Good morning! This is Queen Street Analytics' weekly roundup of regulatory developments, legislative discussions, political announcements and other government-related news concerning colleges, universities, campuses, research initiatives and funding, and the tri-council (CIHR, NSERC, SSHRC) agencies. Every Monday, we break down the most important updates in this space in under five minutes.

Dates: 2025-06-22 to 2025-06-28

📋 In This Week's Newsletter

• 🇨🇦 Canadian Federal GR News
• 🇺🇸 US Federal GR News
• 🗺️ Canadian Provincial GR News
• 💬 Government Consultations
• 📱 Public Officials' Social Media
• 📚 What We're Reading This Week

Canadian Federal GR News

Government of Canada Opens Applications for $300 Million AI Compute Access Fund

On June 25, Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada launched applications for the AI Compute Access Fund, delivering on a key part of the Canadian Sovereign AI Compute Strategy. The Fund, backed by up to $300 million, is intended to make affordable high-performance computing resources available to Canadian small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) engaged in developing AI products and solutions. Each project proposal will undergo due diligence to assess an organization’s capacity, alignment with fund objectives, overall viability, and benefits to Canada. The program is part of an overarching $2 billion investment in the Canadian AI ecosystem and is tasked with supporting AI adoption, scaling industry capability, driving productivity, and increasing AI-driven innovation in sectors like life sciences, energy, and manufacturing. The strategy is expected to support SME access to high-performance compute and facilitate the development of homegrown AI, with a focus on productivity and national security. Stakeholder participation is required through a proposal process.

Sources: Announcements: www.canada.ca

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HealthSpark Initiative Receives $3.5 Million for Healthcare AI Solutions

During Toronto Tech Week on June 25, Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Innovation Evan Solomon announced a $3.5 million investment for the Vector Institute to launch HealthSpark. The program will support Canadian health sector scaleups and startups to fast-track AI innovation in healthcare and services. HealthSpark offers training, mentorship, and access to AI engineering expertise, and is designed to foster AI solutions addressing healthcare challenges such as staffing shortages, wait times, and patient outcomes. The announcement was made at MaRS Discovery District, an innovation hub in Toronto, and follows ongoing collaboration between the government, MaRS, Vector, and the University of Toronto. This is part of Canada’s broader plan to strengthen its leadership in health AI and support commercialization of AI research.

Sources: Announcements: www.canada.ca

CSE Annual Report Details Cyber Security and Artificial Intelligence Activities

On June 27, the Communications Security Establishment Canada (CSE) released its 2024–2025 annual report, presenting a summary of activities in national security, cyber defence, and foreign signals intelligence. The document details CSE’s efforts to counter hostile state activity, advance Canadian interests in Arctic security, and support border security under the Border Action Plan. CSE contributed threat intelligence to the National Cyber Security Strategy and supported critical infrastructure protection. Notably, the agency launched its Artificial Intelligence Strategy to enhance its mission operations. Collaborative engagement with oversight and review bodies, as well as internal measures to strengthen workforce expertise in advanced technology, are described.

Sources: Announcements: www.canada.ca

PrairiesCan Announces Over $10 Million for Alberta AI and Advanced Technology Projects

Through targeted repayable and non-repayable funding, Prairies Economic Development Canada allocated $10.9 million to seven Alberta projects under multiple initiatives: the Business Scale-up and Productivity (BSP) program, Regional Artificial Intelligence Initiative (RAII), and Regional Homebuilding Innovation Initiative (RHII). BSP funding will help firms like 48Hour Discovery deploy AI-driven drug discovery, Crust Craft expand industrial baking automation, and RAM Elevators scale up lift production. RAII resources are directed to projects including the Canadian Agri-Food Automation and Intelligence Network’s demonstration of agri-AI, Phoenix Farms’ implementation of AI-driven potato sorting, and samdesk’s commercialization of AI-powered crisis management. A $2.5 million RHII investment supports Promise Robotics’ robotics-driven homebuilding facility. Collectively, the funding targets increased productivity, job support, and accelerated technology commercialization.

Sources: Announcements: www.canada.ca

Canada Deepens Bilateral and Trade Ties with United Arab Emirates, with Focus on AI Collaboration

Global Affairs Canada reported on June 22 a high-level visit by the U.A.E. Deputy Prime Minister, during which a Canadian delegation led by Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand and Ministers Evan Solomon (AI and Digital Innovation) and Maninder Sidhu (International Trade) discussed trade, innovation, and AI partnership opportunities. The discussions covered research and development, capital investment, and the opening of the Dubai Chambers office in Toronto to facilitate bilateral business. Both countries released a joint statement committing to strengthening ties across trade, innovation, and people-to-people exchange. The roundtable focused on commercial opportunities relevant for Canadian institutions, including those specializing in research and technology-intensive sectors.

