June 21, 2026 to June 27, 2026

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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📋 In This Week's Newsletter

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

Federal Government News

Government of Canada Announces $100 Million Investment in VITAL Health Data Platform

On June 23, 2026, the Honourable Evan Solomon, Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Innovation, and Maggie Chi, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Health, announced $100 million in federal funding for the VITAL health data platform in Toronto. VITAL will connect de-identified electronic health data from hospitals nationwide, enabling researchers to access near real–time clinical data. The goal is to help accelerate medical research, improve clinical trials, and support Canadian innovation in health data and AI through increased digital infrastructure. This latest investment, part of the National Artificial Intelligence Strategy: AI for All, follows previous federal support including $30 million over three years and $24.5 million from the Canada Foundation for Innovation. By expanding data access and interoperability among hospitals, VITAL is positioned to support researchers and more than 80 Canadian health data and AI companies working in diagnostics and analytics. Privacy protections are cited as a central component of the initiative.

Sources: www.canada.ca

Minister Hodgson Launches Canadian Digital Core Library to Boost Mineral and Data Access

On June 26, 2026, in Yellowknife, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Tim Hodgson provided details on the next phase of the Canadian Digital Core Library (CDCL) at the Energy and Mines Ministers’ Conference. The CDCL will create a single platform for digitized drill core data from across Canada. Newly signed memoranda of understanding include partnerships with ten provinces and territories (Ontario, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Manitoba, Alberta, Saskatchewan, British Columbia, Newfoundland and Labrador, Northwest Territories, Yukon). Up to $15 million from the federal government will support the Creative Destruction Lab in developing the CDCL. Core scanning is set to begin by September 2026, with the platform expected to improve access to geoscience data and enable the use of AI in natural resources, mining, and advanced manufacturing.

Sources: www.canada.ca

Canada Expands High-Speed Internet in Rural and Remote Manitoba

The Government of Canada, represented by Minister Rebecca Chartrand on behalf of Secretary of State Buckley Belanger, announced on June 22, 2026, an investment of over $96.8 million to connect more than 7,800 homes in over 50 rural and remote communities in Manitoba to high-speed Internet. The project, delivered by Valley Fiber Ltd., is funded through the Universal Broadband Fund, intending to achieve nationwide broadband access by 2030 with a focus on Indigenous, rural, and remote locations.

Sources: www.canada.ca

Polar Knowledge Canada Awards $180,000 in Scholarships and Fellowships to Early-Career Polar Researchers

On June 26, 2026, Polar Knowledge Canada announced $180,000 in scholarships, awards, and fellowships supporting ten early-career and student researchers from across Canada’s North and nationwide. The recipients include projects in areas such as climate change impacts, wildlife research, and nanocontaminant exposure. The awards span multiple regions—including Nunavut, Yukon, Quebec, Newfoundland and Labrador, and Antarctica—supporting PhD, Master’s, and postdoctoral research across disciplines. The program continues to focus on community engagement and partnerships between Indigenous and scientific knowledge systems.

Sources: www.canada.ca

Canada Invests $879,065 in TELUS Spark Science Centre’s Immersive Learning Infrastructure

On June 23, 2026, Corey Hogan, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, announced federal funding of $879,065 for the TELUS Spark Science Centre in Calgary, acting on behalf of Minister Marc Miller. The allocation, provided through the Canada Cultural Spaces Fund, focuses on upgrading the digital immersion gallery, including high-resolution projectors and supporting the Flint robotic platform. The announcement follows previous support of $500,000 and aims to improve accessibility, audiovisual capabilities, and digital programming at the centre, supporting hands-on STEM education for all visitors.

Sources: www.canada.ca

Women Entrepreneurship Strategy to Receive Additional $173.7 Million over Five Years

Minister Rechie Valdez, in Lethbridge on June 22, 2026, announced a new investment of $173.7 million over five years for the Women Entrepreneurship Strategy. The strategy extends support for the Women Entrepreneurship Loan Fund, allowing partners to continue providing loans up to $50,000, and includes enhanced resources for business training, advisory services, and research through the Women Entrepreneurship Knowledge Hub. Since 2018, more than 500,000 women entrepreneurs have benefitted from WES programs.

