September 13, 2026 to September 19, 2026

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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📋 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

• Fisheries and Oceans Committee reviews Fisheries Act draft report (September 21): The House of Commons Fisheries and Oceans Committee will meet in camera on September 21 from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. to consider the draft report in its ongoing Review of the Fisheries Act.
• Environment and Sustainable Development Committee—Bill C-244 clause-by-clause review (September 22): On September 22, from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., the Environment and Sustainable Development Committee will conduct clause-by-clause consideration of Bill C-244 (amending the Canadian Environmental Protection Act and the Wrecked, Abandoned or Hazardous Vessels Act) with representatives from Environment Canada, Transport, and the Canadian Coast Guard.

Federal Government News

Quebec excavation company fined $75,000 for harming threatened bank swallows

Charles-Auguste Fortier Inc., an excavation firm in Quebec, has been fined $75,000 by the Court of Québec following a guilty plea to one count of violating the Species at Risk Act. The incident stems from grading work conducted on a sand pile containing burrows of bank swallows—classified as a threatened species—at a municipal work material storage site between May 29 and June 3, 2024. Environment and Climate Change Canada enforcement officers intervened after being alerted by departmental staff, discovering that the company had previously been informed of the relevant regulatory requirements. The penalty is payable to the Receiver General for Canada and reinforces ongoing federal enforcement against infractions impacting species at risk.

Sources: www.canada.ca

Call for proposals: $77.5 million fund launched for aquatic species at risk protection

The Minister of Fisheries, Joanne Thompson, announced a nationwide call for project proposals under the Canada Nature Fund for Aquatic Species at Risk (CNFASAR), offering $77.5 million over five years for efforts to protect and recover at-risk aquatic wildlife. Open from September 16 to November 16, 2026, the solicitation targets multi-year, cross-sector projects focused on recovery measures for aquatic species. Since 2018, CNFASAR has funded over 150 projects across Canada, enabling more than 1,210 recovery initiatives for nearly 200 species. This program facilitates partnerships with Indigenous governments, provinces, and industry on targeted conservation objectives.

Sources: www.canada.ca

Federal government invests $2.6 million in migratory bird monitoring and conservation

Wade Grant, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change, announced a federal investment of $2.6 million over five years to Birds Canada. The funds aim to support an array of monitoring and conservation programs for migratory bird populations, including those at risk across various habitats. The initiative leverages citizen science and expert analysis to bolster data on population trends, distribution, and habitat use. The resulting information will be accessible through the open NatureCounts platform—one of the world’s largest biodiversity databases—supporting evidence-based conservation strategies.

Sources: www.canada.ca

Diana Fox Carney appointed as Canada’s Ocean Envoy and Chair for 2027 Our Ocean Conference

Minister of Fisheries Joanne Thompson named Diana Fox Carney as Canada’s Ocean Envoy and Chair for the 12th Our Ocean Conference, to be hosted in 2027. Fox Carney, an economist and sustainability expert, will coordinate stakeholder engagement across governments, Indigenous organizations, and private sectors to further Canada's initiatives in ocean conservation, climate adaptation, economic security, and marine science. The conference aims to advance policy and business collaboration in support of resilient, sustainable ocean economies and maritime security.

Sources: www.canada.ca

Canada moves forward with Deep Geological Repository project listing under the Building Canada Act

Minister Dominic LeBlanc announced the publication of a Canada Gazette notice regarding the potential listing of the Deep Geological Repository (DGR) Project under Schedule 1 of the Building Canada Act. This infrastructure, positioned as a national solution for long-term management of Canada's used nuclear fuel, supports the goals of Canada's 2026 Nuclear Energy Strategy. The project, centered near Ignace and the Wabigoon Lake Ojibway Nation, advances through a formal consultation that will consider written public comments until October 26, 2026. This process is a legal prerequisite before the project can be designated as a project of national interest, enabling alignment with broader federal clean energy, safety, and consultation goals.

Sources: www.canada.ca

Canada provides $30 million loan to Conifex Timber Inc. in response to trade impacts

François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Finance and National Revenue, announced a $30 million loan to Conifex Timber Inc. under the Large Enterprise Tariff Loan (LETL) program, supporting 260 direct jobs in Mackenzie, British Columbia. The financing is designed to offer stability and flexibility amid ongoing U.S. timber tariffs, enabling the company to maintain local employment, adapt to market conditions, and invest in operations and renewable energy generation. Recent updates to the LETL facility increase liquidity support and extend repayment periods for affected large employers.

Sources: www.canada.ca

Federal investment of $66 million for water infrastructure in Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory

The federal government announced an investment exceeding $66 million to extend water infrastructure in Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory. The expansion connects unserviced areas to the community's water treatment plant, providing safe, reliable drinking water and fire protection, lifting a long-standing drinking water advisory. This project is funded via the Build Communities Strong Fund, which is distributing $51 billion to infrastructure projects nationwide, and supports increased climate resilience and future housing development for the Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte.

