Good morning! This is Queen Street Analytics' weekly roundup of regulatory developments, legislative discussions, political announcements and other government-related news concerning retailers, hotels, restaurants, event and sports venues, cruise lines, casinos, gambling, theme parks, ski resorts, outdoor spaces, RV parks, and other travel and tourism professionals. Every Monday, we break down the most important updates in this space in under five minutes.

Want to track GR news in adjacent industries related? Don’t miss this week’s updates in Arts & Culture.

Dates: 2025-10-12 to 2025-10-18

📋 In This Week's Newsletter

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

This Week's Parliamentary Committee Calendar

• Canadian Heritage Committee to Study Effects of AI on Creative Industries: On October 22, the Canadian Heritage Committee will discuss technological advances in AI and their impact on creative industries. Key witnesses include representatives from Access Copyright, Association of Canadian Publishers, Canadian Authors Association, Work in Culture, Fédération culturelle canadienne-française, and Meta Platforms Inc.
• Citizenship and Immigration Committee to Examine Canada’s Immigration System: On October 21, the Citizenship and Immigration Committee holds hearings on Canada's immigration processes with witnesses from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada Border Services Agency, and RCMP.
• Citizenship and Immigration Committee Continues Study of Immigration System: On October 23, committee members will further examine Canada’s immigration system, featuring expert testimonies from Statistics Canada, Hong Kong Watch, Rainbow Railroad, and the Uyghur Rights Advocacy Project.
• Senate Social Affairs Committee Reviews Proposed Alcohol Label Law: On October 23, the Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology will review Bill S-202 regarding warning labels on alcoholic beverages, with witnesses including Canadian Cancer Society, Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction, Alcohol Action Ireland, and others.

Canadian Federal GR News

Competition Bureau Initiates Investigation into Mérieux NutriSciences’ Food Testing Acquisition

The Competition Bureau has obtained court orders to advance its investigation into Mérieux NutriSciences’ acquisition of Bureau Veritas’ Canadian food testing business. Mérieux, operating through Silliker Canada, now holds seven food testing labs nationwide after the acquisition, effectively doubling its presence in this market. The Bureau is assessing whether the transaction might lead to increased prices, diminished choices, or compromised service quality for clients such as food manufacturers, processors, retailers, and farmers. The investigation will also address competitive barriers faced by new and small companies and the effect of any planned facility closures on market competitiveness. Federal Court orders require Silliker Canada, its U.S. affiliate, and Bureau Veritas Canada to provide documents pertinent to the investigation, which may ultimately result in legal steps to restructure or unwind the deal. The Bureau retains authority for up to three years post-acquisition to pursue remedies if concerns regarding competition are substantiated.

Sources: Announcements: www.canada.ca

Government Outlines $100 Million BDC Initiative for Rural and Remote Small Businesses

The Honourable Rechie Valdez, Minister of Women and Gender Equality and Secretary of State (Small Business and Tourism), described a $100 million initiative from the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) alongside Community Futures and Community Business Development Corporations. Targeting the over 520,000 rural and remote Canadian entrepreneurs and small businesses, the program offers resources to support business growth and expansion. This builds on federal measures addressing U.S. tariff pressures, such as the $5 billion Strategic Response Fund, expanded BDC loans of up to $5 million, and the $1 billion Regional Tariff Response Initiative featuring flexible, non-repayable contributions for eligible SMEs. BDC has operated a Community Banking initiative since November 2024, increasing support for underserved groups in collaboration with lending partners. The announcement precedes Small Business Week, October 19-25.

Sources: Announcements: www.canada.ca

FedNor Invests $410,000 in Francophone Arts Training in Northern Ontario

Viviane Lapointe, MP for Sudbury, announced a $410,000 FedNor funding package for Place des Arts du Grand Sudbury to create the Institut de professionnalisation artistique et culturelle (IPAC). The IPAC will deliver training, mentorship, and residencies targeted to Francophone artists, cultural managers, and heritage professionals. Over three years, the Institute, collaborating with Collège Boréal and Université de l’Ontario français, is expected to address regional priorities, advance business skills in the arts, and enhance the economic role of cultural enterprises. The investment also supports occupancy rates and sustainability of Place des Arts facilities, while aiming to stimulate local tourism and job creation.

