Good morning! This is Queen Street Analytics' weekly roundup of regulatory developments, legislative discussions, political announcements and other government-related news concerning social advocacy issues. 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
• 🗺️ Canadian Provincial GR News
• 💬 Government Consultations
• 📱 Public Officials' Social Media
• 📚 What We're Reading This Week

Canadian Federal GR News

Bill C-5 Receives Royal Assent: Free Trade and Labour Mobility, Building Canada Act Implementation

Bill C-5—the One Canadian Economy Act, which includes the Free Trade and Labour Mobility in Canada Act and the Building Canada Act—received Royal Assent on June 26, 2025. The government is preparing to launch consultations with provinces, territories, and Indigenous rights-holders to identify the initial list of national interest projects. Key considerations for project inclusion will cover autonomy, resilience, economic benefit, and Indigenous advancement. A major projects office and an Indigenous Advisory Council will support implementation, providing guidance on consultation best practices. The federal approach is structured for a single regulatory review within two years, shifting reviews to focus on project delivery. Workers deemed qualified under comparable provincial or territorial standards will now see these credentials recognized federally for interprovincial work. The Act also introduces a 'one project, one review' policy, slated to reduce assessment duplication. Regulations to determine comparability and detailed guidance for stakeholders are forthcoming.

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

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CSIS Issues First Annual Report Addressing Workplace Misconduct

The Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) published its first annual Addressing Misconduct and Wrongdoing report on June 26, 2025. The document, covering 2023 and 2024, details steps to support workplace integrity and transparency and outlines case statistics for misconduct and organizational responses. CSIS leadership has committed to annual disclosures going forward. The agency’s Director, Dan Rogers, cited the report as part of building an environment free from harassment, discrimination, and reprisal. This move represents an increased focus within federal agencies on transparency in workplace culture and the consequences of inappropriate behavior.

Sources: Announcements: www.canada.ca

Canada Renews $675 Million Commitment to Global Child Vaccination

Canada, represented by Secretary of State (International Development) Randeep Sarai, reaffirmed a five-year, $675 million pledge to Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, at the organization’s pledging conference in Brussels on June 25, 2025. The funding is earmarked for immunizations for at least 500 million more children globally between 2026 and 2030, with anticipated prevention of over 8 million deaths. The investment includes support for new malaria vaccine distribution and infrastructure improvements, such as over 20,000 solar-powered fridges for vaccine storage in remote areas. Sarai held bilateral meetings with leaders from WHO, UNICEF, Ethiopia, and Nigeria, addressing collaborative approaches to ongoing global health challenges.

Sources: Announcements: www.canada.ca

Joint Statement on International LGBTQI+ Pride Day 2025 Released

Foreign ministers from Canada and 14 other countries issued a joint statement for International LGBTQI+ Pride Day 2025 on June 28, outlining opposition to violence, stigmatization, and criminalization targeting LGBTQI+ individuals. The statement calls for repealing discriminatory laws and ending conversion practices, arguing for policy implementation in line with international human rights standards. The joint effort includes recognition of intersectional discrimination and reflects ongoing diplomatic efforts to build coordinated responses on human rights protections for LGBTQI+ populations.

Sources: Announcements: www.canada.ca

Minister Fraser Meets Atlantic Indigenous Leaders on Economic Development

Minister Sean Fraser met with the Atlantic Policy Congress of First Nations Chiefs Secretariat and the Atlantic Indigenous Economic Development Integrated Research Program on June 25 in Millbrook First Nation, Nova Scotia. The session focused on Indigenous-led economic initiatives in Atlantic Canada, including entrepreneurship promotion and reducing barriers for Indigenous youth. Canada’s ongoing commitment to facilitate long-term economic resilience through Indigenous investment and equitable participation in key sectors remains central to these discussions.

Sources: Announcements: www.canada.ca

Health Canada Opens Consultation on Regulation of Precursor Chemicals and Drug Equipment

Health Canada launched a 45-day public consultation on June 27, 2025, seeking feedback on proposals to enhance oversight of precursor chemicals and devices such as pill presses. These regulatory changes are designed to disrupt the illegal production and trade of fentanyl and other synthetic drugs. Stakeholders in regulated industries, pharmacies, and pharmacists are particularly invited to comment on the proposed regulatory framework for legitimate and non-legitimate uses. The consultation continues through August 12.

Sources: Announcements: www.canada.ca

Canadian Multiculturalism Day 2025: Federal and Ministerial Recognition

On June 27, Minister of Canadian Heritage Steven Guilbeault issued a statement marking Canadian Multiculturalism Day. The government’s remarks reference the Canadian Multiculturalism Act and ongoing efforts to stand against systemic racism. The Minister invited the public and sector stakeholders to participate in local events, reiterating federal recognition of diversity as a foundational aspect of Canadian society.

Sources: Announcements: www.canada.ca

Economic and Social Reports Data Release: Indigenous and Racialized Postsecondary Student Figures

Statistics Canada released new data on June 25 regarding the demographics of postsecondary students from 2014 to 2022 by Indigenous identity and racialized group. Data sets feature national, provincial, and territorial breakdowns as well as metrics by educational level, field of study, age, and gender. This release provides underlying figures for analysis of educational attainment, participation, and graduation trends within underrepresented population groups.

