This is Queen Street Analytics' weekly digest of regulatory developments, legislative discussions and other government-related news concerning colleges, universities, campuses, international students, student housing, research initiatives, tri-council (CIHR, NSERC, SSHRC) agencies and funding opportunities. Once a week, we break down the most important updates in this space in under five minutes.

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Dates: 2026-04-12 to 2026-04-18

📋 In This Week's Newsletter

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

This Week's Parliamentary Calendar

• Citizenship and Immigration Committee to review International Students Program reforms: On April 20, the Citizenship and Immigration Committee will examine the 2026 Auditor General Report on International Students Program Reforms, with witnesses from Canada Border Services Agency, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, and the Office of the Auditor General.
• Foreign Affairs and International Development Committee to assess Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy: On April 21, the committee will conduct hearings with academic and policy experts regarding the current Indo-Pacific Strategy, featuring witnesses from UBC, HEC Montréal, and the Macdonald-Laurier Institute.
• Procedure and House Affairs Committee to study civic resilience: On April 21, discussions on the current state of civic resilience in Canada will feature testimony from research organizations and constitutional experts.
• Justice and Human Rights Committee considers Bill C-16, criminal and correctional reforms: On April 20, the standing committee will review Bill C-16 with participation from law academics and legal representatives focused on child protection, gender-based violence, and system delays.
• International Trade Committee sets session on free trade policy within Canada: On April 23, the committee will hear expert witnesses from universities, industry, and trade associations on internal trade policy.

Federal Government News

Canada launches national AI supercomputing capacity initiative

The Government of Canada has opened applications for the AI Sovereign Compute Infrastructure Program, a national effort to build large-scale, Canadian-owned artificial intelligence supercomputing capacity. The initiative is backed by funding from Budget 2024 and Budget 2025. The program supports the rapid development, operation, and maintenance of AI-optimized high-performance computing systems, intended to advance AI research and innovation. These systems will serve as critical infrastructure for Canadian researchers, innovators, and industry, with application areas anticipated to include health care, advanced manufacturing, and scientific research. The application process is competitive and open to eligible organizations, with details available through Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada. The program forms part of the Canadian Sovereign AI Compute Strategy aimed at supporting domestic technological sovereignty.

Sources: www.canada.ca

Government of Canada creating 175,000 jobs and skills-building opportunities for youth in 2026

Minister Patty Hajdu announced that 175,000 jobs and skill development opportunities for youth will be offered across Canada in 2026. This includes maintaining a 40% increase to Canada Student Grants and higher loan limits for the 2026–27 school year, as well as an expanded loan forgiveness program reaching more healthcare and social-services professionals in rural and remote communities. The Canada Summer Jobs program will post 100,000 youth jobs as of April 20. Additionally, the Student Work Placement Program (SWPP) is adding 55,000 new work-integrated learning opportunities, and over 20,000 placements will be delivered under the Youth Employment and Skills Strategy (YESS). The government also maintains investments in the Future Skills Centre aimed at mentorship and work-integrated learning, particularly for youth facing employment barriers.

Sources: www.canada.ca

Broad federal investment package in youth skills and post-secondary workforce experience

Several federal programs managed by Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) are prioritized for 2026–27 to support post-secondary students and apprentices. The Canada Student Financial Assistance Program extends temporary increases to grants and loans, reaching approximately 571,000 students for non-repayable grants and 422,000 for weekly loan limit hikes. The Canada Apprentice Loan continues to offer up to $4,000 interest-free per training period, supporting over 73,300 apprentices since inception. The Student Work Placement Program (SWPP) has facilitated over 300,000 placements since 2017, including innovative work-integrated learning. Related to higher education, the Future Skills Program and Youth Employment and Skills Strategy (YESS) involve sector-specific initiatives across ministries, including Indigenous youth internships, STEM programs, and international placements in over 45 countries. These are delivered via federal departments such as Innovation, Science and Economic Development, Agriculture and Agri-Food, Canadian Heritage, Natural Resources, and more.

Sources: www.canada.ca

Federal consultations launched on modernizing the Canada Labour Code

On April 17, the federal government commenced consultations on possible amendments to the Canada Labour Code. Employers, unions, and stakeholders are invited to provide written feedback until May 18, 2026. Issues open for consideration include timelines for collective bargaining, training supports for workers affected by artificial intelligence and automation, workplace health and safety protections, and measures to address wage theft and contract retendering. The initiative, led by Minister Patty Hajdu and Secretary of State John Zerucelli, aims to inform future policy directions with a "What We Heard" report to follow. The review responds to recent labour disputes and recommendations from the Industrial Inquiry Commission.

Sources: www.canada.ca

Government launches consultation on strengthening labour relations and supports for workers

Federal consultations are seeking stakeholder input on a range of measures to modernize the Canada Labour Code. Topics include direct bargaining timelines, conciliation and cooling-off periods, the potential for a special mediator role during collective bargaining disputes, and expedited grievance arbitration processes. The government is also asking for input on the use of sectoral bargaining, essential services designations, and harmonizing occupational health and safety standards across jurisdictions. Additionally, the consultation covers potential new protections against worker misclassification and wage theft, proposed updates to the Wage Earner Protection Program in insolvency scenarios, and the extension of successor rights for workers when contracts are retendered.