Sources: Announcements: www.canada.ca

Statistics Canada Releases Data on Postsecondary Students by Indigenous Identity and Racialized Group

Statistics Canada published new data on June 25 capturing enrollment and graduation patterns for Canadian college and university students (2014–2022 cohorts), disaggregated by Indigenous identity and racialized group. The dataset provides figures on enrollments, qualifications, field of study, age group, and gender, available at national, provincial, and territorial levels. The release may inform institutional analysis of demographic trends, access, and outcomes.

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

Canada Launches Consultation on Potential Digital Trade Agreement with the European Union

On June 25, the Government of Canada initiated consultations regarding a possible Canada–European Union digital trade agreement. The exercise, announced in the Canada Gazette, aims to gather stakeholder and public input on the potential scope, provisions, and negotiated positions for modernizing digital trade relations and online commercial activity rules. Input is sought specifically on regulatory predictability, digital standards, and the impacts of technology trends on trade. Submissions are open until August 23, 2025, to help establish Canada’s strategy for exploratory discussions.

Sources: Gazette, Part I: www.gazette.gc.ca

Minister Solomon Engages with Canadian AI Ecosystem During Toronto Tech Week

Minister Evan Solomon participated in Toronto Tech Week, engaging with leaders in Canada’s AI and innovation ecosystem. The visit, commencing June 23, included a site tour at quantum computing firm Xanadu and meetings with sector executives. These activities are aligned with ongoing federal efforts to support AI research hubs, startup incubation, and technology adoption through public-private engagement.

Sources: Announcements: www.canada.ca

Statistics Canada Releases June 2025 Economic and Social Reports

On June 25, Statistics Canada published six new articles in its Economic and Social Reports for June 2025. While report titles were not itemized in the release, these regularly address labor market trends, demographics, and economic performance metrics relevant to postsecondary institutions and research entities.

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

Mother-Centric Data Linkages for Socio-Economic, Hospitalization, and Mortality Analysis Now Available

An update to Statistics Canada’s mother-centric data linkages was made available on June 24, enabling access at the Federal Research Data Centre and other research sites. These linkages allow users to correlate maternal socio-economic context with outcomes, including child hospitalizations and mortality, supporting research in health sciences and education policy.

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

US Federal GR News

U.S. Department of Education Opens Grant Competitions for Technology and Special Education Programs

On June 25, the Department of Education opened applications for two major competitive grant programs: the Educational Technology, Media, and Materials for Individuals with Disabilities Program, and its Stepping-Up Technology Implementation subprogram. The National Center to Improve Faculty Capacity will focus on increasing faculty expertise with educational technologies—including AI and assistive tech—for personnel and leadership preparation in special education, offering a $700,000 cooperative agreement. The Stepping-Up Technology Implementation competition aims to support up to five projects (totaling $2 million) to improve reading outcomes for children with disabilities through scalable, evidence-based technology tools, emphasizing engagement by educators and families, universal design, and accessibility. Both programs require detailed plans for evidence-based practice, training, and performance evaluation.

Sources: U.S. Federal Announcements: www.federalregister.gov, U.S. Federal Announcements: www.federalregister.gov

Innovative Rehabilitation Training Program Finalized to Enhance Vocational Rehabilitation Workforce

The U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services confirmed availability of $3.2 million for the Innovative Rehabilitation Training Program for FY2025, with the final priority and requirements announced on June 26. Grants ranging from $500,000–$640,000 are intended to develop training for vocational rehabilitation (VR) personnel on practices such as AI-enabled supports, STEM and technology careers, and employer engagement strategies. The program specifies requirements for empirical evidence, multi-stakeholder involvement, continuous curriculum updates, dissemination planning, advisory panels, and training design. Areas include career assessment for emerging industries, participant engagement, and customized field-initiated projects.

Sources: U.S. Federal Announcements: www.federalregister.gov, U.S. Federal Announcements: www.federalregister.gov

U.S. State Personnel Development Grants Competition Launches with Focus on Special Education Personnel

The U.S. Department of Education began accepting applications for the State Personnel Development Grants on June 23. The competition, funded under IDEA, supports reform and improvements in professional development for special education and early intervention personnel at the state level. Priorities include effective professional development delivery, engagement between schools and families, use of technology, and new teacher certification pathways such as residencies, apprenticeships, and support for emergency-certified personnel. The grants are open to state educational agencies, with awards ranging from $500,000 to $2.1 million per year, for a period up to five years. Applicants must address family involvement, coordination with other federal initiatives, and detailed evaluation measures.

