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.

Want to see GR activities in areas related to Social Issues? Don’t miss this week’s updates in Arts & Culture and Indigenous Affairs.

Dates: 2025-09-07 to 2025-09-13

📋 In This Week's Newsletter

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

House of Commons Committee Meetings

• Status of Women Committee Business – 2025-09-15: The Status of Women committee will meet in camera on September 15, from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. in Room 420 of the Wellington Building for committee business.
• Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities Committee Business – 2025-09-16: The HUMA committee is scheduled for committee business in camera on September 16, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. in Room 425, Wellington Building.
• Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics Committee – Briefing with Commissioners – 2025-09-15: On September 15, the ETHI committee will hold a televised briefing from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. with the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner and the Information Commissioner in Room 415, Wellington Building.
• Science and Research Committee – Federal Funding Criteria – 2025-09-17: House Committee on Science and Research will examine the impact of criteria for awarding federal research funding on September 17 from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.; witnesses include David Freeman (Simon Fraser University), Dr. Yuan Yi Zhu (Leiden University), Dr. Malinda Smith (University of Calgary), Martin Normand (Association des collèges et universités de la francophonie canadienne), and Ken Doyle (Tech-Access Canada).

Canadian Federal GR News

Canada Invests $3 Million in Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Projects Across Multiple Sectors

Employment and Social Development Canada has detailed ongoing projects under the Workplace Opportunities: Removing Barriers to Equity (WORBE) program, providing $3 million annually in grants. These projects span transportation, banking, technology, and museums, with partners that include industry associations and academic institutions. Notable initiatives include Trucking HR Canada’s $499,977 project to improve equity reporting for trucking employers and Toronto Metropolitan University’s $1.8 million partnership with eight federally regulated firms in finance and communications. Other recipients are the Black Women Business Network, Digital Nova Scotia, and the National Educational Association of Disabled Students, each focusing on barriers and industry-specific needs for designated groups. The Canadian Apprenticeship Forum, Realize, Canadian Advanced Air Mobility, and Restigouche CBDC also received funding targeting workforce representation, accessible employment, and inclusive workplace tools.

Sources: Announcements: www.canada.ca

New Funding Promotes Diversity and Inclusion in Canada’s Trucking Sector

The federal government has allocated $500,000 through the WORBE program for a new Trucking HR Canada initiative to identify and reduce barriers for women, Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, and visible minorities in the trucking sector. As announced by Minister Patty Hajdu during National Trucking Week, the project will review HR practices, data systems, and reporting processes within the industry. The research is expected to assist small and medium employers in developing stronger diversity and workforce planning frameworks and will inform future HR data collection and reporting requirements.

Sources: Announcements: www.canada.ca

Ministers Commit to Extended Housing Strategy and New Affordable Housing Initiatives

Federal, provincial, and territorial ministers responsible for housing, led by Minister Gregor Robertson, convened to address joint action on homelessness and affordable housing. With the National Housing Strategy agreements set to expire in 2028, ministers expressed intent to renew intergovernmental coordination for affordable housing and committed to supporting Indigenous housing solutions and scaling up modern construction. The meeting signaled the development of Build Canada Homes, a federal entity for long-term affordable housing, and support for ongoing collaboration on shovel-ready projects and industry-driven solutions.

Sources: Announcements: www.canada.ca

Reskilling and Employment Insurance Measures Extended for Impacted Workers

The Government of Canada has introduced a new package comprising a $450 million, three-year investment into worker training programs through Labour Market Development Agreements. These measures are designed to support workers affected by tariffs and other disruptions, with a focus on vulnerable groups such as women, Indigenous peoples, and persons with disabilities. Employment Insurance temporary measures—waiving the waiting period and adjusting separation payments—will be extended to April 2026. Up to 190,000 long-tenured workers will also become eligible for an additional 20 weeks of EI. Further, a $50 million investment in the national Job Bank will integrate AI features, job seeker feedback tools, and streamline job matching for EI claimants.

Sources: Announcements: www.canada.ca

Canada and FCM Invest $85.5 Million to Advance Affordable Housing via Green Municipal Fund

Natural Resources Canada and the Federation of Canadian Municipalities announced investments through the Green Municipal Fund (GMF), including $85.5 million directed at affordable and sustainable housing projects. The GMF is a $2.4-billion program supporting municipal environmental and economic projects and has contributed to over 2,700 initiatives, avoiding nearly 3 million tonnes of GHG emissions annually. The Sustainable Affordable Housing stream has led to the creation or renovation of more than 4,100 affordable homes since 2020.

Sources: Announcements: www.canada.ca

Research Funding Addresses Veteran Homelessness Among First Nations

Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada is providing $225,000 to the Assembly of First Nations for research on homelessness among First Nations veterans in Ottawa. The project targets issues such as enfranchisement and forced migration, seeking to map service gaps and communication barriers. Findings will inform future approaches to veteran supports among Indigenous organizations and service providers.

