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.

Want to see GR activities in areas of the economy related to the Higher Ed channel? Don’t miss this week’s updates in Social Issues and BioPharma.

Dates: 2025-08-10 to 2025-08-16

📋 In This Week's Newsletter

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

Canadian Federal GR News

Federal Government Commits Over $13 Million to Electricity Grid Modernization in Ontario

Natural Resources Canada announced more than $13 million in funding for five projects under its Energy Innovation Program (EIP)—Smart Grids Demonstration Call. Leading recipients include Alectra Utilities for the Centricity project, targeting customer participation in electricity markets via distributed solar panels and batteries, with additional support for international collaboration. Additional projects receiving funds include HIAH Corp.’s deployment of advanced multi-port power conversion for industrial facilities in rural Ontario, Peak Power Inc.’s distributed energy resource management platform across three Toronto locations, and Enova Power Corp.’s plans to pilot an AI-based load forecasting and optimization market at the distribution level in Waterloo. Funding totals for individual projects range from $750,000 to $6 million. These initiatives are designed to integrate renewable generation, enhance customer participation, and ease grid constraints while supporting deferred infrastructure investments.

Sources: Announcements: www.canada.ca

Canadian Apprenticeship Strategy: Green Skills Training Expands Across Canada

Employment and Social Development Canada confirmed funding for green skills development through the Union Training and Innovation Program, part of the Canadian Apprenticeship Strategy. Announcements include $10 million to the Western Joint Electrical Training Society for hands-on training for more than 17,300 construction electricians and $3+ million to the National Electrical Trade Council for drone-based powerline maintenance training. Additional funded projects focus on millwrighting with virtual reality, sustainable building methods, renewable energy integration, and green truck maintenance courses. Eligible organizations span unions, training funds, not-for-profits, and private sector partners with union affiliations. The majority of projects will be delivered nationwide, targeting Red Seal trades and supporting both union and non-union workers.

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

AI Commercialization and Technology Funding Announced for Saskatchewan Businesses

Prairies Economic Development Canada committed $1.3 million to three Saskatchewan projects supporting artificial intelligence-driven innovation and commercialization. Ground Truth Agriculture Inc. will receive $586,900 for developing and commercializing AI grain grading systems aimed at agricultural buyers and producers. Greenwave Innovations Inc. secured $425,000 to enhance energy monitoring platforms using AI for commercial and industrial buildings, facilitating early detection of equipment malfunctions and utility waste. Offstreet Technology Inc. will receive $300,000 under the Business Scale-up and Productivity program to expand its university and guest parking management platform. Funding is structured as a mix of repayable and non-repayable interest-free contributions.

Sources: Announcements: www.canada.ca

Natural Resources Canada Announces $45.7 Million for Wildfire Research Projects

The Government of Canada, through Natural Resources Canada, announced $45.7 million for 30 projects under the Build and Mobilize Foundational Wildland Fire Knowledge program. Projects include large demonstration sites for wildfire risk mitigation, Indigenous-led stewardship initiatives, advanced LiDAR-based characterization by the University of Toronto, and fire behavior research in Atlantic Canada. Recipients such as Central Chilcotin Rehabilitation, the University of British Columbia, Biodiversity Pathways, and others will conduct research on adaptive forestry, fire mitigation, and community preparedness, with over $41.7 million allocated for broader demonstration projects and $3.9 million directed at Indigenous-led activities. Efforts encompass both non-profit and academic partners and aim to strengthen fire risk assessments and mitigation strategies nationwide.

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

Government of Canada Launches 2025 Cyber Security Cooperation Program

On August 14, Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree announced the launch of the 2025 Cyber Security Cooperation Program (CSCP). The program’s new call for proposals will distribute up to $10.3 million over five years for initiatives in cyber security innovation, knowledge sharing, and capacity building. The CSCP supports projects aligned with the objectives of the National Cyber Security Strategy. Funding priorities and terms are now available, and applications are currently open for interested organizations.

