the right way

Be a participant in the conversation you record.
Keep it provable. Vocert seals each recording with a tamper-evident receipt and a trusted timestamp, and can show it wasn't edited — so a lawful recording also stands up later. See how verification works.
Be careful how you share it — legal to record doesn't always mean legal to publish.

FAQ

Is Canada one-party or two-party consent? One-party — you can record a conversation you're part of.

Can I record a phone call in Canada? Yes, if you're on the call.

Can I record my boss or a work meeting? If you're in the meeting, recording is generally lawful federally — but employment and privacy law can affect how you use it. Get advice for anything high-stakes.

Can I record two other people talking? No — intercepting a conversation you're not part of is a crime.

This is general information, not legal advice. Recording laws have exceptions and change over time, and your situation may differ. Consult a qualified lawyer before relying on this. Consent classification reflects Vocert's jurisdiction data (v3); Vocert reminds you of local rules but you are responsible for recording lawfully.