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: 2025-09-28 to 2025-10-04

📋 In This Week's Newsletter

• 🏛️ This Week's Parliamentary Committee Calendar
• 🇨🇦 Canadian Federal GR News
• 🗺️ Canadian Provincial GR News
• 📚 What We're Reading This Week

This Week's Parliamentary Committee Calendar

• Senate Standing Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs Reviews Bill to Restrict Minors’ Access to Online Pornography: The Standing Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs held Meeting No. 4 on October 1, 2025 to review Bill S-209, featuring witnesses from Canadian Heritage and bill sponsor Senator Julie Miville-Dechêne. The hearing addressed age verification, privacy, scope definitions, and international obligations.

Canadian Federal GR News

CRTC Details Online Streaming Act Implementation

Vicky Eatrides, Chairperson and CEO of the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC), updated the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage about progress in implementing the Online Streaming Act. Since passage, the CRTC has initiated 15 consultations and held four public hearings, collecting over 1,000 written interventions and hearing from more than 300 stakeholders. So far, seven major decisions have been issued including the requirement that online streaming services contribute base funding to the Canadian broadcasting system, for a projected $200 million annually directed at areas of immediate need such as local news, French-language content, and Indigenous programming. Recent public hearings have reviewed Canadian content definitions for television and music, examined industry changes brought by streaming, and addressed impacts of artificial intelligence and intellectual property. Upcoming decisions will address administrative burdens for radio stations and dispute resolution frameworks. The CRTC is also advancing work relative to the Online News Act, service outages, the Broadband Fund, and broadening participation in regulatory proceedings.

Sources: Announcements: www.canada.ca

Minister Guilbeault Participates in Mondiacult Global Culture Conference

Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Canadian Identity and Culture, attended the UNESCO Mondiacult conference in Spain, joining ministers from 194 countries to discuss cultural policy amid artificial intelligence, digital transformation, and climate change. Guilbeault stated that digital and AI tools are driving change in how culture is created, delivered, and consumed, presenting opportunities and pressures for Canada’s creative industries, notably in the French-speaking world. The Minister flagged priorities such as protecting copyright, ensuring transparency of AI-generated content, and safeguarding jobs in the cultural sector. Canada’s recently enacted laws were cited as supporting discoverability of cultural content and fair payment for creators. Guilbeault pledged continued Canadian and international collaboration on robust, diverse, and innovation-friendly cultural policy.

Sources: Announcements: www.canada.ca

National Film Board Releases 2024–2025 Fiscal Year Results

The National Film Board of Canada (NFB) released its annual results, reporting the production of 39 original works, including seven co-productions. Nearly 2,400 contracts were awarded for audiovisual work, and 41% of works were directed by emerging filmmakers. Production spending totaled $37.5 million, with 93 awards earned domestically and internationally in the last year. NFB-supported programs, including Filmmaker Assistance (FAP) and Aide au cinéma indépendant du Canada (ACIC), resumed in January 2025 after a pause. The organization’s works attracted 31 million views in Canada and 57.3 million views globally. During the year, 2,300 community screenings took place in 430 Canadian cities and over 82% of the NFB’s 14,135-title collection is now digitized. Partnerships continue on projects for historical preservation, including work with the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation.

Sources: Announcements: www.canada.ca

Canada-Yukon Agreement on Minority-Language Education Renewed

A new bilateral agreement between the Governments of Canada and Yukon will provide more than $13.5 million to support French as a minority language and second language education in the Yukon from preschool through post-secondary. Funding aims to strengthen the linguistic and cultural vitality of Franco-Yukoners and promote bilingualism. The agreement draws from longstanding federal-provincial-territorial partnerships supporting minority-language education and follows the protocol for minority-language and second-language instruction established for 2024–2028.

Sources: Announcements: www.canada.ca

Upcoming Announcement on Minority-Language Education in Ontario

Marie-France Lalonde and Mona Fortier, Members of Parliament, will announce federal support for minority-language education and second-language instruction in Ontario on October 6, acting on behalf of Minister Guilbeault. Attendance details for the event have been provided for media representatives.

Sources: Announcements: www.canada.ca

Government Funds Mutualization for Montreal’s Quartier des Spectacles Festivals

Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions is allocating nearly $1.6 million to the Quartier des Spectacles Partnership. The funding—split into a $50,000 study and $1,549,035 for infrastructure—will help sustain over 50 annual festivals in Montreal via pooled equipment and logistics measures. These investments seek to preserve free outdoor festivals, improve visitor experience, and reinforce Montreal’s status as a cultural and tourism hub.

Sources: Announcements: www.canada.ca

Muscowequan Indian Residential School Designated a National Historic Site

Parks Canada commemorated the Former Muscowequan Indian Residential School as a National Historic Site in a joint ceremony with Muskowekwan First Nation. The site, the last standing residential school building in Saskatchewan, operated until 1997 and has since been retained for healing and cultural education. More than 35 unmarked graves have been identified at the location. The designation responds to Call to Action 79 from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and was nominated by Muskowekwan First Nation in collaboration with Parks Canada and the Historic Sites and Monuments Board.

