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: 2025-09-14 to 2025-09-20

📋 In This Week's Newsletter

• 🏛️ House of Commons Committee Meetings
• 🇨🇦 Canadian Federal GR News
• 🗺️ Canadian Provincial GR News
• 📚 What We're Reading This Week

House of Commons Committee Meetings

• Canadian Heritage Committee: Mandate and Priorities briefing with Minister Guilbeault—September 24: The House of Commons Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage will hold a televised briefing on the Minister of Canadian Identity and Culture’s mandate and priorities on September 24, 2025, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m.; witnesses will include Minister Steven Guilbeault, department deputies, and Parks Canada executives.
• Canadian Heritage Committee: Committee Business session—September 22: Committee business for Canadian Heritage is scheduled for September 22, 2025, from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m., including the first report of the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure; session to be held at Room 425, Wellington Building.

Canadian Federal GR News

Minister Guilbeault announces $23 million investment in TIFF, boosting Canada's film industry

On September 15, 2025, Minister Steven Guilbeault attended the 50th Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), where he reaffirmed federal support for Canadian film through a $23 million multi-year investment announced in Budget 2024. The funding is directed at expanding TIFF's industry offerings, notably facilitating the launch of TIFF: The Market in September 2026, aimed at industry professionals. The minister’s meetings with sector officials and his tour of TIFF industry spaces were part of ongoing efforts to support the development of Canada's film sector, with emphasis on innovation and international engagement. The government frames such investments as contributing both to the country's global cultural presence and to domestic economic growth in adjacent sectors such as tourism. Industry stakeholders can expect TIFF to increase programming and professional opportunities in 2026 as a direct result of this funding.

Sources: Announcements: www.canada.ca

CRTC Vice-President Leila Wright addresses network resiliency measures and Broadband Fund developments

At the Canadian Communications Systems Alliance Connect 2025 conference in Victoria, Leila Wright, CRTC Vice-President (Telecommunications), recapped the Commission's recently released network resiliency policies, including its new service outage notification requirements and ongoing consultations on bolstering network robustness. The CRTC received input from 106 participants on outage reporting, balancing regulatory obligations with operational capacity for smaller providers. Two new public consultations are underway regarding network resiliency and customer communications during outages, with deadlines on November 13 and December 3, 2025, respectively. Wright reported that over $750 million from the CRTC's Broadband Fund has now been allocated to projects in 290 communities, with non-incumbent providers receiving about 80% of these funds. She noted ongoing process reviews aimed at accelerating project approvals and simplifying applications. A fourth call for Broadband Fund applications is anticipated after assessment of the current round concludes.

Sources: Announcements: www.canada.ca

Canadian Digital Regulators Forum publishes synthetic media paper, addresses copyright and competition policy

The Canadian Digital Regulators Forum released a position paper on synthetic media, covering regulatory implications across communications, competition, copyright, and privacy. The CRTC reviewed how AI-generated content may benefit creators by reducing costs and increasing accessibility, but pointed to a need for transparency in its use to support the creative sector. The Competition Bureau outlined the risks of deepfakes in deceptive marketing, with ongoing evaluation of labelling requirements under the Competition Act and Canada's Anti-Spam Law. The Copyright Board cited ongoing policy discussions about authorship and fair remuneration for generative AI-created works, examining approaches in international jurisdictions. The Office of the Privacy Commissioner focused on the use and legal standing of personal data in synthetic media production. The report signals coordinated regulatory activity and anticipates further stakeholder engagement in 2026, including a workshop and digital market updates.

Sources: Announcements: www.canada.ca

Department of Justice introduces Combatting Hate Act to amend Criminal Code

On September 19, 2025, the Department of Justice tabled the Combatting Hate Act, proposing several Criminal Code amendments to protect access to cultural, religious, and educational sites and to clarify prosecution of hate-motivated crimes. The legislation introduces new offences for willful intimidation and obstruction relating to access to places of worship, schools, and community centres, with penalties up to 10 years’ imprisonment in aggravated cases. The bill expands hate propaganda offences, prohibits public promotion of hatred via specified symbols (such as the Nazi swastika or terrorist entity emblems), and adds a statutory definition of 'hatred' to the Criminal Code, mirroring Supreme Court precedent. The requirement for Attorney General consent to prosecute hate propaganda offences would be lifted, aiming to expedite law enforcement action. The legislation distinguishes between prohibited hate-driven activity and permitted peaceful protest or assembly around cultural sites.

Sources: Announcements: www.canada.ca

Canadian health services data published on access in official minority languages

Statistics Canada released a study (2022 data) showing that 51% of adults from official language minority communities—English-speaking Quebecers and French-speaking Canadians outside Quebec—received health care in their own official language when attending hospitals. This data may contribute to ongoing policy discussions regarding service provision in minority official languages, an area relevant to language rights and cultural access frameworks.

