Canada loosened restrictions concerning the use of mobile devices during flights on Monday.
Transmitting information, however, is still prohibited on board planes, according to Reuters.
Canada is following the U.S. and the European Union, which recently gave passengers the same permission.
Lisa Raitt, Canada's Minister of Transport, said passengers will be allowed to use their tablets, cameras, laptops and game systems during all phases of the flight, including takeoff, ascent and landing, PC Magazine reported.
The devices must be in airplane mode, and the airline has to meet the federal government's safety conditions. Before Monday's announcement, devices were not allowed to be used during takeoff and landing.
"This is great news for air passengers, and an exciting day for the Canadian aviation industry," Raitt said in a statement. "By collaborating with our aviation partners, we are able to offer airlines the tools they need to safely enable passengers to use portable electronic devices on airplanes, while still maintaining the highest standards of aviation safety."
The conditions airlines have to follow include updating safety manuals and making sure that passengers can follow the crew's instructions during takeoff and landing, Reuters reported.
"We wouldn't have approved this if we were concerned that it would affect either the safety of air travelers or of crews," Riatt said.
She added that sending and receiving emails and phone calls during the flight is still banned.
The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) made the decision in October to let passengers use tablets, smartphones and other mobile devices during takeoff and landing, PC Magazine reported. The decision was made after the FAA found out that using the devices did not interfere with a plane's functionality. The European Union made the same decision in December.
It was also stated in the announcement that Canadian air operators have to show that using the devices does not affect their planes.