Sources: Announcements: www.canada.ca

Parliamentary Secretary Corey Hogan Details Wildland Fire Knowledge Funding Initiatives

Through Natural Resources Canada, over $41.7 million was directed toward 20 research and demonstration wildfire projects, while $3.9 million supported 10 Indigenous-led initiatives. Efforts involve adaptive silviculture, fuel management, Indigenous fire knowledge, and risk mitigation strategies. Recipients include the University of British Columbia for large-scale risk studies, York University for local government partnership research, and an array of Indigenous communities addressing landscape level stewardship, monitoring, and community engagement. Grant recipients will focus their work on risk assessment, knowledge transfer, and integrating traditional knowledge with modern mitigation technologies.

Sources: Announcements: www.canada.ca

Canadian International Trade Tribunal to Investigate Language Training Procurement Complaint

The Canadian International Trade Tribunal is conducting an inquiry into a complaint by École de langues Eagle Inc. regarding a Department of Public Works and Government Services Canada procurement issued on behalf of the Department of National Defence. The complaint alleges unfair evaluation of bids for second language training services, with specific reference to undisclosed criteria. The inquiry follows a decision on August 1, 2025, and further information is available through the Tribunal Registry.

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

StatsCan Reports International Arrivals to Canada Continue Downward Trend

Preliminary figures for July 2025 show 6.3 million international arrivals to Canada by air and automobile, marking a 15.6% decrease from July 2024 and the sixth consecutive month of declines. The data indicate that rising non-resident arrivals by air have not offset declines in other categories, highlighting ongoing changes in travel patterns.

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

Global Affairs Canada Announces Senior Executive Appointments

On August 14, 2025, Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand’s office released updated biographical notes detailing appointments of Canadian diplomatic personnel. Key movements include Jennifer Lalonde’s transition to head of cooperation in Brazil, Joanne Lemay’s continued work as Canada’s first high commissioner to multiple Pacific countries, and Paul Thoppil’s ongoing assignment as Indo-Pacific trade representative based in Jakarta. Changes reflect ongoing adjustments to Canadian diplomatic deployments and trade priorities.

Sources: Announcements: www.canada.ca

Employment and Social Development Canada Recognizes International Youth Day 2025

Secretary of State (Children and Youth) Anna Gainey issued a formal statement on August 12 acknowledging International Youth Day and the federal government’s ongoing efforts to support young people’s entry into the workforce. References included the Youth Employment and Skills Strategy, the Student Work Placement Program, and the National School Food Program as current supports targeting youth employment and education access.

Sources: Announcements: www.canada.ca

US Federal GR News

Executive Order 14332: Oversight of Federal Grantmaking Tightened

On August 7, 2025, President Trump signed Executive Order 14332 instructing agencies to overhaul discretionary federal grant review and approval processes. The order requires senior appointees to review funding opportunities, prioritize grants aligning with administration policies, limit support for indirect costs, and implement new termination clauses in grant agreements. Agencies must avoid funding racially discriminatory or ideologically controversial initiatives, and must build new accountability frameworks for grantmaking. The Office of Management and Budget is directed to revise guidance for awarding agencies, including further limits on administrative and facilities costs. Existing grants will be reviewed for compliance and agencies are required to implement these updates for future awards.

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

Department of Education Proposes Admissions Transparency Survey Following SFFA v. Harvard

The Department of Education's National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) will revise the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) for 2024-27 to incorporate a new Admissions and Consumer Transparency Supplement (ACTS) survey. This action follows the Supreme Court's 2023 decision barring race-based discrimination in admissions. The ACTS survey will target four-year colleges with selective admissions, collecting disaggregated application, scholarship, and outcome data by race, test scores, income, and parental education. Data from academic years 2020-21 through 2025-26 will be reported, establishing baselines for compliance measures. Public feedback on institutional participation scope and reporting burden is open through October 14, 2025.

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

Office of Personnel Management Discontinues the Pathways Presidential Management Fellows Program

Effective August 11, 2025, the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) rescinded regulations for the Pathways Presidential Management Fellows (PMF) Program following direction from Executive Order 14217. Agencies must now use other existing hiring authorities for recruitment and development of early career talent. OPM expects annual cost savings of approximately $3.7 million by eliminating centralized program administration, leveraging agency-specific employment programs for recent graduates and interns. The changes take immediate effect, with guidance issued for current fellow transitions.

