This is Queen Street Analytics' weekly digest of regulatory developments, legislative discussions and other government-related news regarding the environment, climate change policies, fish and wildlife protection, habitat conservation, environmental activism, and forestry. Once a week, we break down the most important updates in this space in under five minutes.

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Dates: 2026-04-05 to 2026-04-11

📋 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 Committee to Review the Fisheries Act: Fisheries and Oceans Committee will hold an in camera meeting on April 13 to consider a draft report regarding the Review of the Fisheries Act from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. in Room 420, Wellington Building.
• Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development to Discuss Emissions Reduction: Scheduled for April 14, the Environment and Sustainable Development Committee will meet in camera from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. to examine the 2030 Emissions Reduction Plan and provide drafting instructions for a report on extreme weather events.
• Transport Committee Meeting on Loans for Mersey River Wind Project: On April 15, from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., the Transport, Infrastructure and Communities Committee will hold a televised meeting on the Canada Infrastructure Bank loan to the Mersey River wind project, with Minister Robertson and project stakeholders scheduled to appear.
• Transport Committee Meeting on Modernizing Quebec and Canada’s Ports: The committee will convene on April 13 from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. to hear witnesses on supporting, diversifying, and modernizing Quebec and Canada’s ports, with representatives from various rail and port organizations.
• Fisheries and Oceans Committee to Address Marine Harvesting Seasons: Scheduled for April 15, the Fisheries and Oceans Committee will take witness testimony from fishery associations regarding factors determining opening and closing dates of marine harvesting seasons, from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. in Room 420, Wellington Building.

Federal Government News

Canada Renews Pacific Salmon Strategy Initiative with $412.9 Million Investment

On April 7, the Honourable Joanne Thompson, Minister of Fisheries, announced $412.9 million over five years to renew the Pacific Salmon Strategy Initiative (PSSI) under Canada’s Nature Strategy. The renewed initiative extends support for wild Pacific salmon recovery, building on $1.1 billion in funding over ten years. The PSSI will support science, stock recovery, hatchery modernization, and ongoing collaboration with Indigenous Peoples, provincial and territorial governments, academic partners, and stewardship groups. Activities funded through PSSI include bolstering hatchery capacity, upgrading over 70 hatchery facilities, constructing three new hatcheries, and funding enforcement and monitoring efforts to combat illegal fishing. The aim is to safeguard stocks of conservation concern, expand habitat restoration, and modernize fisheries management, with ongoing consultation among governments and industry stakeholders.

Sources: www.canada.ca

First Phase Results of the Pacific Salmon Strategy Initiative Published

The Government of Canada released a report summarizing outcomes from the initial five years of the Pacific Salmon Strategy Initiative (PSSI), which began in 2021. The report details work with over 40 First Nations, completion of more than 60 Indigenous Harvest Transformation projects, support for over 443 habitat restoration and emergency projects, and a trilateral accord among Canada, B.C., and First Nations to unify conservation activities. Additional outcomes include retrofits to over 70 hatcheries, support for 100+ partner-run hatcheries, reduction of licensed commercial salmon operations by 40.6% through licence retirement, and restoration of nearly 16 million square meters of salmon habitat. The initiative also provided funding for over 73 projects through the B.C. Salmon Restoration and Innovation Fund and coordinated international patrols to address illegal fishing in the North Pacific.

Sources: www.canada.ca

Canada Expands Mass Marking of Hatchery-Origin Pacific Chinook Salmon

Minister Joanne Thompson announced on April 8 that Fisheries and Oceans Canada will expand the mass marking of all hatchery-origin Chinook salmon in southern British Columbia. This policy uses the removal of the adipose fin for easy identification, assisting management and conservation objectives. The expansion is supported through the renewed PSSI and includes new investments in specialized equipment for large-scale marking. Mass marking aligns Canada’s practices with several U.S. Pacific states and is expected to facilitate better monitoring, sustainable harvests, and conservation of wild stocks.

Sources: www.canada.ca

Federal Investment in Advanced Wood Manufacturing Facility in British Columbia

On April 9, the federal government announced a $4 million investment, through Natural Resources Canada’s Investments in Forest Industry Transformation (IFIT) program, for Atlas Engineered Products Ltd. to construct a new wood manufacturing facility powered by advanced robotics in British Columbia. The facility will enhance Canada’s capacity to produce high-value, domestically manufactured wood building materials, including mass timber and engineered trusses. This investment aligns with the new Buy Canadian policy and is expected to improve supply chain security, promote innovation in the forest sector, and respond to pressures from U.S. tariffs impacting Canadian lumber.

Sources: www.canada.ca

$30 Million Allocated to Create 900 Green Jobs for Youth in Natural Resource Sectors

The Government of Canada allocated $30 million to fund 900 employment and training opportunities for youth aged 15 to 30 through the Science and Technology Internship Program – Green Jobs. The program covers roles in energy, forestry, mining, earth sciences, and clean technology. Ten organizations, including Clean Nova Scotia Foundation, Environmental Careers Organization of Canada, and Electricity Human Resources Canada, received funding to implement the initiative. Targeted at building capacity in STEM and related fields, the program is designed to develop skilled talent for Canada's clean economy.

