This is Queen Street Analytics' weekly digest of regulatory developments, legislative discussions, political announcements and other government-related news concerning social advocacy issues. Once a week, we break down the most important updates in this space in under five minutes.

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Dates: 2026-03-15 to 2026-03-21

📋 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

• Justice and Human Rights Committee reviews Bill C-16 on criminal and correctional matters: On March 23, the committee will hear from Minister Sean Fraser and Department of Justice officials regarding Bill C-16, which concerns criminal law updates related to child protection, gender-based violence, and judicial delays. The meeting will be held from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. in room 425, Wellington Building.
• HUMA Committee set to examine Bill C-222 on bereavement leave for the death of a child: The Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities Committee will meet March 23, 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., to consider Bill C-222, focusing on amending EI Act and Canada Labour Code provisions for bereavement after child loss.
• INAN Committee reviews Bill S-228 on criminalizing non-consensual sterilization: On March 24, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., the Indigenous and Northern Affairs Committee will take up Bill S-228, which proposes amendments to the Criminal Code regarding sterilization procedures, with input from parliamentarians and medical organizations.
• Status of Women Committee studies abuse and financial vulnerability of senior women: On March 24, 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., the committee will hear from groups including the Fédération des femmes du Québec and Alberta Elder Abuse Awareness Council on elder women’s abuse and economic vulnerability.
• SECU Committee discusses Supplementary Estimates for Public Safety and related agencies: The Public Safety and National Security Committee will review allocations to the Canada Border Services Agency, CSIS, Correctional Service of Canada, and the RCMP on March 24, 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., with Minister Gary Anandasangaree and departmental officials present.

Federal Government News

Federal government expands engagement of men and boys as part of its strategy to prevent gender-based violence

On March 16 in Hamilton, the Honourable Rechie Valdez, Minister of Women and Gender Equality, announced nearly $2 million in new funding for 18 organizations nationwide to involve men and boys in preventing gender-based violence. This latest allocation is part of a broader federal commitment: since inception, more than $14.3 million has supported projects that seek to mobilize men as allies, with initiatives spanning skilled trades, community-based education, support for newcomers, and workplace interventions. Interval House of Hamilton, for example, will receive $95,674 in addition to prior funding for their GBV prevention training in skilled trades, impacting 970 participants across 56 workplaces. The ongoing strategy includes a Budget 2025 endorsement with a five-year, $223.4 million envelope for gender-based violence prevention.

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

Canada announces $4.7 million for Indigenous women’s reintegration initiative

The Thunder Women Healing Lodge Society will receive $4,737,448 over five years from Public Safety Canada under the Aboriginal Community Safety Development Contribution Program. Announced on March 20 by the Honourable Evan Solomon on behalf of Minister Gary Anandasangaree in Toronto, the funding supports the Maashkaawizii Kwe "Woman of Inner strength" project. The initiative is tailored to Indigenous women reintegrating following release from federal and provincial corrections, combining safe accommodation, culturally relevant counseling, and programming grounded in the Federal Framework to Reduce Recidivism, adapted to Indigenous knowledge and priorities.

Sources: www.canada.ca

CBSA takes action against organized criminal networks with expanded immigration investigations

The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) has expanded enforcement measures aimed at disrupting extortion networks. Formal monitoring of cases potentially linked to extortion began in August 2025 and was widened to the Greater Toronto Area by November. As of March 12, 2026, 372 immigration investigations have been initiated, resulting in 70 removal orders and 35 deportations on grounds including organized criminality. Collaboration continues with police and enforcement partners, with case referrals and public tip lines remaining active contributors.

Sources: www.canada.ca

Major investment backs Francophone immigration outside Quebec

On March 20 in Sudbury, the Honourable Lena Metlege Diab, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, announced $1.5 million in new projects under the Francophone Immigration Support Program. Three initiatives will focus on attracting French-speaking and bilingual talent, reinforcing the presence in ICT sectors, and providing resources for Francophones in Northern Ontario. The Université de l’Ontario français will receive up to $575,000 over three years to develop a micro-certificate in francophone immigration management, further strengthening sector capacity.

Sources: www.canada.ca

Government extends employment insurance relief for tariff-impacted workers

Minister Patty Hajdu announced a six-month extension of Employment Insurance (EI) temporary measures, effective beyond April 2026, for workers affected by U.S. tariffs. Extensions apply to waiving the one-week waiting period, suspending allocation of separation monies, and providing up to 20 additional weeks of benefits for long-tenured workers. The measures apply to claims within defined windows from March 30, 2025, up to October 10, 2026.

Sources: www.canada.ca

Statistics Canada releases new classification tool to track Canadian health and social inequalities

The 2021 Canadian Social Environment Typology (CanSET), launched March 19, classifies neighbourhoods based on 30 indicators from the 2021 Census. Produced by the Centre for Health Data Integration, it offers updated data for analyzing population patterns, enabling more precise measurement of social and health inequalities. The data release is accompanied by a user guide for application in public health and social policy analysis.

