April 26, 2026 to May 02, 2026

This is Queen Street Analytics' weekly digest of regulatory developments, legislative discussions and other government-related news for car manufacturers, parts suppliers, car dealers, rental companies, and importers/exporters in the automotive industry. Once a week, we break down the most important updates in this space in under five minutes.

Want to track the upstream and downstream forces affecting Automotive? Don’t miss this week’s updates in Manufacturing and Oil & Gas. Also consider subscribing to our Automotive - Washington edition covering critical GR news south of the border.

📋 In This Week's Newsletter

• 🏛️ This Week's Parliamentary Calendar
• 🇨🇦 Federal Government News
• 🗺️ Provincial Government News

This Week's Parliamentary Calendar

• House Industry and Technology Committee Schedules Review of Federal EV Policies: On May 4, the House Industry and Technology Committee will convene from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. to examine federal Electric Vehicle (EV) policies. Industry Minister Mélanie Joly and officials from the Department of Industry, Canadian Vehicle Manufacturers' Association, Electro-Federation Canada, and others are slated to appear.
• Senate Energy Committee Schedules Clause-by-Clause Review of Bill S-4: On May 5, the Senate Standing Committee on Energy, the Environment and Natural Resources will hold an in camera session to conduct clause-by-clause consideration of Bill S-4, which amends the Energy Efficiency Act.

Federal Government News

Minister Joly Announces Major R&D Investments to Boost Battery Production and Advanced Manufacturing

On April 27, 2026, the Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Industry, announced a $23 million investment through the Strategic Response Fund for Siemens to scale the Global AI Manufacturing Technologies Research and Development Center for Battery production in Canada. The announcement was made following engagements at HANNOVER MESSE in Germany, where Minister Joly met with senior officials including Germany’s Minister for Economic Affairs and Energy, Katherina Reiche, and representatives from industry leaders such as Siemens and Schneider Electric. Additionally, the Advanced Manufacturing Cluster (NGen) will distribute $60 million to support 14 new projects. These federally backed initiatives are positioned to support domestic value chains and foster joint research opportunities. Provisions have been made to bolster cooperation with international partners, and the funded projects are expected to impact advanced manufacturing and battery technology sectors, with potential ripple effects across automotive supply chains. The ministry also emphasized potential for further bilateral scientific and supply chain coordination, particularly with Norway, underscored by a new joint statement on Arctic data management signed with Norway’s Minister of Research and Higher Education.

Sources: www.canada.ca

Provincial Government News

Quebec's Road Safety Consultation Table Releases 2025 Activity Report

Quebec’s Concerted Action Table on Road Safety has published its first annual report, documenting two meetings held in 2025 and the establishment of working committees on heavy vehicle safety, collision data, and potential Road Safety Code revisions.

Sources: www.quebec.ca

Ontario Pursues Diversified International Trade Amid Tariffs and Economic Uncertainty

Ontario reports a nearly 75% rise in non-U.S. exports since 2018, with targeted business export missions and $100 billion in infrastructure investments aimed at expanding global market reach for key sectors including automotive and critical minerals.

Sources: news.ontario.ca

Manitoba Implements Stricter Penalties and Zero BAC for Certain Impaired Driving Offenders

Manitoba has enacted new restrictions prohibiting any alcohol consumption for drivers convicted of impaired operation resulting in bodily harm or death, including stiffer monetary penalties and life bans for repeat offenders under the Highway Traffic Amendment Act.

Sources: news.gov.mb.ca

Quebec PM Stresses Province’s Strategic Role in CUSMA Review

In meetings held April 26-27 in Washington, D.C., Quebec's Prime Minister, Christine Fréchette, met with U.S. officials and business leaders to advocate for Quebec's position ahead of the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) review.

Sources: www.quebec.ca

British Columbia Sets October Effective Date for Firearm Violence Prevention Act

New B.C. regulations will be in force as of October 1, 2026, providing police with tools for enforcement in gun-related crimes and introducing prohibitions relevant to vehicle operators unlawfully transporting firearms.

Sources: news.gov.bc.ca

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