Good morning! This is Queen Street Analytics' weekly roundup of regulatory developments, legislative discussions, political announcements and other government-related news concerning ICT, cloud computing, digital infrastructure, social media platforms, digital privacy, AI, cybersecurity, blockchain, and Web3. Every Monday, we break down the most important updates in this space in under five minutes.

Want to track other GR news in adjacent industries? Don’t miss this week’s updates in Finance.

Dates: 2025-09-21 to 2025-09-27

📋 In This Week's Newsletter

• 🏛️ House of Commons Committee Meetings
• 🇨🇦 Canadian Federal GR News
• 🇺🇸 US Federal GR News
• 🗺️ Canadian Provincial GR News
• 📚 What We're Reading This Week

House of Commons Committee Meetings

• Standing Committee on Industry and Technology: Appearance by CRTC Chairperson: The Standing Committee on Industry and Technology convened on September 24, 2025, with CRTC Chairperson Vicky Eatrides and two vice-presidents as witnesses. The session focused on the commission’s regulatory activities spanning telecommunications and broadcasting.

Canadian Federal GR News

Canada Launches AI Strategy Task Force and National Engagement Sprint

On September 26, the Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Innovation, Evan Solomon, announced the formation of an AI Strategy Task Force to set a renewed national direction for artificial intelligence. This body includes representatives from academia, industry, and civil society, who will gather actionable insights over a 30-day national sprint (October 1–31), culminating in strategic proposals this November. The government seeks advice across research, workforce, AI adoption in business and government, commercialization, scaling domestic AI champions, investment attraction, safe AI systems, education, infrastructure, and security. Collaboration is expected to inform a cohesive multi-sectoral national AI strategy as new technological capabilities intersect with shifting geopolitical conditions.

Sources: Announcements: www.canada.ca

Federal Engagement at ALL IN 2025 Advances Homegrown AI Leadership

Ministers Mélanie Joly and Evan Solomon joined more than 6,000 international and domestic AI stakeholders at ALL IN 2025 in Montréal, an event organized by Scale AI. Joly's closing keynote affirmed the government’s investment and policy direction toward strategic AI, highlighting connections to national defence and cybersecurity. Solomon introduced the new AI Strategy Task Force and participated in public sessions focused on enterprise adoption and digital sovereignty. Both ministers consulted with industry and research leaders regarding applications in digital infrastructure, manufacturing, supply chain, and ocean industries. The government signaled further support for innovation clusters and quantum technology investment, underscoring priorities in infrastructure resilience and secure digital ecosystems.

Sources: Announcements: www.canada.ca

Canadian Support for Business-Higher Education Collaboration Expands

Minister Mélanie Joly announced funding for the Business + Higher Education Roundtable (BHER) to increase work-integrated learning opportunities for students in technology and related sectors. Between 2022 and 2025, BHER facilitated over 22,000 new placements. The latest investment targets 8,000 additional student roles and engagement with 2,500 businesses by March 2028. The initiative prioritizes francophone programming and aims to equip Canadian businesses with a skilled emerging workforce as technological transformation accelerates across industries.

Sources: Announcements: www.canada.ca

Canada Strengthens Trade and Cybersecurity Ties with ASEAN

Parliamentary Secretary Yasir Naqvi joined the Fourteenth ASEAN Economic Ministers-Canada Consultation in Kuala Lumpur, pressing for a prompt conclusion of free trade agreement negotiations by 2026. The mission also included support for the Canada-ASEAN Business Council and hosting a nuclear energy roundtable. Naqvi visited the BlackBerry Cybersecurity Center of Excellence, established in Malaysia in 2024, which promotes cybersecurity training and expertise exchange in the Indo-Pacific, further linking Canadian digital businesses and cybersecurity priorities with international partners.

Sources: Announcements: www.canada.ca

Senate Motions Advance Technology Lens, Privacy Protections, and SME Support

Senate proceedings on September 23 and 24 saw tributes and legislative proposals, with several discussions relevant to ICT and cybersecurity. Senator Pierre Moreau responded to questions regarding Arctic security, judicial appointments, and the government’s commitment to a technology lens in public policy, as featured in Motion 3. On September 24, Senator Leo Housakos raised criticisms of federal housing policies, while Moreau addressed privacy concerns in the Broadcasting Act and decision-making in defence procurement. A motion for a verified travellers program was proposed to address inefficiencies in airport cybersecurity screening. Senators also referenced government initiatives supporting SMEs and digital bill independence. Debates addressed systemic technology adoption challenges in governance, equitable access, and mental health support through digital means.

Sources: Transcripts: senparlvu.parl.gc.ca, Transcripts: senparlvu.parl.gc.ca

Statistics Canada Releases Informatics Professional Services Price Indexes for 2024

Statistics Canada published the 2024 index data for informatics professional services, providing updated price metrics relevant to software, cybersecurity consulting, cloud computing, and electronic services procurement. These indexes offer industry participants new insights for benchmarking contract rates and evaluating changes in ICT-related service costs nationwide.

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

US Federal GR News

US Finalizes TikTok Divestiture Deal under National Security Law

On September 25, the White House announced the resolution of long-running negotiations regarding TikTok’s ownership. The Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act requires TikTok’s parent, ByteDance, to reduce its stake below 20% and mandates that a US-based joint venture assume control of data, algorithms, and content moderation. Oracle will serve as TikTok’s security partner, overseeing storage and monitoring, with a national security-focused board and compliance committee. The Attorney General will suspend enforcement for 120 days to allow for final adjustments to the ownership structure. This arrangement permits TikTok’s continued operation in the US while addressing concerns about foreign management of sensitive user data and algorithmic systems.