Sources: Open Government Data Set: www.statcan.gc.ca

Federal investment targets conservation and remediation at S.S. Klondike National Historic Site, Yukon

On September 16, 2025, Parks Canada announced a $14.2 million allocation for conservation and remedial efforts at the S.S. Klondike National Historic Site in Whitehorse, Yukon. This funding will support structural stabilization, lead-paint removal, and weatherproofing of the historic vessel, as well as accessibility improvements to the adjacent Atlin barge. Specialized historic woodworking equipment has been adapted for the conservation process. The project supports both heritage preservation and regional tourism infrastructure.

Sources: Announcements: www.canada.ca

Tłegǫ́hłı̨ Got’įnę and Canada sign Final Self-Government Agreement

On September 18, 2025, a Final Self-Government Agreement was signed by Tłegǫ́hłı̨ Got’įnę Government Inc., Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada, and the Government of the Northwest Territories. The agreement formalizes governance authority for the Tłegǫ́hłı̨ Got’įnę in areas including education, culture, and language, as well as community-led program delivery. Federal and territorial legislation will be required to give effect to the Agreement.

Sources: Announcements: www.canada.ca

Grand opening of Calgary’s first Indigenous youth centre supported by federal funding

The Urban Society for Aboriginal Youth (USAY) marked the opening of its new Calgary facility on September 19, 2025. Indigenous Services Canada provided $3.92 million for construction, creating an accessible space for programming that serves over 4,000 Indigenous youth annually. The centre is intended to support cultural programming and wellness initiatives.

Sources: Announcements: www.canada.ca

Beausoleil Island (Bimadinaagogi) recognized as national historic site in partnership with Beausoleil First Nation

Parks Canada and Beausoleil First Nation commemorated Beausoleil Island’s historic importance with an official plaque unveiling on September 18, 2025, at Georgian Bay Islands National Park. Public designation of culturally significant sites continues as part of the federal strategy for heritage and cultural landscape recognition.

Sources: Announcements: www.canada.ca

Minister Fraser schedules media availability on new hate crime legislation

Minister of Justice Sean Fraser announced a media availability for September 19, 2025, to further address details of new hate crime and community protection legislation. The press event, scheduled in Ottawa’s West Block, follows the bill’s introduction and provides an additional platform for stakeholder and media engagement.

Sources: Announcements: www.canada.ca

Canadian Provincial GR News

Quebec's Cultural-Education Directory surpasses 2,500 artists and organizations

Quebec’s Cultural-Education Directory now hosts over 2,500 professional resources for schools, reflecting expanded offerings after 80 new artist and writer profiles were added following the latest call for applications.

Sources: Provincial Announcement: www.quebec.ca

Ontario recognizes 13 citizens for contributions in arts, literature, accessibility, and inclusion

Ontario's Lieutenant Governor’s Legacy Awards ceremony this year honoured recipients for work in anti-racism, arts, accessibility, literature, and introduced the new Elizabeth Dowdeswell Award recognizing educators who promote democracy.

Sources: Provincial Announcement: news.ontario.ca

B.C. extends support for literacy with $500,000 investment in Raise-a-Reader campaign

The government of British Columbia is contributing $500,000 to the Raise-a-Reader campaign, sustaining programs to increase youth and family literacy across the province.

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

Alberta boosts arts and festival funding in Edmonton’s summer season

Alberta announced more than $450,000 in grants for Edmonton festivals and reported over $1 million to local arts organizations, with Budget 2025 raising annual provincial arts funding to $34.6 million.

Sources: Provincial Announcement: www.alberta.ca

Quebec launches Data Standardization Support Program for cultural organizations

Quebec's Ministry of Culture and Communications has initiated a call for projects to help organizations update and standardize their cultural data and records, now including museum-related exhibition projects.

Sources: Provincial Announcement: www.quebec.ca

What We're Reading This Week

• CRTC begins hearing on Cancon requirements for music streamers: CRTC starts public hearings to examine Canadian content obligations for music streaming services.
• Independent cinemas and Canadian films need your support, industry says: Reports examine calls from cinema operators and producers for increased backing of Canadian films.
• Free classes aim to increase diversity in Manitoba film industry: CBC covers a new initiative providing complimentary courses to broaden participation in the Manitoba film sector.
• Spend the evening supporting youth arts education with CBC: CBC features a programming event dedicated to youth arts learning opportunities.
• Jimmy Kimmel’s suspension is a chilling moment for free expression in the U.S.: Article discusses the wider effects of the U.S. late-night host's recent suspension.
• The Latest: Democrats introduce bill to protect free speech following Kimmel suspension: Overview of U.S. federal legislative developments concerning broadcast and online speech.
• Television: Updates and features from Canadian television coverage.
• Art & Architecture - Page 4: Coverage of developments in Canada's visual arts and architecture scene.
• Film - Page 7: Dome on upcoming Canadian and international films.
• Spend the evening supporting youth arts education with CBC: Article on community arts education events and CBC programming.

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