June 07, 2026 to June 13, 2026

This is Queen Street Analytics' weekly digest of regulatory developments, legislative discussions and other government-related news for professionals in the performing arts, museums, event-spaces, and Canadian and Francophone publishers, newspapers, and social as well as traditional media. Once a week, we break down the most important updates in this space in under five minutes.

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

📋 In This Week's Newsletter

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

This Week's Parliamentary Calendar

• House Official Languages Committee Reviews Draft Regulations on French Use in Private Businesses: On June 16, the Official Languages Committee will consider draft regulations concerning the use of French in federally regulated private businesses, with an in-camera session from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. in Room 410, Wellington Building. The session includes discussion of a draft report and will be webcast.
• Foreign Affairs Committee Examines Main and Supplementary Estimates, Broadcasting Act Amendments: The Foreign Affairs and International Development Committee meets June 16 to study Main and Supplementary Estimates for 2026–27, including Canadian Heritage-related votes and the subject of Bill C-219, which amends the Department of Foreign Affairs Act, Justice for Victims of Corrupt Foreign Officials Act, Special Economic Measures Act, and Broadcasting Act, with Minister Anita Anand and senior officials in attendance.
• Senate National Finance Committee Reviews Supplementary Estimates (A), Including Canadian Heritage: The Senate National Finance Committee will meet on June 16 to examine Supplementary Estimates (A) for the 2026–27 fiscal year, with testimony from Canadian Heritage officials Véronique Côté and Blair McMurren as part of scheduled panels.

Federal Government News

Government Introduces Safe Social Media Act Addressing Online Harms

On June 10, the Government of Canada introduced Bill C-34, the Safe Social Media Act, intended to require online and AI chatbot services to implement safety protocols and create a safer digital environment, particularly for children. The Act would establish three primary duties for regulated online services: a Duty to Act Responsibly, a Duty to Protect Children, and a Duty to Make Certain Content Inaccessible. The legislation targets seven categories of harmful content, including child sexual exploitation, self-harm inducement, cyberbullying, incitement to violence, hate, terrorism, and non-consensual intimate content. Social media services would be obligated to implement safety features such as content flagging, blocking, digital safety plans, and labeling of synthetic or AI-generated material, as well as restrict accounts for users under age 16 with possible future exemptions subject to regulatory safeguards. The bill would create a Digital Safety Commission of Canada with powers to conduct audits, require transparency, and impose administrative penalties for non-compliance. Tailored requirements would separately address livestreaming, user-uploaded adult content services, and AI chatbots. Recent technical briefings and roundtables led by Canadian Heritage Minister Marc Miller provided industry stakeholders with details on implementation and regulatory oversight.

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

CRTC Discusses Broadcasting Modernization and Audio Sector Policy at Western Canada Media Conference

At the Forward (FWD) Western Canada Media Conference in Kelowna, CRTC Commissioner Claire Anderson provided an overview of ongoing reforms to Canada’s broadcasting regulatory framework, prompted by the passage of the Online Streaming Act amending the Broadcasting Act. The CRTC’s approach is focused on promoting the discoverability of Canadian and Indigenous content, ensuring financial sustainability in the sector, and establishing clear, consistent rules for traditional and online platforms. Recent CRTC activity includes the creation of a Commercial Radio News Fund for small-market radio, introduction of perpetual broadcast licenses, and consultation on a new music database to track Canadian content in audio streaming. The Commission updated definitions for Canadian programming, retaining the points-based system for certification while including contemporary creative roles and distinguishing between human and AI creative work. New policy decisions aim to recalibrate contributions from traditional and online broadcasters to support Canadian audiovisual production and distribution. The CRTC continues to engage with cultural associations, broadcasters, and creators as further regulatory decisions are anticipated.

Sources: www.canada.ca

CRTC Launches Consultation to Harmonize Consumer Protection Codes

On June 12, the CRTC opened a public consultation designed to bring together existing consumer protection codes governing internet, cellphone, home phone, and television services into a single, unified code. The proposed approach intends to simplify consumer understanding of their rights and service provider obligations, reduce billing ambiguities, and promote prompt complaint resolution. The CRTC is accepting submissions until August 11, with a public hearing scheduled for November 30, 2026. This initiative forms part of the Commission’s Consumer Protections Action Plan, which recently saw changes such as the elimination of extra internet and cellphone fees and improved notice periods for contract expiries.

Sources: www.canada.ca

Government Funds 37th Francos de Montréal

The Government of Canada is providing $262,500 through the Canada Arts Presentation Fund to support the 37th Francos de Montréal, scheduled this summer. The funding was announced by Madeleine Chenette, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Canadian Identity and Culture and Minister responsible for Official Languages, and is intended to support a diverse roster of French-language musical artists and performances.