Sources: Announcements: www.canada.ca

Largest Federal Support Yet for AI Training and Clean Energy Workforce

A joint announcement by Ministers Patty Hajdu and Evan Solomon outlined federal investments totaling $28.7 million for training energy workers in AI and expanding research capacity. The Alberta Machine Intelligence Institute will receive over $9 million to deliver workforce training in wind, solar, geothermal, and hydrogen energy. A further $19.7 million will boost compute resources for AI research in Canada under the Canadian Sovereign AI Compute Strategy, with a focus on enabling businesses and students to commercialize AI innovations, creating new opportunities in the energy sector.

Sources: Announcements: www.canada.ca

Community-Based Initiatives Funded to Improve Food Security in Quebec

The Public Health Agency of Canada has announced seven new projects under the Healthy Canadians and Communities Fund, with a total of $10 million invested. In Montreal, the 'Notre serre 4 saisons' initiative will expand access to year-round fresh produce in Saint-Michel, combining community gardening, collective kitchen projects, and food education programs tailored to local needs.

Sources: Announcements: www.canada.ca

Quality of Life and Sense of Belonging Indicators Updated by Statistics Canada

Statistics Canada reported that 78% of Canadian citizens and 76% of non-citizens expressed pride in being Canadian during spring 2025, up from the previous fall period. Concurrently, indicators for life satisfaction, meaning and purpose, and satisfaction with local environments were updated with data from the second quarter of 2025, offering insights for social program planning.

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

Canada Gazette Details Revocation of Charitable Status for Over 100 Organizations

The Canada Revenue Agency has published its notice of intent to revoke registration for a substantial number of charities across the country, including organizations in religious, educational, animal welfare, and mental health sectors. Revocations cover both voluntary requests and compliance-related actions, impacting a range of social and community service organizations.

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

Complaint Lodged with Trade Tribunal over ESDC Call Centre Training Contract

The Canadian International Trade Tribunal is proceeding with an inquiry into complaints from Formation New Era Inc. and Martin Robichaud EduCo Services regarding a procurement for training services for Employment and Social Development Canada call centre staff. The firms allege inconsistencies in the evaluation process and application of criteria.

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

Statistics Canada Reports Tuition Gap Widens Between Canadian and International Students

Statistics Canada’s new release shows that, while tuition increases remain modest for the 2025/2026 academic year, the gap between domestic and international student tuition continues to widen. Tuition levels also vary significantly across provincial and territorial jurisdictions.

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

Canadian Provincial GR News

Ontario Invests $3 Million to Strengthen Francophone Community

Ontario has committed $3 million to the Francophone Community Grants Program for 2025-26, supporting 71 organizations and businesses to improve service offerings, employee training, and community outreach aimed at expanding French-language and bilingual services.

Sources: Provincial Announcement: news.ontario.ca

Alberta Increases Funding for Women's Shelters and Family Violence Prevention

The Alberta government is increasing funding for women's shelters by $10 million over four years, delivering a $3-million allocation in 2024-25 to bolster services for families fleeing violence and maintain operational capacity across the province.

Sources: Provincial Announcement: www.alberta.ca

Manitoba's 2025 FASD Strategy Receives Nearly $1 Million in Additional Funding

Manitoba will provide $946,000 in new annual funding toward its fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) strategy, expanding support programs for families, increasing Indigenous cultural supports, and funding new education and outreach initiatives.

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

Nova Scotia Opens New Integrated Youth Services Sites for Mental Health and Social Support

Nova Scotia has launched integrated youth services sites in Halifax and Sydney, offering walk-in mental health and social services, life skills programs, and employment and education support for youth aged 12 to 25.

Sources: Provincial Announcement: news.novascotia.ca

B.C. Allocates Over $1.8 Million to Day-Space Drop-in Services in Downtown Eastside

Provincial funding has been extended to Watari Counselling and Support Services and the Aboriginal Front Door Society, ensuring continuation of drop-in daytime services, meals, and storage facilities for those experiencing homelessness in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside.

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

What We're Reading This Week

• Justice minister looking at 'criminalizing morally culpable behaviour' near faith-based buildings: Discussion underway on potential criminal law changes involving behaviour near religious institutions.
• Ontario Indigenous leaders hold town halls on $8.5B child welfare agreement: Leaders discuss ongoing community engagement related to historic agreement.
• Being cut off from culture was traumatic, says Innu elder as child protection inquiry continues: Inquiry in Newfoundland and Labrador hears testimony on cultural impacts in child protection cases.
• B.C.‘s human rights office launches campaign to fight misinformation, disinformation: New campaign against online misinformation in the province.
• Ottawa pitched extending refugee sponsor pause to late 2028 to fix backlog: records: Records detail options considered to address refugee sponsorship backlogs.
• Poilievre talks tariffs, temporary foreign worker policy and ‘Stand on Guard Act’: Policy discussion points from federal opposition leader.
• New report outlines the biggest reasons immigrants stay in Canada, and it’s not just financial: Analysis on immigrant retention in Canada.
• From community kitchens to vaccine clinics, these programs support some of the country’s most vulnerable people: Feature on service programs addressing food insecurity and health.
• Smith calls for immigration policy change in funding announcement for youth employment program: Alberta’s premier addresses the link between immigration and youth employment.
• Filling a gap in women's health: N.L. company distributing Canadian-made products to 28 countries: Newfoundland business expands reach of women's health products globally.

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