Good morning! This is Queen Street Analytics' weekly roundup of regulatory developments, legislative discussions, political announcements and other government-related news for professionals in the performing arts, museums, theatre-operators, event-spaces, Canadian and Francophone trad media and social media publishers, and broadcasters. Every Monday, we break down the most important updates in this space in under five minutes.

Want to track other GR news in industries related to Arts & Culture? Don’t miss this week’s updates in Hospitality & Retail.

Dates: 2025-08-31 to 2025-09-06

📋 In This Week's Newsletter

• 🇨🇦 Canadian Federal GR News
• 🗺️ Canadian Provincial GR News
• 📚 What We're Reading This Week

Canadian Federal GR News

CRTC Issues Final Reporting Requirements for Major Telecommunications Outages

The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) has announced final, detailed requirements for telecommunications service providers (TSPs) regarding major service outages. Providers must now report disruptive events affecting internet, wireless, telephone, and television services directly to the CRTC, Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada, emergency management bodies, and 9-1-1 call centres. Post-outage reports will be required within 30 days, outlining causes and actions taken to mitigate future risks, with these reports published online. The latest measures apply across a range of disruptions, including those isolating small communities or impacting emergency services such as 9-1-1 and wireless public alerting. The CRTC's decision follows a consultation process initiated in early 2023, featuring over 100 stakeholder submissions. Two new public consultations were also launched: one on improving network resiliency and reliability (comments accepted until December 3, 2025) and another on service provider consumer protections during outages (open until November 13, 2025).

Sources: Announcements: www.canada.ca

Federal Government Invests in Surrey Arts Festival

On September 6, Sukh Dhaliwal, MP for Surrey Newton, announced a $30,600 federal investment in the Sanjh Foundation to support the 2025 Sanjh Festival, acting on behalf of Minister Steven Guilbeault. Funding comes via Canadian Heritage’s Building Communities Through Arts and Heritage program. Activities at the festival span music, poetry, storytelling, and South Asian folk and classical dance, attracting significant local participation in Surrey. Earlier in 2025, the Sanjh Foundation received $15,000 from the Multiculturalism and Anti-Racism Program for an interactive learning initiative during Sikh Heritage Month. These two investments support intercultural arts programming and facilitate participation from artists across Surrey’s fast-growing, diverse population.

Sources: Announcements: www.canada.ca

Federal Support for Festival celtique de Québec

Steeve Lavoie, MP for Beauport–Limoilou, announced $37,900 in federal funding on September 5 for the Festival celtique de Québec. The investment is administered through the Local Festivals stream of the Building Communities Through Arts and Heritage program. Hosted in Québec City, the festival presents a varied program featuring local artists and heritage performers. Organizers plan to use the funds for expanding activities that connect community members with regional cultural traditions.

Sources: Announcements: www.canada.ca

Suzanne Guèvremont of NFB Named to The Hollywood Reporter’s Canada 25

Suzanne Guèvremont, Government Film Commissioner and Chairperson of the National Film Board of Canada (NFB), was named to The Hollywood Reporter’s Canada 25 list, which recognizes notable industry leaders shaping the Canadian film landscape. Guèvremont was cited for her leadership in the NFB’s ongoing revitalization efforts, focusing on new audiences and fostering Canadian storytelling. Her presence will be marked at the 2025 THR Access Canada Summit in Toronto, which coincides with the Toronto International Film Festival. Guèvremont is credited with over 25 years in management across higher education, culture, and technology sectors, previously serving as Director of NAD-UQAC and holding board appointments at CBC/Radio-Canada and SODEC. The announcement serves to acknowledge her impact on Canadian documentary and animation production and distribution.