Sources: Announcements: www.canada.ca

Minister Valdez Announces New Rural Support Initiative for Nova Scotia Businesses

Minister Rechie Valdez, together with MP Jessica Fancy (South Shore–St. Margarets), announced a federal program directed at supporting rural and remote small businesses in Nova Scotia. The announcement, made at the Nova Scotia Community College’s Lunenburg campus on October 15, includes resource provisions for local enterprises and aligns with ongoing federal efforts to strengthen regional economies. Media and stakeholders were briefed on the details of federal support frameworks, mechanisms for engagement, and anticipated rollout timing.

Sources: Announcements: www.canada.ca

Minister Joly Shares Strategy for Industry Growth at Fredericton Chamber

Minister Mélanie Joly, responsible for Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions, spoke at the Fredericton Chamber of Commerce on October 15, presenting her vision for Canada’s industrial future. Joly outlined key priorities, business growth levers, and operational pathways intended to foster local company development while advancing Canada’s footprint in foreign markets. Industry stakeholders were given insight into upcoming federal priorities, as well as practical approaches for cross-market expansion.

Sources: Announcements: www.canada.ca

Minister Joly Addresses Québec Chamber on National Business Priorities

On October 17, Minister Mélanie Joly addressed the Chambre de commerce et d’industrie de Québec, providing details on her industrial policy approach. Joly described national priorities and key growth drivers, stressing the role of localization alongside broader international expansion strategies. The event served as a forum for information exchange with local business representatives and outlined opportunities for market-building activities at both the provincial and national levels.

Sources: Announcements: www.canada.ca

StatsCan Issues New Data on Rural Employment by Sector

Statistics Canada released an updated interactive dashboard presenting employment by industry in rural regions for September 2025. The platform allows users to assess sector-specific employment trends, providing actionable data for hospitality and retail operators situated outside major urban centers.

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

StatsCan Publishes Flow Diagram Linking Education Fields with Occupations

A new interactive chart produced by Statistics Canada displays connections between major fields of study and occupational outcomes, based on the 2021 Census. The resource incorporates custom national occupational classifications and enables further analysis of workforce alignment by education, immigration status, province, and other demographic details.

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

Weekly StatsCan Data Released on Aircraft Movements

Statistics Canada released data covering aircraft itinerant movements for the week of September 27 to October 3, 2025, available online for stakeholders to track travel service metrics and patterns affecting the hospitality and leisure travel industries.

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

US Federal GR News

SBA Declares Disaster in Arizona, Opens Disaster Loan Application Period

On October 17, the U.S. Small Business Administration declared an administrative disaster for Arizona after Gila County suffered flooding between September 25-27. Businesses and residents in Gila and adjacent counties are eligible to apply for physical damage and Economic Injury Disaster Loans, with credit-dependent interest rates ranging from 3% to 8%. The physical loan application deadline is December 9; economic injury applications are due by July 10, 2026. SBA's online portal and local facilities will process applications, with dedicated support for affected hospitality providers and business owners in the region. The declaration activates specific loan authorities under 13 CFR 1234.3(b) for designated counties impacted by the flooding event.

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

Canadian Provincial GR News

Quebec Opens Call for Projects to Support Museum Exhibitions

The Quebec Ministry of Culture and Communications launched a call for projects for support of permanent and traveling exhibitions from October 14 to January 30, 2026. Accredited museums and exhibition centers are invited to apply for funding to renew and increase access to the museum exhibition offering.

Sources: Provincial Announcement: www.quebec.ca

Quebec Announces Capital Assistance Program for Cultural Infrastructure

The Ministry of Culture and Communications announced a call for projects for Component 2.2 of the Capital Assistance Program, open October 16 to December 17, aiming to fund renovation and restoration of cultural real estate assets across Quebec.

Sources: Provincial Announcement: www.quebec.ca

What We're Reading This Week

• Vancouver, Toronto confident about hotel room supply for FIFA World Cup fans, after Swift concerts: Canada’s largest cities expect sufficient hotel inventory for upcoming FIFA World Cup events, drawing lessons from previous large-scale concerts.
• Jincheng Explores a New Model for Wellness Tourism Through Ancient Village Revitalization: Coverage of wellness tourism experiments in rural heritage settings.
• How an old cereal factory became a world-class destination: An industrial redevelopment project transforms a historic site into a hospitality hub.
• Opinion: If birth tourism is such a big scam, why do so few immigrants take advantage?: Discussion of birth tourism trends and their impact on immigration statistics.
• What the CEO of a merino wool clothing company packs when he travels: CEO shares personal travel packing preferences for business and leisure trips.

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