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

Health and Human Services Debars Researcher for Misconduct in DNA Sequence Reporting

The Office of Research Integrity announced on August 12, 2025, that Ryan Evanoff, formerly at Washington State University, received a three-year debarment for research misconduct after falsifying and fabricating DNA sequencing records in an NIH-funded project. The sanction prohibits participation in federal contracts and certain transactions through June 16, 2028.

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

White House Issues Executive Order to Boost U.S. Commercial Space Sector

On August 13, 2025, President Trump signed an executive order directing federal agencies to remove regulatory barriers and expedite authorizations for commercial space launches and novel space activities. The Secretary of Transportation will revise regulations controlling launch and reentry licensing, while the Secretary of Commerce is charged with reviewing state-level regulatory impacts on spaceport development. The order calls for new leadership roles within relevant departments to prioritize deregulation and innovation, as well as proposals to clarify approval processes under the Outer Space Treaty. Agency environmental and national security reviews associated with spaceport development are to be accelerated as part of these reforms.

Sources: White House Announcements: www.whitehouse.gov

Canadian Provincial GR News

Ontario Increases Construction Program Enrollment with $75 Million Investment

Ontario will invest $75 million to add up to 7,800 seats in college and university construction and planning programs, including new seats for graduate students in urban and land-use planning, beginning September 2025.

Sources: Provincial Announcement: news.ontario.ca

Ontario Invests Over $5 Million in Skills Development for Eastern Ontario Trades

Over $5 million through the Skills Development Fund will support more than 2,900 trainees and apprentices in the Northumberland and Peterborough regions, spanning construction, manufacturing, and aviation-related fields.

Sources: Provincial Announcement: news.ontario.ca

Alberta Earmarks $4.2 Million for First Nations Student Mental Health Initiatives

Alberta’s government awarded $4.2 million to improve learning and mental health supports for K-12 students in 27 First Nations for the 2025-26 school year, offering recipients flexibility in programming.

Sources: Provincial Announcement: www.alberta.ca

Alberta Allocates $5.2 Million to Crop Diversification Centres

Alberta’s 2025 budget allocated $5.2 million for repairs, upgrades, and operational support at its two crop diversification centres, supporting research, lab, and greenhouse facilities.

Sources: Provincial Announcement: www.alberta.ca

Ontario Launches $7.7 Million Fund to Support Indian Residential School Survivors

The Indian Residential School Community Engagement Fund is open for applications, offering up to $250,000 per initiative for survivor engagement, commemoration, and research activities.

Sources: Provincial Announcement: news.ontario.ca

Government Consultations

Federal Consultation on 2025 Immigration Levels Closing August 17

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada continues stakeholder consultations until August 17 to inform its 2026–2028 Immigration Levels Plan, including targets for permanent and temporary resident admissions and Francophone immigration.

Sources: Canadian Government Consultations: www.canada.ca

What We're Reading This Week

• ‘Great relief’: After uncertainty, Canadian Harvard students expect to return this fall: Canadian students at Harvard prepare to resume studies following recent uncertainty around U.S. visa policy.
• Finding justice for the voiceless: How a University of Guelph veterinarian is pioneering a growing field: CTV News reports on the expansion of veterinary forensics at the University of Guelph.
• UWindsor joins national network to support military members balancing higher education: CBC covers the University of Windsor’s commitment to support students serving in the Canadian military.
• Manitoba educators consider appropriate, ethical AI use as policies develop: Manitoba’s educators are evaluating ethical frameworks for AI as provincial policy discussions continue.
• How organizations can better attract and retain young talent: The Globe and Mail features approaches to attract and retain next-generation talent.
• Forming good financial habits as a student can keep debt from spiralling: The Star discusses how students can develop financial skills to manage debt.
• The smart choice for career growth on your schedule: Insights on flexible education options for working learners.
• Trump administration ordered to restore some withheld grant funding to UCLA: A federal court ruling affects U.S. research grant funding allocations.
• University of Windsor commits to helping students serving in Canada's military: CBC video highlights new university programs for Canadian military personnel.
• Opinion: Ontario universities must be released from their financial chokehold: An opinion piece on financial pressures facing Ontario universities.

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