Sources: www.canada.ca

Atlantic Canadian Bioscience Firms Pursue Global Partnerships at BIO 2026

On June 23, 2026, Sean Fraser, Minister responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, announced a non-repayable contribution for the PEI BioAlliance to lead the Atlantic Canada delegation to the BIO 2026 conference in San Diego. Sixteen companies and research organizations from Atlantic Canada are participating in international partnering, investment, and export-building engagements. The project, funded through the Atlantic Trade and Investment Growth Agreement, aims to facilitate global partnerships and increase export potential for the region’s growing life sciences sector.

Sources: www.canada.ca

Statistics Canada Releases Updated Labour Market Outcomes for College and University Graduates, 2010–2022

Statistics Canada released comprehensive data on June 24, 2026, summarizing labour market outcomes for the 2010–2022 graduating classes from postsecondary institutions. Data include median employment income by education level, field of study, gender, age group, and—new this year—by Indigenous identity and racialized group. The datasets are available at the national, provincial, and territorial levels for use by institutional researchers and policymakers.

Sources: www.statcan.gc.ca

Survey of Commercial and Institutional Energy Use: Postsecondary Campuses (2024 Data)

On June 26, 2026, Statistics Canada published the results of the 2024 Survey of Commercial and Institutional Energy Use, covering energy demand and consumption data for hospitals and postsecondary education campuses across all ten provinces. The data set is intended to inform adaptation and efficiency strategies—including those tied to the Canada Green Buildings Strategy—which targets net-zero building emissions by 2050 and supports ongoing assessment of campus energy performance.

Sources: www.statcan.gc.ca

Provincial Government News

Ontario Modernizes Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program for Targeted Labour Needs

Ontario's Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development ministry announced changes to the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program on June 26, 2026, replacing eight streams with four, adjusting eligibility requirements and reducing administrative duplication. The changes focus on addressing labour shortages and giving smaller Northern and rural businesses greater access to the program, with the new Ontario Workforce Priority stream open immediately.

Sources: news.ontario.ca

Ontario Invests $60 Million in Digital Student Learning Resources

The Ontario government will invest $60 million in upgraded classroom resources for all school boards starting September 2026, including the Edwin digital platform from Nelson Education Ltd. The initiative aims to provide interactive tools for Grades 1 to 12 and new mandatory assessment standards for Grades 9 to 12.

Sources: news.ontario.ca

Ontario Funding Supports Life Sciences Scale-Up and Over 1,000 Jobs

Ontario announced over $18 million for 11 companies via the Life Sciences Scale-Up Fund, supporting more than $61 million in investment and 190 newly created jobs, while sustaining over 660 existing positions across the province. Projects include advanced medical devices, diagnostics, and health technology manufacturing.

Sources: news.ontario.ca

Ontario Leverages $75 Million Investment in Life Sciences Sector

The Ontario government highlighted that the Life Sciences Scale-Up Fund has now fully deployed its first round, supporting over 1,000 jobs across 14 projects and leveraging nearly $75 million in investments from sector partners. Round two of the Fund is now open for applications through August 3, 2026.

Sources: news.ontario.ca

Nova Scotia Joins Canadian Digital Core Library Initiative for Geological Data Access

Nova Scotia signed an MOU with Natural Resources Canada to digitize drill core samples as part of the Canadian Digital Core Library. The initiative will provide public access to standardized geological data, aiming to support mineral and energy exploration.

Sources: news.novascotia.ca

What We're Reading This Week

• Young tech-hopefuls are building their own AI experience to land internships as university courses try to catch up: Coverage of student-driven efforts to develop AI skills relevant for industry placements.
• International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators Launches National Campus Drone Readiness Program, Selecting Draganfly to Provide Drone Systems, Services and Training in Alignment with Emerging U.S. Drone Policy: Draganfly to deliver drone systems and services for US campus safety using new federal guidelines.
• New book unpacks the rise and fall of U.K.’s academic elite: Review of a publication addressing the shifting influence of UK academia.
• Raise your hand, raise your grade: Why participation matters this fall: Discussion on the increased importance of student participation for academic outcomes.

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