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.

Dates: 2026-02-22 to 2026-02-28

📋 In This Week's Newsletter

• 🇨🇦 Federal Government News
• 🗺️ Provincial Government News
• 📚 What We're Reading This Week

Federal Government News

CRTC unveils 2026 Strategic Plan focusing on modernizing Canada’s broadcasting framework and telecom services

The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) released its updated Strategic Plan, 'Connecting Canadians through technology and culture,' on February 27, outlining core objectives in competition, investment, and broadcasting modernization. The CRTC will prioritize increased competition and consumer choice for Internet and cellphone services, improved connectivity for rural, remote, and Indigenous communities, and streamlined regulatory processes. Recent changes include new options for consumers shopping and switching providers and initiatives aiding access to local and national news on radio and television. The CRTC also intends to continue reducing outdated reporting requirements and enhancing the transparency and speed of decision-making. Oversight will remain independent, supported by ongoing public consultations. The plan addresses network quality, content discoverability, and supports the objectives of the Online News Act and Online Streaming Act.

Sources: www.canada.ca

NFB launches new Governor General’s Performing Arts Awards (GGPAA) film tributes for seven laureates

The National Film Board of Canada (NFB) announced the imminent release of seven new short film tributes celebrating the 2026 Governor General’s Performing Arts Awards laureates. Honourees include Susan Benson, James Cameron, Sylvain Émard, Daniel Lavoie, Tonya Williams, Barbara Hannigan, and Sae Hoon (Stan) Chung, with tributes created by filmmakers Jennifer Chiu, Dana Claxton, Tara Johns, Kevin McIntyre, and Yasmine Mathurin, and producers Christine Aubé, Niki Little, Teri Snelgrove, and Robert Vroom. The films will premiere at the GGPAA ceremony in Ottawa on June 6 and stream across NFB platforms, Apple TV, CBC Gem, and ICI TOU.TV. NFB Chairperson Suzanne Guèvremont stated that these additions bring the GGPAA film collection to 133 titles.

Sources: www.canada.ca

NFB documentary 'Any Other Way: The Jackie Shane Story' launches on international streaming platforms

Michael Mabbott and Lucah Rosenberg-Lee’s documentary chronicling the life and career of Jackie Shane is now available internationally following a multi-award-winning festival run. Produced by Banger Films and the NFB, with executive production by Elliot Page, the film explores Shane’s influence on Toronto’s R&B scene and her long absence from the spotlight. The documentary is currently available on Prime Video and Apple TV in the US, UK, Australia, Belgium, France, and listed for future release on Canal+ in francophone Europe. In Canada, the film continues to stream on Crave.

Sources: www.canada.ca

NFB marks International Women’s Day and launches multiple new releases and curated film channels

The National Film Board of Canada (NFB) is supporting International Women's Day with three new films by women creators, available for free online viewing starting in March. Titles include 'The Nest' (Chase Joynt & Julietta Singh), '7 Beats Per Minute' (Yuqi Kang), and the animated 'The Sounds of Things Ablaze' (Hayat Najm). The NFB also celebrates its Platinum Parity Certification and highlights a 'Strong Women' film channel, promoting works centered on women's experiences. The NFB’s animated short 'The Girl Who Cried Pearls' is nominated for this year’s Best Animated Short Film Oscar.

Sources: www.canada.ca

NFB screens new Quebec premieres at FIFA 2026 in Montreal and Quebec City

The NFB announced two films in competition at the International Festival of Films on Art (FIFA 2026): Martin Bureau’s 'Plus rien n’est égal par ailleurs' and Wanda Nolan’s 'The Muse.' Screenings will run from March 12–22, with online access via the ARTS.FILM platform. Both filmmakers, along with philosopher Alain Deneault and producer Érick d’Orion, will participate in post-screening events. The festival slots reinforce the NFB’s continued engagement in art and documentary cinema.