Sources: U.S. Federal Announcements: www.federalregister.gov

IDEA Data Management and Technical Assistance Centers Funding Announced

On June 25, the Department of Education's Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services announced funding competitions for two centers: an IDEA Data Management Center ($2.7 million over five years) to assist states in integrating IDEA data into longitudinal systems and a National Technical Assistance Center to improve state fiscal data reporting under IDEA ($3.9 million in year one, up to $4.2 million per year in subsequent years). Eligible applicants include SEAs, LEAs, higher education institutions, and non-profits. Both centers are expected to support improved data quality, reporting, and analysis for compliance and policy development.

Sources: U.S. Federal Announcements: www.federalregister.gov, U.S. Federal Announcements: www.federalregister.gov

White House Issues Guidance and Policy on Research Integrity and 'Gold Standard Science'

Two official White House publications released June 23 and 24 set new agency directives for research integrity practices. The Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) outlined expectations for reproducibility, transparency, rigorous peer review, and full disclosure of research limitations and conflicts of interest, in line with President Trump's recent executive order. Agencies must report publicly within 60 days on steps taken to implement these standards in grant-making and culture. Administration officials framed these provisions as essential for restoring public trust, supporting scientific excellence, and providing clearer standards for journals and research-intensive organizations.

Sources: White House Announcements: www.whitehouse.gov, White House Announcements: www.whitehouse.gov

Canadian Provincial GR News

Ontario Funds New Doctor of Veterinary Medicine Facility at Lakehead University

The Ontario government will provide $2 million to Lakehead University to construct a large animal education facility supporting a new Collaborative Doctor of Veterinary Medicine Program, aimed at addressing vet shortages and workforce needs in Northern Ontario.

Sources: Provincial Announcement: news.ontario.ca

St. Francis Xavier University to Add New Child-Care Centre with Provincial Backing

Nova Scotia announced a partnership with StFX University in Antigonish to open a 104-space early learning centre, expanding campus and community access to child care under the Canada-Nova Scotia Early Learning and Child Care Agreement.

Sources: Provincial Announcement: news.novascotia.ca

GE Vernova Hitachi to Build First SMR Engineering Centre in Ontario

Ontario will host the world’s first BWRX-300 Small Modular Reactor engineering and service centre near Darlington New Nuclear Project, backed by a $70 million private investment and intended to support local workforce training for nuclear innovation.

Sources: Provincial Announcement: news.ontario.ca

Government Consultations

Public Officials' Social Media

On June 27, MP Aslam Rana used social media to commend local institutions including McMaster University and Mohawk College, referencing their community role in supporting Hamilton Centre.

Sources: Social Media: x.com

MP John Zerucelli posted on June 24 about his visit to the Future Skills Centre at IBEW 353 Training Centre, highlighting the contribution of skilled workers and the importance of hands-on training for Canada’s workforce.

Sources: Social Media: x.com

Senator Marilou McPhedran posted on June 25 about reconnecting with faculty at the University of Winnipeg Global College, referencing exchanges on advancing global education and justice.

Sources: Social Media: x.com

Senator Marilou McPhedran shared her participation as keynote speaker at a June 19 University Women Helping Afghan Women Dinner for Hope fundraiser, an event tied to Right to Learn Afghanistan.

Sources: Social Media: x.com

Senator Stan Kutcher posted a statement June 26 concerning the importance of informed opinion on scientific method and distinguishing legitimate science from pseudoscience.

Sources: Social Media: x.com

What We're Reading This Week

• [The Globe and Mail]: 'Looking for a needle in a haystack’: How students can navigate a tough summer job market
• [CBC]: Nipissing University, Northern College present balanced budgets as international student enrolment drops
• [CTV News]: Canada is cutting down on eligibility for student work permits. Here’s what to know
• [Financial Post]: Life Sciences Ontario Releases New Report Calling for Urgent Action to Bridge Critical Funding Gap Threatening Ontario's Innovation Leadership
• [The Globe and Mail]: AI Strategy Course Integrates Real-World Case Studies into AI Curriculum for Hands-On Learning
• [The Star]: Over half of Canada’s 2025 study permits going to international students already here
• [CTV News]: Tom Mulcair: Quebec government’s lack of moral compass on human rights is affecting campus life
• [The Globe and Mail]: PPX Mining Invests in Education and Infrastructure to Support Callanquitas Community
• [The Star]: The Trump administration is suing Minnesota over breaks in higher education for immigrant students