Sources: www.statcan.gc.ca

Canada continues global development and rights programming with $11.75 million for projects in Kenya and Indo-Pacific

Secretary of State (International Development) Randeep Sarai announced in Kenya $11.75 million in new funding for humanitarian and development projects across Kenya, East and West Africa, the Middle East, and the Indo-Pacific. Supported initiatives include Equitas’s United to Protect Human Rights ($9.5 million, 2026–2028), UNHCR and WFP humanitarian assistance, and IDRC partnerships for AI policy, trade under AfCFTA, and health system electrification. Secretary Sarai also reported on partnerships supporting climate finance for women, delivery of medical supplies by drone, and Canadian aerospace training in Kenya.

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

Federal support for housing infrastructure in Toronto under Build Communities Strong Fund

On March 19, Minister Gregor Robertson announced over $183 million for Toronto through the Community stream of the new Build Communities Strong Fund. Investments will update Toronto Transit Commission facilities with accessibility improvements, while the broader fund features streams allocating $17.2 billion over 10 years to housing-enabling projects, $6 billion in direct delivery, and $27.8 billion for municipal infrastructure. Details for fund access by communities and organizations will be provided in the coming weeks.

Sources: www.canada.ca

Functional health declines among Canadian adults, new data shows

Statistics Canada's update on March 16 indicates a decline in the functional health of Canadian adults since 2015. Emotional health and rising pain levels are significant factors. The Health Utilities Index Mark 3 summarizing this trend provides benchmarks for agencies tracking health-related quality of life. Scores of 0.89 or above are considered very good to perfect health.

Sources: www.statcan.gc.ca

Study links youth screen time to well-being outcomes over time

A Statistics Canada longitudinal study released March 19 examines screen time among youth first surveyed in 2019 at ages 12–17 and again in 2023 at ages 16–21. Investigators tracked screen use and its changes alongside well-being indicators for this group. The findings provide a basis for further analysis on youth digital behaviors.

Sources: www.statcan.gc.ca

Technical report details Canadian disability measurement approaches

Statistics Canada on March 17 published its Technical Report on Disability Measurement in Canada, summarizing the evolution of measurement tools, data sources, and comparative results from past to current practices. The documentation supports users of disability data in the public, private, and non-profit sectors for service and policy design.

Sources: www.statcan.gc.ca

Provincial Government News

Ontario terminates funding for supervised drug injection sites in HART Hub communities

Ontario will end provincial funding for seven supervised consumption sites located in communities with Homelessness and Addiction Recovery Treatment (HART) Hubs. These sites, in Toronto, Ottawa, Niagara, Peterborough, and London, will enter a 90-day wind-down period, with clients transitioned to HART-supported integrated recovery services.

Sources: news.ontario.ca

Quebec tables $3.6B investment targeting family supports, homelessness and housing access

Budget 2026-2027 commits over $3.6 billion over six years to expand affordable housing, address homelessness, support families, fight domestic violence, and strengthen services for vulnerable populations. It also plans more than $1 billion for community resilience, $584 million for climate adaptation, and $220 million to promote culture and heritage.

Sources: www.quebec.ca

Alberta proposes legislative limits on MAID access for mental illness

The Safeguards for Last Resort Termination of Life Act would restrict eligibility for medical assistance in dying (MAID) in Alberta, prohibiting its use where the sole condition is mental illness and requiring that natural death be reasonably foreseeable.

Sources: www.alberta.ca

British Columbia’s Community Bargaining Association ratifies agreement covering over 25,000 workers

The Community Bargaining Association ratified a four-year agreement providing annual wage increases and benefits for over 25,000 health support workers in various community settings province-wide. The pact also includes measures to address staffing and scheduling.

Sources: news.gov.bc.ca

Alberta earmarks $3.7B to support persons with disabilities

Budget 2026 sets a record $3.7 billion for disability programs, including supports for employment, specialized services, and disability income assistance through the new Alberta Disability Assistance Program launching July 2026.

Sources: www.alberta.ca

What We're Reading This Week

• Federal funding gap threatens services for Montreal’s most vulnerable: Montreal's social services sector faces a funding shortfall.
• Quebec urged to respect Supreme Court decision on asylum seekers’ daycare access: Authorities and advocacy groups are calling for compliance with a high court ruling on equal daycare access.
• A human rights group is calling on the province to reintroduce safe consumption sites in Ontario: Calls mount for Ontario to revisit safe consumption site policies.
• CBSA opens 372 immigration investigations to ‘disrupt extortion networks’ in Canada: Immigration enforcement efforts intensify against organized criminal schemes.
• 'From Oil to Energy Justice: A Community Conversation to Build an Equitable Energy Transition': Community dialogue explores fairness in Canada's energy transition.
• Thinking of moving to a more 'affordable' part of the country? Consider this: Factors affecting affordability in Canadian provinces are examined.
• Proposed digital access law ‘balances’ privacy rights and police powers, Canada’s public safety minister says: New legislative proposals on digital privacy spark debate.
• Flipping the Line: The difficult challenges of policing a protest: Analysis of recent protest management strategies.
• Can Avi Lewis Make His Politics Fit the Moment?: Exploration of leadership dynamics in Canadian politics.

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