Sources: www.canada.ca

Canada and Finland issue joint statement on sovereign technology and AI cooperation

On April 14, Minister Evan Solomon and Finnish Minister Sakari Puisto released a joint statement agreeing to deepen collaboration on AI, high-performance computing, and digital technologies. The two countries will explore Finland's participation in the Sovereign Technology Alliance, focusing on coordination to enhance sovereign AI infrastructure and reduce dependence on external technologies in strategic sectors. Areas of planned cooperation include access to AI computing resources, joint work on responsible design of frontier AI, and exploration of joint research and workforce initiatives in quantum, commercialization, and technology adoption.

Sources: www.canada.ca

Federal funding supports French-language research through SSHRC, NSERC, and CIHR

The Government of Canada is providing $1 million for 2025–26 under the Action Plan for Official Languages to support French-language research. The funding is divided among SSHRC ($400,000), NSERC ($350,000), and CIHR ($250,000). The funds will be used for research in French, the training of Francophone scientists, and production and distribution of research relevant to Francophone communities, including health, social sciences, humanities, and engineering. The investment is part of a broader five-year, $8.5 million federal initiative to bolster the presence of French in the scientific ecosystem.

Sources: www.canada.ca

Investment in Francophone and bilingual digital health innovation announced

FedDev Ontario is allocating over $815,000 to Institut du Savoir Montfort to expand the Montfort Innovation Lab, enabling up to 20 digital health businesses to participate in commercialization projects. Supported activities include strategic advisory support, connections with healthcare practitioners, and access to research and clinical environments. Partners on the initiative include Invest Ottawa, Capital Bioventure, multiple hospitals, and post-secondary institutions like the University of Ottawa and Collège La Cité. The objective is to facilitate the validation and market adoption of Francophone and bilingual digital health technologies.

Sources: www.canada.ca

Cyber Centre unveils CIREN initiative for critical infrastructure cyber threat resilience

The Canadian Centre for Cyber Security (Cyber Centre) announced the Critical Infrastructure Resilience and Escalated Threat Navigation (CIREN) initiative. CIREN provides a structured pathway for critical infrastructure organizations—including sectors such as energy, telecommunications, and transportation—to prepare, respond, and recover from severe cyber incidents, such as state-sponsored and non-state cyber threats. Guidance includes isolation of critical systems for up to three months, independent operation planning, and post-incident system rebuilding strategies. The framework is intended for scenarios involving widespread or prolonged cyber disruptions and addresses risks fueled by advances in artificial intelligence.

Sources: www.canada.ca

Federal funding supports major international events through the International Convention Attraction Fund

Minister Rechie Valdez announced $15 million over three years for the International Convention Attraction Fund (ICAF), administered by Destination Canada. Since its March 2024 launch, ICAF has secured 116 major international events, projected to attract over 324,200 attendees and contribute $803.3 million in direct economic impact. Events include the 2025 International Symposium on Avian Influenza and the 2028 International Geological Congress. The fund is designed to support bids for international business events aligned with Canadian economic and strategic priorities, with continued investment since 2023 reaching $60 million.

Sources: www.canada.ca

Canada and Northwest Territories announce workforce response to international tariff shifts

Employment and Social Development Canada and the Northwest Territories government announced a $1.5 million partnership over three years for the Canada–Northwest Territories Workforce Tariff Response. The program will integrate with the NWT's labour market programming to support workers affected by US tariffs and global market shifts, particularly related to the diamond mining sector. Eligible residents will have enhanced access to training, employment services, and financial assistance for upskilling and career transitions.

Sources: www.canada.ca

Provincial Government News

Ontario expands funding for Indigenous postsecondary institutes

Ontario will invest $57 million in Indigenous Institutes, nearly doubling operating funding and adding up to 780 seats in labour-market-driven programs, with an emphasis on health care, trades, STEM, and Indigenous languages.

Sources: news.ontario.ca

Nova Scotia automates zero-interest student loans for graduates

Nova Scotia no longer requires graduates to reapply annually for zero per cent interest on student loans, providing uninterrupted support for eligible borrowers during repayment.

Sources: news.novascotia.ca

Ontario proposes residency matching priority for Ontario international medical graduates

Ontario intends to introduce legislation to reserve dedicated streams in the Canadian Resident Matching Service for international medical graduates with close ties to Ontario, effective for the 2027 application cycle.

Sources: news.ontario.ca

British Columbia opens new wet lab for life-sciences companies

B.C. invested $10 million in adMare BioInnovations’ M4 Innovation Centre, adding 30,000 square feet of wet-lab space to support research commercialization by local life-sciences and biomanufacturing companies.

Sources: news.gov.bc.ca

Manitoba commits $7.6 million to youth summer jobs program

Manitoba’s Urban/Hometown Green Team program will create approximately 1,900 summer jobs for youth in over 170 communities, offering wage support for non-profits and municipalities.

Sources: news.gov.mb.ca

What We're Reading This Week

• Canada falls behind in race to draw brightest students, Universities Canada CEO says: Analysis on international student recruitment challenges.
• SAIT layoffs highlight funding challenges at Alberta post-secondary schools: Coverage of workforce adjustments amid institutional financial pressures.
• Alberta post-secondaries find ways to navigate funding challenges: Report on institutional strategies during funding constraints.
• CTV National News: Layoffs hit colleges as international student cap force downsizing, mergers: Broadcast report on college layoffs and structural adjustments.
• In the midst of ‘cancel culture,’ universities create ways to encourage uncomfortable debate: Universities examine approaches to academic freedom.
• P.E.I. tourism operators mull how to keep workers as Holland College programs end: Workforce planning in Atlantic post-secondary institutions.

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