This is Queen Street Analytics' weekly digest of regulatory developments, legislative discussions and other government-related news for professionals in the financial industry, banking, credit unions, insurance, payment processing, fintech, credit card issuing, asset management, venture capital, private equity, and crypto-currencies. Once a week, we break down the most important updates in this space in under five minutes.

Want to track other GR news in adjacent industries? Don’t miss this week’s updates in ICT & Cybersecurity. Also consider subscribing to our Finance - Washington edition covering critical GR news south of the border.

Dates: 2026-02-08 to 2026-02-14

📋 In This Week's Newsletter

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

This Week's Parliamentary Calendar

There are no scheduled committee meetings this week.

Federal Government News

Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation Board Appointment: Rita Virk Named Director

On February 11, 2026, Minister Gregor Robertson announced the appointment of Rita Virk to the Board of Directors of the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC). Virk, a Chartered Professional Accountant, brings experience in finance, risk, and governance from several sectors, including prior audit committee leadership roles at Prospera Credit Union. She has led large-scale system implementations and contributed to ESG strategy design. Virk serves on the Departmental Audit Committee for Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada and holds an ICD.D designation. Her selection followed an open, competency-based process as part of the federal government’s ongoing response to housing market pressures. Official details are outlined on the Government of Canada website.

Sources: www.canada.ca

StatsCan Releases 2024 Non-Bank Financial Intermediation Data

Statistics Canada published data on non-bank financial intermediation for 2024. This release provides new figures covering the scale and characteristics of non-bank channels supporting financial activities in the Canadian market. The data set is available for review on the Statistics Canada portal.

Sources: www.statcan.gc.ca

Canadian Business Counts: December 2025 Figures Released

Statistics Canada reported 1.37 million employer businesses and 3.67 million non-employer businesses with annual revenues in excess of $30,000 as of December 2025. These counts reflect the national business landscape and may inform sectoral market analysis.

Sources: www.statcan.gc.ca

Social Policy Simulation Database and Model Version 34.0 Released

StatsCan made available version 34.0 of the Social Policy Simulation Database and Model. The update incorporates income tax changes and government transfers announced before December 17, 2025, allowing simulation of effects on families and governments from 1997 to 2030 based on 2022 data.

Sources: www.statcan.gc.ca

StatsCan Releases 2023 Business and Employment Dynamics Data

Statistics Canada reported a drop in the business entry rate in 2023, from 13.9% in 2022 to 12.3%, after consecutive increases in previous years. These figures track business dynamism and may influence discussions about entrepreneurship, private capital access, and sectoral turnover.

Sources: www.statcan.gc.ca

Provincial Government News

Ontario Projects Improved Fiscal Outlook in Third Quarter Update

Ontario’s Third Quarter Finances show a projected deficit of $13.4 billion for 2025–26, with revenues at $223.7 billion, reflecting an increase of $0.6 billion over prior forecasts. The net debt-to-GDP ratio is anticipated at 36.9%.

Sources: news.ontario.ca

BC Consumer Protection Act Amendments to Update Business Practices by Summer 2026

The BC government confirmed that new consumer protection amendments—impacting business contracts, sales practices, and automatic renewals—will take effect August 1, 2026, following a transition period for businesses.

Sources: news.gov.bc.ca

Alberta Approves Several Insurance Regulation Amendments

Alberta issued Orders in Council amending expiry dates and procedures for provincial companies, reciprocal insurance exchanges, and life insurance contracts under the Insurance Act on February 11, 2026.

Sources: www.alberta.ca

Quebec Opens Funding Window for Early Adopter Innovation Projects

The Quebec Ministry of Economy, Innovation and Energy opened a call for proposals supporting startups in partnership with established companies, offering up to $75,000 per project with staged application deadlines through 2026.

Sources: www.quebec.ca

B.C. Expresses Interest as Host Site for Defence, Security and Resilience Bank Headquarters

The BC government formally backed Vancouver as candidate for hosting the Defence, Security and Resilience Bank headquarters, a new institution for financing security and resilience projects among NATO and allied nations.

Sources: news.gov.bc.ca

Government Consultations

OSFI Consultation on 2027 Capital Adequacy Requirements Guideline Ongoing

OSFI’s consultation on revisions to the Capital Adequacy Requirements (CAR) Guideline (2027) remains open until February 18, 2026. Proposed changes target credit risk calculation and requirements for market risk.

Sources: www.osfi-bsif.gc.ca

What We're Reading This Week

• Opinion: Beware the private-credit dark money infecting Wall Street: Analysis of the growth and risks in private credit markets.
• Opinion: The rupture is here: Why Canada needs an economic security act like Japan's: Commentary on the potential for an economic security act in Canada.
• Vesting and New Awards under the Restricted Share Unit Plan (the “RSU Plan”) and Total Voting Rights: Update concerning corporate share unit awards.
• Solana Company (NASDAQ: HSDT) Becomes First Digital Asset Treasury to Enable Borrowing Against Natively Staked SOL in Qualified Custody: Corporate news in the digital asset lending sector.
• Old-school financial advice that no longer applies to modern day life: Overview of evolving practices in personal finance.
• All Big Six Canadian banks now backing proposed defence bank: Report on major banks’ involvement with a new sector initiative.
• Japan’s volatile markets set for renewed ‘Takaichi trade’: Developments in Japanese financial markets and policymaking.
• Opinion | It’s a pivotal moment for one of Canada’s critical industries. Mark Carney is meeting it: Editorial on leadership in Canada’s financial sector.
• Martin Regg Cohn: For Ontario’s finance minister, red ink is part of the job: Column on Ontario’s fiscal priorities.

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