Sources: www.canada.ca

Federal support for sustainable fertilizer technology in Burnaby

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada will invest up to $1.98 million in Lucent BioSciences Inc. for the continued development of biodegradable, starch-based coatings for controlled-release nitrogen fertilizers. The technology is intended to minimize greenhouse gas emissions, reduce microplastics in agriculture, and improve nitrogen use efficiency. The project is backed under the Agricultural Clean Technology Program’s Research and Innovation Stream, contributing to reduced fertilizer costs and improved environmental outcomes for the Canadian agricultural sector.

Sources: www.canada.ca

Canada funds innovative controlled-environment agriculture at King City greenhouse

Minister Heath MacDonald announced $5 million in AgriInnovate Program funding for Kinghaven Farms to adopt fully automated greenhouse and climate control technologies at its new facility in King City. The investment facilitates year-round production of up to 2 million kilograms of baby leafy greens, featuring advanced systems aimed at precision cultivation and operational efficiency. The project is positioned within the framework of the $3.2 billion National Food Security Strategy and is intended to help reduce food imports and the sector’s carbon footprint.

Sources: www.canada.ca

New camp infrastructure for Faro Mine Remediation Project supports Indigenous business

Minister Rebecca Chartrand and the Ross River Dena Council marked the opening of Tsē Zūl Camp, a $90 million facility supporting future remediation activity at the Faro Mine Site in Yukon. Backed by the Faro Mine Remediation Project, the camp is wholly owned by the Dena Nezziddi Development Corporation and is set to operate through 2029. The facility provides accommodations for the workforce required in environmental clean-up, strengthening local Indigenous economic participation and capacity in large-scale remediation.

Sources: www.canada.ca

Statistics Canada releases third and fourth quarter fertilizer shipment data for 2025/2026

Statistics Canada has published updates on Canadian fertilizer shipments, production, and inventories for the third and fourth quarters of the 2025/2026 fertilizer year. These data inform industry on supply chain dynamics and inventory levels, facilitating supply planning for the agricultural sector.

Sources: www.statcan.gc.ca

August 2026 model-based crop estimates indicate lower wheat and canola production, higher corn and soybean yields

Statistics Canada's August 2026 satellite and agroclimatic data indicate that Canadian farmers are expected to harvest more corn for grain and soybeans but less wheat, canola, barley, and oats compared to 2025. Yield estimates provide early planning inputs to agricultural producers and processors.

Sources: www.statcan.gc.ca

Provincial Government News

Ontario invests $2.5 million to advance forestry sector upgrades in Thunder Bay region

Ontario has allocated over $2.5 million to upgrade operations at Thunder Bay Pulp and Paper and two other Northwestern Ontario projects. The funds target increased capacity, use of forest biomass, and sustained employment, responding to challenges created by recent U.S. tariff measures.

Sources: news.ontario.ca

Manitoba activates invasive species response after zebra mussel veligers detected

Manitoba Environment and Climate Change has initiated its Aquatic Invasive Species Early Detection Rapid Response Plan following confirmed zebra mussel larvae in Lake Winnipegosis and Waterhen Lake. Decontamination requirements for watercraft are now in place for the affected waters.

Sources: news.gov.mb.ca

Ontario announces $1.1 million in new funding for Indigenous forestry projects

Ontario will invest more than $1.1 million in five Indigenous-led forestry projects, expanding local capacity, energy production from forest biomass, and community-focused sawmill initiatives under the Forest Biomass Program.

Sources: news.ontario.ca

B.C. expands community forest management in McLeod Lake/Mackenzie and North Island

The province of B.C. will expand the McLeod Lake Mackenzie and North Island Community Forests, increasing annual timber allocations and local management opportunities with involvement of First Nations and municipal governments.

Sources: news.gov.bc.ca

Ontario fines Thunder Bay angler $4,500 and suspends fishing licence for violations

Paul Hirtle of Thunder Bay was convicted for multiple angling offences, including illegal fishing with a dip net and providing false statements to conservation officers, resulting in a $4,500 fine and a five-year suspension from fishing in Ontario.

Sources: news.ontario.ca

Government Consultations

Health Canada consults on registration of new herbicide products containing epyrifenacil

Health Canada is conducting a consultation on the proposed registration of S-3100 0.46 EC Herbicide and V-10488 0.94 SE Herbicide containing epyrifenacil, open for public comment until September 20, 2026.

Sources: www.canada.ca

What We're Reading This Week

• N.B. Power says goodbye coal, hello wood pellets: The broadcaster explores N.B. Power's shift from coal to wood pellet energy generation.
• Working towards a common goal: making the Arctic ‘a zone of stability and co-operation’: The Globe and Mail examines Canada’s approach to Arctic regional stability and collaborative development.

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