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

FCC Publishes Spring 2025 Regulatory Agenda Targeting Robocalls, Broadband, and Cybersecurity

The Federal Communications Commission released its semiannual regulatory agenda covering consumer protection, broadband deployment, spectrum management, media ownership, public safety, space-based communications, wireless technology, universal service, and administrative modernizations. Current regulatory actions focus on curbing illicit robocalls, revising broadband data collection, enabling 5G expansion in rural areas, and establishing rules for the resilience of network infrastructure and emergency alert systems. Actions are also planned to update rules on non-geostationary satellite systems, manage spectrum sharing for advanced communications, and support digital equity initiatives in underserved regions, including Alaska.

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

OSTP Seeks Input on AI-Related Regulatory Barriers

The Office of Science and Technology Policy issued a request for information (RFI) seeking feedback about existing federal regulations that impede the advancement or adoption of artificial intelligence technologies. The RFI is open to all interested parties—including industry organizations and public sector agencies—through October 27. Areas of focus include regulatory mismatches, direct impediments, and lack of clarity in statutes and rules written before the emergence of modern AI applications. Feedback will inform future policy revisions to better align governance frameworks with new technical realities.

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

FTC Updates System of Records Notices under the Privacy Act of 1974

The Federal Trade Commission published technical amendments to its Privacy Act System of Records Notices (SORNs), effective September 25. The modifications clarify information about records disposition schedules, update system manager titles, and refine retention, access, and safeguarding policies for agency records across law enforcement, personnel, correspondence tracking, FOIA/Privacy Act request handling, mailing lists, and employee location data. These changes improve transparency and accuracy in federal information management practices but do not change substantive routine uses of system records.

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

FERC Proposes New Cybersecurity Standards for Electric Grid Entities

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission is considering approval of CIP-003-11, a Critical Infrastructure Protection reliability standard drafted by the North American Electric Reliability Corporation. The proposal introduces requirements for remote user authentication, secure transmission of authentication data, and malicious communication detection for low-impact Bulk Electric System Cyber Systems. Industry stakeholders have until November 24 to provide input, with a three-year implementation window anticipated for regulated entities. The draft aims to address vulnerabilities highlighted in recent coordinated cyberattacks including incidents by Volt Typhoon and SolarWinds.

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

Canadian Provincial GR News

Canada Signs Multilateral Cybersecurity Collaboration Agreement

Federal, provincial, and territorial ministers signed an agreement in Alberta designed to facilitate real-time intelligence sharing to counter cyber threats, improve infrastructure security, and support public sector critical systems. The accord enables joint cybersecurity event response and new pan-Canadian tabletop exercises.

Sources: Provincial Announcement: www.alberta.ca

Quebec Launches Collaborative AI and Quantum Innovation Call

Quebec has invited consortia of businesses and cooperatives—including at least one SME or startup—to submit projects advancing responsible artificial intelligence and quantum technology solutions. Financial assistance of up to $1.5 million per project is available for 24-month initiatives that support sectoral adoption and commercialization.

Sources: Provincial Announcement: www.quebec.ca

Nova Scotia Introduces Modernized Privacy Legislation

Nova Scotia unveiled the new Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy (FOIPOP) Act, consolidating related laws and introducing significant changes such as expanded oversight to municipalities and villages, higher penalties for violations, and new notification requirements for harm-causing breaches. The act takes effect April 1, 2027.

Sources: Provincial Announcement: news.novascotia.ca

Nova Scotia Proposes Social Insurance Number Protection Act

The province tabled legislation placing restrictions on private companies’ collection and retention of social insurance numbers and updating related privacy provisions. Penalties under the Wildlife Act and Crown Lands Act were also increased.

Sources: Provincial Announcement: news.novascotia.ca

ALL IN in Montréal Asserts Canadian AI Hub Status

The third edition of ALL IN in Montréal brought together over 6,000 participants and 200 speakers from more than 40 countries to address applications of AI across business sectors. The event featured immersive experiences and attracted representatives from all levels of government.

Sources: Provincial Announcement: www.quebec.ca

What We're Reading This Week

• Ottawa planning ‘refreshed’ AI strategy, data protection bill: The federal government prepares to modernize its AI strategy and personal data protection efforts.
• No more secrets: OLG’s cybersecurity head calls for industry cooperation: A senior executive describes why coordinated responses to digital threats are essential.
• Tech giants’ control of online advertising puts national security at risk: report: Findings indicate cybersecurity vulnerabilities in online ad ecosystems.
• Cybersecurity centre warns of sophisticated threat targeting Cisco equipment: A federal alert identifies advanced threats focused on major network hardware.
• Ottawa to prioritize tech with civilian and defence applications in new strategy: Canada’s upcoming defence strategy will focus on industries with dual-use technologies.
• Microsoft limits Israeli army’s access to cloud platform after reports of mass surveillance: Microsoft restricts Israeli defence access to Azure in light of surveillance concerns.
• Microsoft reduces Israel’s access to cloud and AI products over surveillance in Gaza: Additional curbs come amid scrutiny of cloud and AI tools in military contexts.
• Erin O'Toole: When the lights go out — a warning about cyber risks: Commentary details sectoral risks and crisis management challenges.
• Business Brief: On the quest for a quantum leap: Coverage on Canadian firms pushing quantum technology boundaries.
• Defence hackathon brings whizzes from across Canada together to solve Arctic surveillance: Teams address surveillance technology gaps in Arctic environments.

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