This Week in Hospitality & Retail — Ottawa (#23, 2026)

CCOHS Forum announced; $1.3M sport-tech funding in Ontario; Competition Bureau updates on food sector; Major Nunavut investment in food processing; Retail price index data released; CPI basket updated

This Week in Hospitality & Retail — Ottawa (#23, 2026)

June 14, 2026 to June 20, 2026

This is Queen Street Analytics' weekly digest of regulatory developments, legislative discussions and other government-related news concerning hotels, restaurants, casinos, gaming operations, event and sports venues, cruise lines, theme parks, ski resorts, outdoor spaces, RV and caravan parks, and all hospitality, travel and tourism professionals. Once a week, we break down the most important updates in this space in under five minutes.

Want to track GR news in adjacent industries related? Don’t miss this week’s updates in Arts & Culture. Also consider subscribing to our Hospitality & Retail - Washington edition covering critical GR news south of the border.

📋 In This Week's Newsletter

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


Federal Government News

CCOHS Forum 2026 to address workplace risks and innovation

The Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS) will convene stakeholders from across Canada at Forum 2026, scheduled for October 28 and 29 in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador. The two-day event aims to address pressing workplace health and safety issues, including the integration of artificial intelligence, future-of-work trends, and operational approaches to psychosocial hazards. Speakers include Lee Jeyes, Head of Innovation and Change at Waitrose & Partners, who will share tools for managing change within large organizations, and Mary Ann Baynton, who will discuss the operationalization of psychosocial safety in the workplace. Janet MacEachern of the AWCBC will discuss national injury trends, and Dr. Arif Jetha of the IWH will present findings from an international scan on emerging workplace risks. An Innovation Showcase will offer resources and tools for creating healthier work environments. The forum targets industry leaders and policymakers interested in the evolving Canadian work landscape.

Sources: www.canada.ca
ad-card
Discover comprehensive lobbying data and insights with LobbyIQ. Explore now!

FedDev Ontario invests $1.3 million in sport-tech and business activation for FIFA 2026

On June 15, the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario) announced a $1.3 million investment in sport technology and local business initiatives in Toronto. The initiatives include $700,000 to the City of Toronto for main street business activations during the FIFA World Cup 2026™ and for export-readiness programming, and $600,000 to Toronto Metropolitan University to establish the Future of Sport Lab x FIFA 2026 Legacy Incubation Hub. The Hub is set to support up to 60 Canadian sport-tech startups annually through mentorship, commercialization support, and international partnership development. These investments are supported by $300,000 from the City of Toronto and contributions from private sector and sport organizations. The program is designed to capitalize on the influx of visitors and business brought by the World Cup, aiming to create an enduring economic legacy for the region.

Sources: www.canada.ca

Competition Bureau updates on activities within the food sector

The Competition Bureau Canada published an update on its ongoing work in the food sector. The backgrounder outlines the Bureau’s engagement with food market dynamics, addressing areas of interest to food retailers, distributors, and service providers nationally. Details on the Bureau's recent reviews or enforcement actions were not included in this update.

Sources: www.canada.ca

Canada commits over $4.7 million for traditional food processing in Nunavut

On June 18, the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency (CanNor) confirmed a federal investment totaling over $4.7 million for the construction of traditional food processing plants in Gjoa Haven and Taloyoak, Nunavut. Funding sources include $3,389,736 from CanNor, $831,550 from Fisheries and Oceans Canada, and $566,038 from Crown-Indigenous Relations and Indigenous Services Canada. The Gjoa Haven facility will prioritize Arctic char processing with possible expansion, while the Taloyoak site will provide modular meat cutting and wrapping. Both projects involve significant contributions from the Government of Nunavut and local Indigenous organizations. These facilities are intended to improve food access, strengthen food sovereignty, and offer skill development opportunities in the Kitikmeot region. The announcements align with Canada's National Food Security Strategy.

Sources: www.canada.ca, www.canada.ca

Statistics Canada releases Retail Services Price Index for April 2026

Statistics Canada released the April 2026 Retail Services Price Index (2013=100), which provides insight into price changes for retail services. The dataset assists hospitality and retail operators in monitoring service cost trends relevant to their planning cycles.

Sources: www.statcan.gc.ca

Consumer Price Index basket weights updated for 2025

Statistics Canada updated the Consumer Price Index (CPI) basket weights to reflect consumer spending in 2025. The basket amalgamates household expenditure data from multiple surveys and alternative sources, offering the industry updated insights for economic analysis and inflation tracking.

Sources: www.statcan.gc.ca

Provincial Government News

Quebec allocates more than $10 million to support 90 local businesses

On June 15, the Government of Quebec announced $10,407,102 in support to 90 local businesses through the Regions and Rurality Fund, targeting community vitality and essential service retention.

Sources: www.quebec.ca

Alberta launches free and discounted museum and site admissions for youth

As of June 19, Alberta is offering free general admission for visitors 17 and under, and half-price for those aged 18-24, at provincial museums and historic sites, as part of the Canada Strong Pass program running through September 7.

Sources: www.alberta.ca

Temporary reopening of Quebec Experience Program (PEQ) to facilitate immigration

Quebec reopened the Experience Program (PEQ) for two years beginning July 2, 2026, enabling graduates and temporary foreign workers to apply for permanent selection under revised eligibility rules.

Sources: www.quebec.ca
ad-card
From operational data to AI readiness. Learn how Intrepid Data Solutions helps SMBs build reliable data foundations for analytics and AI. Visit IDS!

What We're Reading This Week

.