Sources: www.canada.ca

NFB and Rendez-vous de la Francophonie expand access to francophone films nationwide

The NFB is providing free access to five curated francophone film programs during the Rendez-vous de la Francophonie, spanning over 250 screenings throughout Canada from March 1–31. Venues range from schools and libraries to online streaming. The programs feature documentaries on urban greening initiatives, young dancers in Quebec, and animated content for children, with full schedules available on NFB and RVF platforms. As of 2025, NFB's French-language outreach included 2,300 community screenings in 430 cities, totaling nearly 1.5 million views.

Sources: www.canada.ca

Public Services and Procurement Canada responds to Procurement Ombud’s report on interpretation services contracts

PSPC issued a statement on February 24 regarding compliance issues in the assignment process for interpretation services contracts. The department acknowledged that from February to April 2025, work was not assigned through random selection, as required, and preferences may have been given to the lowest-priced suppliers. PSPC outlined measures in response to the Ombud's findings, including centralizing work attribution, increasing oversight, improving training, clarifying internal rules, and enhancing record-keeping. The new Standing Offer for interpretation services incorporates changes prompted by the review.

Sources: www.canada.ca

Federal statements issued following Amira Elghawaby’s resignation as Special Representative on Combatting Islamophobia

On February 25, Minister Marc Miller of Canadian Heritage commended Amira Elghawaby for her work as Canada’s Special Representative on Combatting Islamophobia. In her statement, Elghawaby referenced the office’s legacy in policy development and the ongoing commitment to addressing hate crimes. The announcement also noted the importance of cross-community collaborations and reaffirmed continued government engagement with issues related to inclusion and narrative change.

Sources: www.canada.ca

Statistics Canada publishes February's Economic and Social Reports

Statistics Canada published five new articles in its Economic and Social Reports for February 2026. The Daily release offers updates in social and economic analysis that may provide data context for institutions monitoring shifts in cultural investment, labour, or educational engagement.

Sources: www.statcan.gc.ca

Provincial Government News

Quebec’s Minister Lacombe promotes binding UNESCO treaty for cultural diversity in Paris

During the 19th session of the UNESCO committee in Paris, Minister Mathieu Lacombe advanced Quebec’s initiative for a binding tool to preserve digital linguistic and cultural diversity, with consensus-building among 24 participating countries.

Sources: www.quebec.ca

Upcoming April 1 deadline for Quebec municipalities to adopt heritage inventory and building maintenance regulations

Quebec’s Ministry of Municipal Affairs issued a reminder that municipalities must finalize their real estate heritage inventories and building maintenance regulations by April 1, in line with amendments under Bill 69.

Sources: www.quebec.ca

Quebec launches third phase of French language promotion campaign

The Ministry of the French Language introduced a new advertising phase, "It’s not with an ad that we will save French, it’s with you," with audiovisual and billboard content rolling out through April, targeting communities including Montreal and Gatineau.

Sources: www.quebec.ca

Quebec cultural institutions announce spring break programming

Culture and Communications Quebec encourages participation in spring break arts programming, with activities available at institutions such as Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, Place des Arts, and Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec.

Sources: www.quebec.ca

What We're Reading This Week

• Small broadcasters ask CRTC to make Meta pay them under Online News Act: Broadcasters petition CRTC for Meta contributions under the Online News Act.
• N.S. culture minister faces questions about cuts to tourism, arts: Nova Scotia's culture minister responds to budget reduction queries.
• Reaction and fallout continue after N.S. government makes major cuts to arts and culture programs: Sector responses to new provincial funding changes.
• Nova Scotia budget cuts publishing grant in blow to sector: Reporting on direct impacts to publishing due to budget measures.
• Cuts to N.S. arts funding cruel and misguided, theatre coordinator says: Local officials decry arts funding reductions.
• Nova Scotia Arts Coalition calls on province to reverse arts, tourism budget cuts: Advocacy group asks province to reconsider announced budget cuts.
• It’s a struggle raising money for the arts. Just ask Contact Photography Festival: Feature on fundraising challenges for Canadian arts festivals.
• Change to minister's title raises some concern among P.E.I.'s cultural sector: Stakeholders raise questions after provincial portfolio title change.

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