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: 2025-11-30 to 2025-12-06

📋 In This Week's Newsletter

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

This Week's Parliamentary Calendar

• Standing Senate Committee on Transport and Communications – Bill C-15 Infrastructure Provisions: On December 9, the Senate Standing Committee on Transport and Communications will review Divisions 1, 2, 24, 28, and 29 of Part 5 of Bill C-15, with Transport Canada, Public Service and Procurement Canada, Alto, and the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada among the witnesses. The meeting is scheduled for 9:00 a.m. in Room B45, Senate of Canada Building.
• House of Commons Public Accounts Committee – Briefing with Audit and Accountability Organizations: On December 9, the House of Commons Public Accounts Committee will hold a briefing with the Canadian Audit and Accountability Foundation and the Office of the Auditor General. Witnesses include Lesley Burns (Canadian Audit and Accountability Foundation) and Andrew Hayes (Office of the Auditor General). The meeting will take place from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. in Room 330, Wellington Building.
• House of Commons Canadian Heritage Committee – Effects of Influencers and Social Media Content on Children and Adolescents: On December 8, the House of Commons Canadian Heritage Committee will study the effects of influencers and social media content on children and adolescents. Witnesses include Perry Mason, Tiana Sharifi, Dimitri Pavlounis, Ève Tessier-Bouchard, Stacy Hanson, and André Côté. The meeting is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. in Room 425, Wellington Building.

Canadian Federal Government News

Senate Committee Probes Open Banking, Privacy, and Competition under Bill C-15

On December 4, the Senate Standing Committee on Banking, Commerce and the Economy examined Bill C-15, featuring testimony from the Privacy Commissioner of Canada, the Competition Bureau, and the Canadian Bankers Association. Privacy Commissioner Philippe Dufresne outlined the necessity for robust privacy measures in open banking, stressing secure data transfer, consumer consent, and the need for consultation on regulatory frameworks. Senators raised jurisdictional issues concerning data held outside Canada and discussed the definition and scope of data mobility. Competition Bureau officials described how the Consumer-Driven Banking Act would embed competition principles within the regulatory objectives of the Bank of Canada, supporting innovation and consumer choice. The committee also addressed the removal of international standards references in the Competition Act and debated provisions on greenwashing and consumer protection in banking, including banks’ fraud reporting obligations and standards for consumer liability. Representatives from the Canada Development Investment Corporation discussed legislative proposals aimed at modernizing the corporation’s mandate and improving transparency.

Sources: senparlvu.parl.gc.ca

Senate Committee Reviews Canada Infrastructure Bank Expansion and Open Banking

At a December 3 meeting, the Senate Standing Committee on Banking, Commerce and the Economy considered Bill C-15’s proposal to increase the Canada Infrastructure Bank’s capital by $10 billion. Officials from Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada and the Department of Finance explained the bank’s long-term investment strategy and accountability, with senators questioning impacts on affordable housing and regional development. The committee also addressed a forthcoming consumer-driven banking act, with Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada officials discussing open banking and its implications for competition, privacy, and fraud prevention. Senators criticized the absence of mandatory fraud detection policies in the legislation and discussed data sovereignty and regulatory review cycles.

Sources: senparlvu.parl.gc.ca

Canada Publishes First National Standard on Accessible Artificial Intelligence

Accessibility Standards Canada announced the release of CAN-ASC-6.2, the country’s first national standard for accessible and equitable artificial intelligence (AI) systems. The standard, approved by the Standards Council of Canada, provides guidelines to help organizations design AI systems that are accessible to people with disabilities and ensure fairness throughout the AI lifecycle. Developed with input from technical committees and public review, the standard is positioned as a benchmark for accessible AI development across sectors, including software, cloud platforms, and digital infrastructure.

Sources: www.canada.ca

Regional Defence Investment Initiative Opens to Businesses in Southern Ontario and Atlantic Canada

On December 5, federal ministers announced the opening of the Regional Defence Investment Initiative (RDII) in southern Ontario and Atlantic Canada. FedDev Ontario will deliver $94.7 million from the national $357.7 million RDII budget, with an additional $106 million allocated from existing resources, bringing regional support close to $200 million. In Atlantic Canada, $38.2 million over three years will be administered by ACOA. The RDII aims to help businesses—especially SMEs—in advanced manufacturing, aerospace, cybersecurity, and related ICT fields scale up, invest in new technologies, and access defence supply chains domestically and internationally. Eligible businesses include firms producing dual-use technologies or pivoting to defence sector supply. Information sessions for applicants will be held by ACOA and FedDev Ontario.

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

Atlantic Canadian Tech and Mining Firms Expand Internationally Through London Trade Missions

Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency supported two trade missions to London, UK, in early December, connecting regional technology and mining companies with European buyers and investors. The delegation of software and AI companies, led by Digital Nova Scotia, participated in SaaStr AI London, securing meetings with potential clients and joining market briefings on digital transformation. Mining sector firms attended Resourcing Tomorrow, showcasing critical minerals and mining technology projects to European investors and industry leaders. The missions aimed to support export growth and international partnerships for Atlantic Canadian ICT and mining sector firms.

Sources: www.canada.ca

Canadian Provincial Government News

Ontario Announces Marvell Technology’s $238 Million AI Infrastructure Expansion

The Government of Ontario welcomed Marvell Technology’s five-year, $238 million expansion, including a new Toronto office, expanded R&D in Ottawa and York Region, and a new optical lab. The investment will create up to 350 new jobs and strengthen Ontario’s position in semiconductor and AI infrastructure.

Sources: news.ontario.ca

Government Consultations

Consultation on Cybersecurity Guidelines for Licensed Insolvency Trustees

Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada is consulting on amendments to the Superintendent’s directives related to cybersecurity guidelines and minimum requirements for the Licensed Insolvency Trustee community, with submissions open until December 12, 2025.

Sources: ised-isde.canada.ca

What We're Reading This Week

• The Star: Identity Becomes the Prime Target for Cybercriminals: Regula discusses major cyber incidents that defined 2025’s threat landscape.
• CTV News: India mandates pre-installation of government cyber safety app on all smartphones: India requires a government cyber safety app on all new smartphones.
• The Globe and Mail: Canada’s age-verification bill for porn is a slippery slope to a restrictive internet: Opinion on the implications of age-verification requirements for online content.
• CTV News: Settlement in 23andMe data breach class-action proposed at about $4.49M: Proposed settlement addresses the 23andMe data breach class-action.
• The Star: Charli Brings High-Assurance AI to Capital Markets: Charli launches governance blueprint and platform expansion for AI in capital markets.
• The Globe and Mail: Canada must build its own supercomputers or risk surrendering its future: Opinion on the strategic importance of domestic supercomputing.
• CTV News: EU hits Meta with antitrust probe over plans to block AI rivals from WhatsApp: The EU investigates Meta’s strategy regarding AI competitors and WhatsApp.

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