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: 2025-11-23 to 2025-11-29

📋 In This Week's Newsletter

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

This Week's Parliamentary Calendar

• LANG – Official Languages: Quota of French-language Music Imposed on French-language Radio Media (Dec 2, 11:00 a.m.): The House of Commons Standing Committee on Official Languages will meet on December 2 to examine French-language music quotas on radio, with witnesses from Cogeco Media Inc. and Les Productions Normand. The session will also include discussion on minority-language education continuum.
• CHPC – Canadian Heritage: Effects of Influencers and Social Media Content on Children and Adolescents (Dec 1 & 3, 3:30–6:30 p.m.): The Canadian Heritage committee will hold televised meetings December 1 and 3 to study the effects of influencers and social media on youth, with witnesses including Fenwick McKelvey (Concordia), the Association des créatrices et créateurs de contenu du Québec, and representatives from the Media Ecosystem Observatory and Tech Transparency Project.
• SECU – Public Safety and National Security: Bill C-8, Cyber Security and Telecommunications Act (Dec 4, 11:00 a.m.): The Public Safety and National Security committee will review Bill C-8, which amends the Telecommunications Act and addresses cyber security, on December 4. Witnesses are to be determined.
• Senate Standing Committee on Official Languages: Arts, Culture and Heritage in Official Language Minority Communities (Dec 1, 5:00 p.m.): The Senate Official Languages committee will convene December 1 to examine federal responsibilities for arts, culture, and heritage in official language minority communities, hearing from Regroupement des éditeurs franco-canadiens and the Association des groupes en arts visuels francophones.

Canadian Federal Government News

Draft Regulations on Administrative Monetary Penalties under the Official Languages Act Tabled

On November 26, Minister Steven Guilbeault announced in Parliament the tabling of draft regulations concerning administrative monetary penalties under the updated Official Languages Act. The proposed framework grants the Commissioner of Official Languages the authority to impose financial penalties on passenger transportation entities for non-compliance with obligations related to bilingual communications and services. Penalties will be calibrated based on factors such as the violation's gravity, recurrence, impact, and the organization's size and corrective actions. The regulations aim for consistent and transparent enforcement, impacting entities in the passenger transportation sector subject to language obligations. This regulatory development follows ongoing federal initiatives to reinforce language rights within Canada’s public service and federally regulated industries.

Sources: www.canada.ca

Canada Invests $5.2 Million in 23 Creative Export Companies through Creative Export Canada Program

Chi Nguyen, MP for Spadina–Harbourfront, announced on November 28 the allocation of $5.2 million to 23 recipients under the Creative Export Canada Program’s Export-Ready Stream. The funding targets projects in apparel, music, audiovisual, publishing, and digital media—such as Kotn’s $595,500 for expansion into the UK and LOFT Entertainment’s $403,000 to partner with BIG FAMILY for international music publishing. This cohort includes ten organizations from equity-deserving communities and is intended to support export growth and revenue generation in global markets. Details of all projects are available in an attached backgrounder released by Canadian Heritage.

Sources: www.canada.ca

Additional $250,000 for Manitoba Theatre for Young People’s Renovations

On November 28, the federal government, represented by MP Ben Carr, announced a further $250,000 for the Manitoba Theatre for Young People’s Play It Forward capital campaign. This brings total federal support for the project to $2 million, combining Cultural Spaces Fund and Infrastructure Canada’s Green and Inclusive Community Buildings Program funding. Renovations include converting Richardson Hall into a secondary performance venue, technical system upgrades, and improvements for accessibility and energy efficiency—targeted for completion by December 31, 2025.

Sources: www.canada.ca

Francophone Immigration Support Program Funds Four New Projects

The Honourable Lena Metlege Diab, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, announced on November 27 an investment of approximately $3.6 million for four new projects under the Francophone Immigration Support Program. The initiatives aim to facilitate the immigration and integration of Francophone and bilingual candidates outside Quebec, targeting sectors like health care and education. These programs are aligned with the Government’s objective of reaching a 10.5% admission rate for French-speaking permanent residents outside Quebec by 2028, as set out in Budget 2025.

Sources: www.canada.ca

Standing Senate Committee Studies Federal Support for Francophone Arts and Culture

On November 24, the Senate’s Standing Committee on Official Languages examined federal institutions' roles in supporting arts, culture, and heritage within official language minority communities. Witnesses from RACCORD and APFC discussed funding constraints for francophone minority filmmakers, calling for permanent funding increases to the Canada Media Fund and Telefilm Canada. AI’s impact on copyright and production was raised, with stakeholders urging legislative action on transparency and accountability. The committee also reviewed support measures for francophone musicians, including reduced administrative burdens and new revenue models as streaming becomes more prominent.