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

Revocation of Charitable Registration: Centre Wei Kang pour Aider les Personnes Âgées

The Canada Revenue Agency issued a notice in the June 28 edition of the Canada Gazette regarding the proposed revocation of charitable status for Centre Wei Kang pour Aider les Personnes Âgées, Montreal (business number 821989407RR0001), due to non-compliance with certain requirements of the Income Tax Act.

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

Statistics Canada Issues Results of 2023 Survey on Volunteering and Charitable Giving

Data released June 23 from the 2023 Survey on Giving, Volunteering and Participating reports a significant decline in both volunteering rates and donor numbers across Canada from 2018 to 2023, highlighting shifting trends in charitable sector participation over a five-year period.

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

CSIS Employment: Public Service Commission Approves Election Participation for Federal Employees

The Public Service Commission, through notices published June 28 in the Canada Gazette, granted election participation clearance on a pre-candidacy basis to federal employees Anne-Marie Tremblay (Employment and Social Development Canada), Anne-Marie Arcand (Women and Gender Equality Canada), and Del Araujo (Canadian Heritage), permitting them to seek municipal office candidate status in Quebec's November 2025 elections.

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

Canadian Provincial GR News

Ontario Launches Applications for Rural Development Program to Boost Workforce and Jobs

Ontario’s $20 million Rural Ontario Development program is now open for applications from eligible communities, supporting economic growth, infrastructure, and workforce development initiatives across rural areas.

Sources: Provincial Announcement: news.ontario.ca

Francophone Child-Care Centre to Open in Pomquet, Nova Scotia

Nova Scotia announced $3.5 million in funding for a new francophone early learning and child care centre in Pomquet, offering 40 new spaces for infants to preschoolers and opening in spring 2026.

Sources: Provincial Announcement: news.novascotia.ca

British Columbia Releases Labour Relations Code Review Report for Feedback

The BC Ministry of Labour posted the 2024 Labour Relations Code Review Panel’s recommendations online and is collecting feedback, with a focus on potential updates to provincial collective bargaining laws.

Sources: Provincial Announcement: news.gov.bc.ca

Nominations Open for the 2025 Manitoba Healthy Aging Awards

Nominations for the Manitoba Healthy Aging Awards, which recognize seniors for voluntary contributions to health and community wellness, are open until August 4.

Sources: Provincial Announcement: news.gov.mb.ca

Moncton Addictions and Mental Health Court Program Launches in 2026

New Brunswick will begin the Moncton Addictions and Mental Health Court Program next year, providing alternatives to incarceration for eligible offenders with mental health or addiction issues.

Sources: Provincial Announcement: www2.gnb.ca

Government Consultations

Public Officials' Social Media

Senator Amina Gerba spoke on Twitter about her support for Bill C-5, noting the need for economic inclusion of Black-owned businesses in national projects and referencing entrepreneurial statistics within the Black Canadian community.

Sources: Social Media: x.com

MP Randeep Sarai posted about Canadian Multiculturalism Day, describing the strength of Canada's diversity and a commitment to an equitable society.

Sources: Social Media: x.com

MP Judy A. Sgro used social media to acknowledge the contributions of Canada’s diverse cultural communities, citing the nation’s values of equity and inclusivity.

Sources: Social Media: x.com

Senator Tony Loffreda queried in the Senate, as posted on Twitter, whether the administration will follow through on creating a national agency for combating financial crime, referencing over 2.6 million suspicious transaction reports to FINTRAC between 2020 and 2024.

Sources: Social Media: x.com

MP Rechie Valdez commented on social media about the challenges facing remote and northern communities, mentioning gender-based violence and Indigenous-led development as factors in fostering change.

Sources: Social Media: x.com

What We're Reading This Week

• Supreme Court of Canada grants woman chance to appeal immigration decision: Supreme Court case to revisit a previous immigration decision.
• The truth about Toronto’s closed pools + Pride Toronto’s funding shortfall: Article on public pool closures and funding gaps for Pride.
• 41,000 jobs, 23,000 annual housing starts and $10 billion in investment at risk — third-party analysis underscores the implication of inaction on broad GST/HST relief for new homes: Industry report on GST/HST relief and affordable housing.
• New brain-injury supportive living home will better support people: Story on expanded brain-injury services in BC.
• Alberta Next survey asks if province should withhold social services for some immigrants: Coverage of Alberta survey on immigrant social supports.
• Tom Mulcair: Quebec government’s lack of moral compass on human rights is affecting campus life: Commentary on Quebec's human rights policies and university climate.
• 25 years ago new immigrants to Canada told us their dreams. We checked in to see how they’ve fared: Retrospective on newcomers’ integration and experiences.
• Immigration, pension: A look at survey questions put forward by Alberta Next panel: Review of policy survey topics in Alberta.
• Health-care workers who treat refugees plan message to Trump administration: Report on Canadian health professionals' advocacy to the US government.
• Under budget and ahead of schedule, Indigenous battery project shows how Canada could become an energy superpower: Feature on Indigenous-led infrastructure projects.