This is Queen Street Analytics' weekly digest of regulatory developments, legislative discussions and other government-related news concerning most types of manufacturing activities (except agricultural, automotive, aerospace, food, and pharmaceutical), e.g. textile and apparel, chemical, electronics, wood and paper, metals, plastics and rubber, packaging, and machining. Once a week, we break down the most important updates in this space in under five minutes.

Want to track the upstream and downstream forces affecting Manufacturing? Don’t miss this week’s updates in Mining and Oil & Gas. Also consider subscribing to our Manufacturing - Washington edition covering critical GR news south of the border.

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

• House INDU Committee to Study U.S. Tariffs' Impact on Canadian Metallurgical/Advanced Manufacturing: The Standing Committee on Industry and Technology will hold a televised hearing on the economic and supply chain impacts of U.S. tariffs on Canada's metallurgical and advanced manufacturing sectors on April 20, from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
• SRSR Committee to Examine Canada-China Electric Vehicle Sector Arrangements: The Science and Research committee meets April 20, 3:30 p.m.–5:30 p.m., with witnesses from academia, automakers, and supply chain organizations on the implications of the Canada-China preliminary joint arrangement for electric vehicles.
• Natural Resources Committee Schedules Hearing on Canadian Energy Exports: The House Natural Resources committee will hear from Export Development Canada, LNG Canada, and industry associations regarding energy exports on April 21, 11 a.m.–1 p.m.
• International Trade Committee to Explore Free Trade Within Canada: On April 23, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., the Standing Committee on International Trade will take testimony on free trade within Canada, including from Maple Leaf Foods and the Canadian Construction Association.
• Second SRSR Hearing on Canada-China Electric Vehicle Arrangements: A follow-up Science and Research committee hearing occurs April 23, 11 a.m.–1 p.m., with stakeholders including Unifor Local 222 and private sector security experts.

Federal Government News

CBSA and CITT Open Inquiries into Alleged Dumping and Subsidized Imports of Chinese Plywood

The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) launched investigations on April 10, 2026, into whether decorative and other non-structural plywood imported from China is being dumped or subsidized, following a complaint submitted by Columbia Forest Products and the Canadian Hardwood Plywood and Veneer Association. The Canadian International Trade Tribunal (CITT) began its preliminary injury inquiry on April 13, 2026, to determine if Canadian producers suffered material injury, citing impacts such as lost sales, market share erosion, price depression, and reduced capacity utilization. The CITT is set to deliver its preliminary decision by June 9, 2026; if it finds reasonable indication of injury, CBSA will issue a preliminary determination of dumping or subsidization by July 9, 2026. Both investigations proceed under the Special Import Measures Act, which provides customs remedies against unfair trade. In 2025, SIMA duties applied to $3.3 billion of imports tied to over 43,000 Canadian jobs, with 185 special import measures in effect.

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

Canadian Manufacturing Bolstered by $8.4M in Regional Tariff Response Initiative Investments in Edmonton

Prairies Economic Development Canada (PrairiesCan) announced over $8.4 million in investments to seven manufacturing projects in the greater Edmonton area under the Regional Tariff Response Initiative (RTRI) on April 17, 2026. Projects such as automation upgrades at Alta-Fab Enterprises and two-phased expansion at Flexxaire Inc. are intended to reinforce productivity, enable facility modernization, and expand export capacity. Armtec, Weldco-Beales Manufacturing, and Whitemud Ironworks also received funds for technological enhancements and equipment tailored toward reducing costs and enhancing production. These projects are projected to support over 150 jobs, strengthen supply reliability, allow access to new international markets, and improve resilience as companies respond to disruptions from recent US tariffs on Canadian goods.

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

Pacific Economic Development Canada Invests $10.5M in Delta and Richmond Advanced Manufacturing

Pacific Economic Development Canada announced over $10.5 million in funding for nine companies in Delta and Richmond, B.C., on April 17, 2026. Santevia Water Systems will receive $1.8 million to support domestic plant scaling, product launches, and entry into new international markets. Richmond Plywood Corporation acquires $1 million for facility modernization to address plywood shortages and support construction supply chains. The initiative aims to enhance local production, enable export-driven growth, and reduce dependency on single-use plastics in manufacturing.

Sources: www.canada.ca

Government of Canada Invests $4.5M to Integrate Quebec SMEs into Defence Supply Chains

On April 13, 2026, Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions announced $4,495,000 in non-repayable funding to Aéro Montréal, Propulsion Québec, and Sous-traitance industrielle Québec (STIQ) to advance services to Quebec SMEs targeting the defence sector. The funds are intended to guide companies in meeting sector requirements, particularly in aerospace, electric vehicles, and manufacturing. Launched as part of the Defence Industrial Strategy, the Regional Defence Investment Initiative for Quebec (RDII) contributes to a $64.9 million program over three years and draws from the Regional Economic Growth through Innovation program. These actions are expected to stimulate innovation, strengthen national supply chains, and support Canada’s Defence Industrial Strategy commitments including NATO spending targets.