Sources: senparlvu.parl.gc.ca

House Committee Debates French Music Quotas and Digital Platform Regulation

On November 27, the House of Commons Standing Committee on Official Languages discussed regulatory requirements for French music quotas in Quebec’s radio and digital media. Jean-François Leclerc (Leclerc Communication) advocated reducing the quota from 65% to 40%, arguing it no longer matches audience preferences and may drive listeners to foreign streaming platforms. The committee considered imposing broadcasting obligations on digital platforms and debated how these changes could impact the visibility of French-language artists. The committee scheduled further studies on language quotas and regulations for upcoming meetings.

Sources: parlvu.parl.gc.ca

Community and Commercial Radio Seek Reforms Amid Digital Competition

The House of Commons Standing Committee on Official Languages, meeting November 25, heard from representatives of the Alliance des radios communautaires du Canada and Arsenal Media on operational challenges facing French-language radio. Stakeholders called for modernization of the regulatory framework and government support, noting that digital platforms capture advertising revenue without local obligations. Proposals included lowering French music quotas and requiring Radio Canada to more actively promote francophone content. The committee agreed to proceed with studies on French language quotas and federal advertising practices.

Sources: parlvu.parl.gc.ca

NFB and TIFF Announce Five {RE}DEFINED Short Documentary Projects by Emerging Filmmakers

On November 24, the National Film Board of Canada and the Toronto International Film Festival announced five short documentary projects selected for their new {RE}DEFINED initiative, following 240 submissions. The initiative supports Canadian and Indigenous filmmakers under 30, pairing them with NFB producers and providing full production and distribution resources. The selected films will premiere at TIFF 2026 before digital release on NFB platforms. The projects cover themes such as urban life, Métis cultural renewal, food traditions, and the experiences of second-generation immigrant families.

Sources: www.canada.ca

National Film Board to Release Four New Canadian Films Online in December

The National Film Board will release four new films in December, including three documentaries and one animated short. The lineup features 'Night Watches Us' by Stefan Verna, 'Jireh Gospel: Hearts in Chorus' by Wylem Decaille, 'Fernand’s Christmas' by François Pierre Breau, and 'The Girl Who Cried Pearls' by Chris Lavis and Maciek Szczerbowski. These films will be available for free streaming across Canada. The NFB also continues to offer over 7,000 films for public access, supporting audience engagement with Canadian stories.

Sources: www.canada.ca

CIPO Signs MOU with GLIPA to Expand Intellectual Property Outreach

On October 23, the Canadian Intellectual Property Office and the Global Intellectual Property Alliance entered into a memorandum of understanding to expand IP outreach and education for Canadian innovators and SMEs. The two-year agreement seeks to coordinate IP education programs and increase their reach, including to underrepresented groups, with the intent of supporting commercialization of Canadian innovations.

Sources: www.canada.ca

Statistics Canada Releases Annual Telecommunications Industry Data

Statistics Canada published the 2024 financial statistics for the country’s telecommunications industry on November 28. The new dataset provides updated figures on sector revenues, operating expenses, and investment activity for the year, offering stakeholders a reference point for market and regulatory analysis.

Sources: www.statcan.gc.ca

Canadian Provincial Government News

Quebec Allocates $20.3 Million to Public Libraries for Documentary Collections

The Quebec Ministry of Culture and Communications is providing $20.3 million to 177 municipalities in 2025 to enhance the documentary collections of autonomous public libraries, supporting acquisitions of books, e-books, and audiovisual materials.

Sources: www.quebec.ca

Ontario Invests $17.5 Million in Community Programs via Ontario Trillium Foundation

Ontario is distributing more than $17.5 million in OTF Seed grants to 257 non-profits, First Nations, and small municipalities for programs that promote arts, culture, and youth opportunities across the province.

Sources: news.ontario.ca

What We're Reading This Week

• Red Deer Arts and culture groups raise alarm, say city funding is being outpaced by growth: Red Deer arts organizations state that municipal funding is not keeping up with sector growth.
• Regina Art Gallery and Floral Conservatory could be cut from 2026 civic budget: Potential cuts to cultural facilities are under consideration in Regina’s next civic budget.
• New Alberta film documents museums and monuments off the beaten path: A new film explores lesser-known museums and monuments in Alberta.
• Setting the stage for the next act in Stratford’s entertainment industry: Stratford’s entertainment sector prepares for future developments.
• What should the future of Oshawa’s arts and culture look like? The city wants your input: Oshawa seeks public feedback on its arts and culture plan.
• ‘Cultural break.’ U.S. senators say relations with Canadian neighbours are suffering: U.S. senators discuss challenges in cross-border cultural relations.
• The Early Edition: Vancouver’s proposed city budget could reduce arts and culture spending.
• Sharan Kaur: Canada’s strength lies in diversity, not in closing doors: Opinion piece on multiculturalism and Canadian identity.

.