Sources: Announcements: www.canada.ca

Canada Strong Pass Drives Museum and Heritage Site Attendance

Launched in June 2025, the Canada Strong Pass promoted increased visits to national, provincial, and territorial museums, historic sites, and parks, as well as VIA Rail, over the summer season. Federal officials reported that children and youth benefitted from free or reduced entry at major institutions, and similar discounts were extended through several provincial and territorial partnerships. The initiative, backed by Ministers Steven Guilbeault, Chrystia Freeland, and Rechie Valdez, supported both local cultural institutions and businesses, with positive feedback regarding enhanced accessibility and affordability. The program concluded in September, with government officials noting its role in broadening public engagement with Canadian heritage.

Sources: Announcements: www.canada.ca

Minister Guilbeault’s Statement on International Day for People of African Descent

Minister Steven Guilbeault released a statement on August 31 recognizing the International Day for People of African Descent. His remarks noted Black Canadians’ contributions across arts, sports, and entrepreneurship, and referenced the extension of Canada’s commitment to the United Nations International Decade for People of African Descent until 2028. The statement reaffirmed support for social and economic inclusion efforts targeting Black-owned businesses and cultural initiatives.

Sources: Announcements: www.canada.ca

Canadian Provincial GR News

Quebec Launches Call for Projects in Digital Cultural Development

Quebec’s Ministry of Culture and Communications opened applications for its third Call for Projects supporting digital cultural development in the Canadian Francophonie, running from September 3 to October 22 with a 4:30 PM deadline for submissions.

Sources: Provincial Announcement: www.quebec.ca

Alberta Marks Month of the Artist with Increased Funding

Minister Tanya Fir announced sustained and record-level funding for the Alberta Foundation for the Arts, committing to a projected $43 million annual investment by 2027-28 and supporting over 400 organizations and individuals this year.

Sources: Provincial Announcement: www.alberta.ca

B.C. Purchases Land for New Francophone Schools

The Government of British Columbia acquired sites in Abbotsford and Victoria Westshore for new French-language schools, supporting the continued growth of regional francophone education infrastructure.

Sources: Provincial Announcement: news.gov.bc.ca

Saskatchewan Enhances French-Language Web Content Amid Postal Disruptions

Amid ongoing postal service interruption, Saskatchewan ministries and agencies increased professionally translated French-language resources on their websites to improve accessibility for residents and visitors.

Sources: Provincial Announcement: www.saskatchewan.ca

B.C. Minister Welcomes Students for New School Year

B.C. Minister Lisa Beare issued a statement supporting students and educators as schools commenced the 2025-26 year, with updated curriculum adding Holocaust, Black history, and Japanese Canadian internment studies, plus expanded food, literacy, and child care programs.

Sources: Provincial Announcement: news.gov.bc.ca

What We're Reading This Week

• A look at local arts and entertainment news: CTV reports on regional arts and entertainment developments impacting Atlantic Canada.
• Want More Media Pickup? Learn What Newsrooms Want Today: The Star explores changing newsroom requirements for broader media exposure.
• Opinion | Showcase Canadian craftsmanship with a state-of-the-art building at 24 Sussex Drive: Opinion on leveraging Canadian artistry at a significant national landmark.
• Good news: ‘The Paper’ finds belly laughs and beauty in fledgling world of local media: CTV features a new local media outlet generating positive cultural impact.
• Library and Archives Canada cutting 70 jobs as part of workforce adjustment: Library and Archives Canada confirms staff reductions amid ongoing restructuring.
• This Toronto video rental store is going strong in the age of streaming. Here’s why: Feature on a Toronto video rental shop thriving alongside digital platforms.
• Danielle Smith dwells on graphics, not words, as Alberta retools book ban policy: CBC examines Alberta’s evolving policy on book bans, focusing on visual criteria.
• Opinion: The crisis in Sudan shows us telecommunication is an essential human right: Globe and Mail column discusses global events underscoring the role of telecommunications.
• Library and Archives Canada cutting 70 jobs as part of workforce adjustment: Coverage on staff reductions at Library and Archives Canada.
• Danielle Smith dwells on graphics, not words, as Alberta retools book ban policy: Alberta makes changes to provincial book ban guidelines, with CBC reporting on the visual-focused policy adjustment.

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