Sources: www.canada.ca

Library and Archives Canada Announces 2026 Scholar Award Recipients

On June 10, Library and Archives Canada (LAC) released the list of recipients for the 2026 LAC Scholar Awards. Honorees include Cameron Bailey, Victoria Charlton, Drew Hayden Taylor, R.H. Thomson, and Margie Wolfe. The awards ceremony is scheduled for October 29 in Ottawa, supported by the LAC Foundation and Air Canada. Awardees are recognized for their contributions to Canadian culture, literature, and historical knowledge.

Sources: www.canada.ca

Canada Day 2026 Noon Ceremony Features Artists and Cultural Figures

Minister Marc Miller unveiled the National Noon Ceremony lineup for Canada Day 2026. The ceremony will present performances by artists such as Alessia Cara, Loud, TOBi, Adrian Sutherland, and others, along with appearances by astronaut Jeremy Hansen, Rick Hansen, Olympic and Paralympic athletes, and Order of Canada recipients. The event will be nationally broadcast across multiple platforms, with live attendance encouraged at LeBreton Flats Park, Parliament Hill, and Supreme Court of Canada official sites.

Sources: www.canada.ca

Statistics Canada Releases Postsecondary Data by Indigenous Identity and Racialized Group

On June 10, Statistics Canada published 2014–2023 data sets on students at Canadian colleges and universities, covering new and enrolled students, as well as graduates, categorized by Indigenous identity, racialized group, education level, field of study, age, and gender. The data, available at national, provincial, and territorial levels, support analysis of educational and diversity trends relevant to arts and cultural education stakeholders.

Sources: www.statcan.gc.ca

Provincial Government News

Ontario Invests $200,000 in Taste of the Danforth Festival

The Ontario government announced a $200,000 investment to help bring back the Taste of the Danforth, a major Toronto street festival, from August 7–9, 2026, after a hiatus since 2024.

Sources: news.ontario.ca

Bureau of Architectural Valorization Launches Best Practices Guide in Quebec

Quebec’s Bureau of Architectural Valorization released its Guide of Best Practices, presenting 11 principles, 75 practices, and 22 projects in architecture, covering sectors such as educational institutions, libraries, and cultural facilities.

Sources: www.quebec.ca

BC Reminds Consumers of Ticket Sales Act Rights for Summer Events

With the onset of summer events, the British Columbia government issued guidance on the Ticket Sales Act, outlining transparency, disclosure, and refund requirements for businesses selling live-event tickets, including for the FIFA World Cup 2026.

Sources: news.gov.bc.ca

Quebec Announces National Holiday Celebrations Honoring Guy Lafleur

Quebec will hold province-wide free events for its National Holiday on June 23–24, with the 2026 edition dedicated to the 75th anniversary of Guy Lafleur’s birth and Pier-Luc Funk serving as spokesperson.

Sources: www.quebec.ca

Quebec’s Summer Cultural Programming Encourages Local Discovery

Quebec’s Ministry of Culture and Communications promoted its accessible summer programming spanning cinema, museums, theater, and festivals, inviting residents and visitors to support local creative offerings.

Sources: www.quebec.ca

Government Consultations

CRTC Call for Applications: Indigenous Radio Stations in Ottawa and Toronto

The CRTC has an active call for FM radio station applications to serve Indigenous communities in Ottawa and Toronto, open until June 18, with an aim to meet local needs and interests.

Sources: crtc.gc.ca

What We're Reading This Week

• Ottawa to direct CRTC to scrap demands for streamers to fund local news, niche broadcasters: The federal government is expected to issue new directives to the CRTC regarding online streaming obligations.
• Scripts, scenes, and sea goddesses: New program teaches Inuit youth the ins and outs of media production: A new initiative employs creative media production to engage Inuit youth.
• 'A billion things special about libraries,' Nova Scotians rally aiming to save them: Public rallies in Nova Scotia support the province's library system.
• ‘If I Were Mayor’ event asks how to support arts in Toronto: Community input on supporting Toronto's arts sector is sought at a recent public event.
• Letters to the editor, June 10: ‘What is Canada without Canadian culture? I cancelled my Netflix subscription’: Readers comment on Canadian culture and content streaming issues.
• Andrew Phillips: Social media laws are needed but many questions still need to be answered: Analysis on proposed social media legislation and its implications.
• Letters to the editor: ‘Capitulating to U.S. demands to slash Canadian content rules for … Netflix and Amazon sure doesn’t seem like Canada Strong.’ Letters to the editor for June 9: Reader submissions on Canadian content policy and international streaming companies.

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