Sources: www.canada.ca

Science and Technology Internship Program – Green Jobs Open for Applications

Announced on April 7, the Science and Technology Internship Program (STIP) – Green Jobs will provide employers with funding to hire and train youth in the natural resources sectors for up to 12 months. The program is part of the Youth Employment and Skills Strategy and, since 2017, has created over 6,000 job opportunities across Canada, with an 80 percent post-project employment rate.

Sources: www.canada.ca

Federal Funding Announced for Hay River Water Treatment Plant

On April 7, the Government of Canada launched the Build Communities Strong Fund and announced more than $20 million in federal support for a new water treatment plant in Hay River, Northwest Territories. The project aims to provide safe drinking water, eliminate boil water advisories, and bolster climate resilience for Hay River, Enterprise, K’atl’odeeche First Nation, and Ka’a’gee Tu First Nation. The fund represents a broader $51 billion, 10-year federal commitment to infrastructure, matched by provincial and municipal partnerships.

Sources: www.canada.ca

Investment in Low-Carbon Agrichemicals for the Canadian Agriculture Sector

The Honourable Heath MacDonald, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, announced funding of up to $1.24 million for Anodyne Chemistries Inc. through the AgriScience Program on April 7. The project, located in Burnaby, British Columbia, develops a bio-electric process to convert carbon dioxide and water into low-carbon formic acid and hydrogen peroxide. These agrichemicals are used for animal feed preservation and equipment sanitation. The funding aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and reliance on petrochemical inputs within agriculture.

Sources: www.canada.ca

New Infrastructure Investment in Belle-Baie, New Brunswick to Support Housing and Water Services

On April 9, federal, provincial, and municipal representatives announced funding exceeding $3.6 million for upgrades to Belle-Baie’s water and wastewater systems. These improvements include a new lift station and expanded piping infrastructure, increasing wastewater treatment capacity by roughly 50% and enabling construction of approximately 280 new homes. Funding is delivered through the Canada Housing Infrastructure Fund as part of the overall Build Canada Homes initiative.

Sources: www.canada.ca

Statistics Canada Releases New Environmental Laboratory Data

On April 10, Statistics Canada published the latest cycle (2022–2024) of environmental laboratory data from the Canadian Health Measures Survey. The released data includes blood and urine measures of environmental chemicals, such as metals, parabens, pesticides, flame retardants, and chlorinated paraffins for Canadians aged 3 to 79. The dataset is intended to inform research and policy on chemical exposures and public health.

Sources: www.statcan.gc.ca

Provincial Government News

British Columbia Awards Forest Licence to Support Value-Added Manufacturing

Box Lake Lumber Products secured a five-year non-replaceable forest licence, enabling the harvest of approximately 445 truckloads of logs annually for split-rail fencing production in the Kootenay region. The licence will support regional forestry supply chains and value-added wood manufacturing.

Sources: news.gov.bc.ca

Alberta Government Outlines Position on Canada’s Nature Strategy

Minister Grant Hunter stated Alberta’s support for biodiversity but emphasized provincial jurisdiction over land management and the province’s own conservation outcomes, including management of 40 million hectares of public Crown land.

Sources: www.alberta.ca

Ontario and B.C. Respond to U.S. Softwood Lumber Duty Announcement

Following the U.S. Department of Commerce’s preliminary decision on softwood lumber tariffs, B.C. and Ontario officials expressed disappointment, calling for the removal of duties impacting Canadian lumber exports and stating concern over effects on communities and cross-border trade.

Sources: news.gov.bc.ca, news.ontario.ca

Nova Scotia Grants Industrial Approval for Touquoy Gold Mine Processing

Nova Scotia approved processing of three million tonnes of stockpiled ore at the Touquoy gold mine, creating nearly 200 jobs and setting conditions covering environmental protection, water quality, and tailings management. The project is expected to take 10–14 months, with reclamation plans and a $79.9 million bond to ensure site cleanup.

Sources: news.novascotia.ca, news.novascotia.ca

Eigg Mountain Wind Energy Project Receives Environmental Approval in Nova Scotia

The Eigg Mountain wind project in Antigonish County will begin construction later this year, following environmental assessment approval. The 22-turbine facility is planned to generate 154 MW of electricity and lower Nova Scotia’s annual greenhouse gas emissions by an estimated 271,000 tonnes.

Sources: news.novascotia.ca

Government Consultations

Consultation Open on Draft Guidelines for Chlorite and Chlorate in Drinking Water

Health Canada is seeking feedback until April 14 on draft guidelines for chlorite and chlorate in drinking water, with particular interest in the technical approach and implementation impacts.

Sources: www.canada.ca

What We're Reading This Week

• Environmental groups launch constitutional challenge over Ontario’s special economic zones: Lawsuit challenges the constitutionality of special economic zone legislation in Ontario.
• Environmental groups launch constitutional challenge over Ontario's special economic zones: Lawsuit filed by environmental organizations targets special economic zones law.

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