Sources: Announcements: www.canada.ca

Ministerial Statement for National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

Ministers Guilbeault, Alty, Chartrand, and Gull-Masty marked the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, which observes the legacy of Canada’s Indian Residential Schools and the impacts on Indigenous Peoples. The statement recognized Orange Shirt Day, reaffirmed commitments to advancing Calls to Action from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, and provided details for support lines available to survivors and families.

Sources: Announcements: www.canada.ca

Ministerial Statements on Heritage Recognition

Minister Guilbeault issued separate statements marking the beginning of German Heritage Month, Latin American Heritage Month, and Canadian Islamic History Month. Each noted the contributions and cultural diversity of Canada’s German, Latin American, and Muslim communities. The statements identified access points for language and heritage education, societal enrichment through the arts and sciences, and referenced federal programs aimed at addressing discrimination and supporting cultural expression.

Sources: Announcements: www.canada.ca, Announcements: www.canada.ca, Announcements: www.canada.ca

Launch of Black-led Philanthropic Endowment Fund Call for Proposals

Minister Patty Hajdu announced the third call for proposals from the Foundation for Black Communities under the $200 million Black-led Philanthropic Endowment Fund. $8 million, including $6.5 million in federal funding, will be distributed for projects combating anti-Black racism, with over 140 projects expected to be supported. Applications close November 5, 2025, and selected projects will be announced in spring 2026.

Sources: Announcements: www.canada.ca

Senate Inquiry into News Media Funding

Senator Cardozo opened an inquiry into the funding of news media during the October 2 Senate sitting, addressing its significance for Canadian democracy. The session also included discussions on commemorations, the RCMP Heritage Centre’s transition to National Museum status, cultural festival celebrations, and debates on non-consensual sterilization, record expiry, voting age reductions, and protections for soil health and Canadians with disabilities.

Sources: Transcripts: senparlvu.parl.gc.ca

Canadian Provincial GR News

Quebec Takes Part in UNESCO Culture and AI Summit

Quebec participated in the UNESCO World Conference on Cultural Policies and Sustainable Development, MONDIACULT 2025, held in Barcelona, engaging on issues related to digital technologies, cultural rights, education, and artificial intelligence in culture.

Sources: Provincial Announcement: www.quebec.ca

Ontario Expands Internet Access in First Nations Libraries

Ontario has allocated $660,000 through its Internet Connectivity Grant program, enabling all First Nation public libraries and several rural libraries to provide fully reimbursed public internet access as part of broader efforts to enhance digital resources.

Sources: Provincial Announcement: news.ontario.ca

Ontario Announces Resources for Truth and Reconciliation Day in Schools

Ministers Calandra and Rickford stated that new curriculum resources will be developed for teaching about the Indian Residential Schools and National Day for Truth and Reconciliation in all Ontario public schools, targeted for implementation by September 30, 2026.

Sources: Provincial Announcement: news.ontario.ca

Ontario Supports Promise of Music Global Festival

Ontario is investing $635,000 in the inaugural Promise of Music festival in Toronto, a week-long event celebrating music’s social impact and featuring performances and discussions with international participants.

Sources: Provincial Announcement: news.ontario.ca

Alberta Recognizes Women’s History Month

Minister Tanya Fir issued a statement acknowledging Women's History Month, referencing Alberta pioneers and current women leaders, and affirming support for ongoing recognition of women’s contributions.

Sources: Provincial Announcement: www.alberta.ca

What We're Reading This Week

• CBC: Okanagan Indian Band opens new cultural school: Indigenous-led school launches in Okanagan focused on truth and reconciliation.
• CTV Montreal: New cultural arts centre in Kahnawake breeds hope for next generation: Facility opens to support youth engagement in arts and culture.
• National Post: Journalists get a tour of Kahnawake's future cultural arts centre: Preview of new centre for artistic development in Kahnawake.
• The Globe and Mail: Art & Architecture - Page 9: Insights on Canada’s latest art and exhibition spaces.
• The Globe and Mail: Fall culture preview 2025: Season highlights across film, television, music, and art events.
• CBC Manitoba: Thriving Steinbach arts community bucks national trend: Steinbach’s arts council reports growth and engagement.
• The Star: Electronic Arts to be acquired for $52.5 billion in largest-ever private equity buyout: Major acquisition set to reshape global gaming industry.
• National Post: Ibsen Scope Grants 2026 for performing arts projects: Grant program announced supporting Canadian performing arts initiatives.
• The Globe and Mail: Teaching young people soft skills and the art of disagreeing well: Report on efforts to foster communication and debate skills.
• The Globe and Mail: Judge suspends Trump administration’s plan to eliminate hundreds of Voice of America jobs: U.S. legal decision affects federal media employment.

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