Sources: www.canada.ca

Minister Joly to Promote Canadian Industry at HANNOVER MESSE 2026

Minister Mélanie Joly will travel to Germany and Norway from April 19–24, 2026, representing Canadian interests at HANNOVER MESSE, the world’s leading industrial technology trade fair. The delegation plans meetings with German automotive and battery industry stakeholders, and additional talks with Norwegian public and private sector leaders to bolster ties in aerospace, electric vehicles, critical minerals, and supply chain resilience. This trip follows Canada’s standout presence as Partner Country in 2025 and builds on the February 2026 Canada-Germany battery supply chain collaboration.

Sources: www.canada.ca

Mangrove Lithium Opens Canada’s First Commercial Electrochemical Lithium Refining Facility

Natural Resources Canada and Mangrove Lithium marked the commissioning of North America’s first commercial lithium refining plant in Delta, B.C., on April 16, 2026. The facility, conditionally supported by up to $21.9 million from the Critical Minerals Research Development and Demonstration (CMRDD) program, will produce battery-grade lithium for up to 25,000 electric vehicles per year. The plant expands domestic processing capacity, reduces reliance on foreign suppliers, and supports the demand for lithium in batteries, electric vehicles, and grid storage.

Sources: www.canada.ca

StatsCan: Manufacturing Sales Rose 3.6% in February on Higher Transportation Equipment, Machinery, and Metals

According to Statistics Canada's Monthly Survey of Manufacturing, sales increased 3.6% in February 2026, led by gains in transportation equipment, machinery, and primary metals. In contrast, the chemical subsector posted the largest decline.

Sources: www.statcan.gc.ca

StatsCan Publishes Revised National Input-Output Tables for 2022–2024

Statistics Canada released its national input-output tables for 2024 and revised figures for 2022 and 2023 on April 15, 2026. The tables provide detailed inter-industry and sectoral linkages, informing studies of supply chain dynamics, value added, and tax impacts across Canadian manufacturing.

Sources: www.statcan.gc.ca

Sai Krishna Foods Receives Federal Support to Expand Food Manufacturing in New Brunswick

Sai Krishna Foods completed a major expansion of its Cap-Pelé production facility in New Brunswick, boosted by $541,000 in repayable federal funding announced by Minister Dominic LeBlanc on April 14, 2026. The modernization increases output and job opportunities, with additional provincial support committed for productivity improvements.

Sources: www.canada.ca

Parliamentary Secretary Bardeesy to Announce Automotive R&D Innovation at Truck World 2026

Parliamentary Secretary Karim Bardeesy, representing Minister Mélanie Joly, will make an automotive sector R&D innovation announcement at the Truck World expo in Mississauga, Ontario, on April 17, 2026. Stakeholders seeking details on the event are to contact ISED Media Relations.

Sources: www.canada.ca

Minister Olszewski Schedules Edmonton Funding Announcement to Support Manufacturing

Minister Eleanor Olszewski will confirm federal support for Edmonton-based manufacturers on April 17, 2026, with local business and chamber representatives present. The event will highlight modernization funds linked to PrairiesCan’s broader manufacturing and supply chain initiatives.

Sources: www.canada.ca

Provincial Government News

Nova Scotia Implements Stricter Air Quality Regulations Effective June 1

Nova Scotia has updated air quality rules to regulate 26 pollutants—up from six—affecting manufacturing and industrial facilities, effective June 1, 2026.

Sources: news.novascotia.ca

B.C. Funds $10 Million State-of-the-Art Wet-Lab Facility for Life Sciences in Vancouver

British Columbia has opened a 30,000-sq.ft. wet-lab for biotech startups in Vancouver, supporting commercial-scale production and attracting investment as part of the Look West strategy.

Sources: news.gov.bc.ca

Alberta Introduces Bill 30 to Expedite Major Project Approvals

The Alberta government has tabled legislation to set a 120-day approval process for strategic projects exceeding $250 million, intending to speed up industrial project development.

Sources: www.alberta.ca

Ontario Launches 'Peak Performance' Demand Response Program for Commercial HVAC

Ontario now offers incentives to commercial and institutional properties for reducing HVAC use during peak summer demand. Eligible participants can earn $20 per kilowatt in support.

Sources: news.ontario.ca

B.C. Announces Free Dock Foam Drop-Off Program to Tackle Marine Microplastic Pollution

B.C., in partnership with shíshálh Nation, will run dock foam collection events for Sunshine Coast dock owners during June–July 2026, targeting polystyrene pollution.

Sources: news.gov.bc.ca

What We're Reading This Week

• New U.S. tariff rule to impact Canadian metals manufacturing: Canadian manufacturers face new challenges as U.S. revises its tariff regime for metal imports.
• Canadian manufacturers hit hard by changes to U.S. metal tariffs: Industry leaders report significant effects from recent U.S. tariff adjustments.
• In a B.C. industrial zone, a new link forged in Canada’s crucial lithium supply chain: The new Mangrove Lithium plant advances Canada's position in global battery supply chains.

.