‘A catalyst for change’: MPs bullish on Heated Rivalry’s impact on Canadian hockey culture
The Crave television sensation about two closeted male hockey players has reached viewers across the globe—but MPs say they think the show’s most important effects will be felt close to home.
Interpreter dilemma: pushback continues against changes to federal exam, freelance contract terms
As of last March, 84 freelance interpreters were covering Parliament Hill. Only 37 such bids were received by the first deadline for submissions under its new standing offer.
Opposition MPs, media veterans call for ‘long overdue’ CBC mandate review
A source familiar with government deliberations expects Ottawa will move forward with a review later this year, while stakeholders wait impatiently for the mandate’s first update in nearly 35 years. Meanwhile, CBC announced it will hire 33 reporters to populate new and pre-existing local newsrooms, and will offer local news coverage in 77 localities across the country.
Feds missing out on economic, geopolitical opportunities by not supporting arts sector, say cultural groups
From Margaret Atwood, to Heated Rivalry, Canada’s cultural outputs could bring Ottawa ‘soft power’ across the globe, says John Degen, CEO of the Writers’ Union of Canada.
Canada should fix its cultural Main Street
Should Canada invest in and encourage new technologies? Sure. But can we please do so without ignoring crumbling cultural infrastructure? Stop the monorail; Canada’s professional creators want off.
‘Get the f**k off there’: MPs, Senators call on government to abandon X/Twitter following wave of ‘Grok porn’
A proliferation of sexual deepfakes on X has prompted other countries to investigate Grok, the platform’s AI software, but, so far, Ottawa remains silent.
‘Year of sport’: SecState van Koeverden pitches Canada as ‘best host nation in the world’ ahead of 2026 World Cup
Athletics ‘are a great way to open doors,’ says Secretary of State for Sport Adam van Koeverden. But although the World Cup excitement is ‘undeniable,’ human rights concerns, and hockey’s ‘reckoning’ in 2025 have left Canadian fans feeling ‘deeply conflicted,’ counters NDP critic Gord Johns.
Ottawa set to revive online harms legislation in 2026: government source
Justice Minister Sean Fraser had previously suggested the government wouldn’t ‘copy and paste’ Bill C-63, formerly known as the Online Harms Act, but child protection advocates remained hopeful the Liberals would bring forward a new online safety law.
Trump’s trade rep targets Online Streaming Act, Online News Act, raising questions about future of Canada’s cultural exemption
On Dec. 17, U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said Canadian cultural laws ‘discriminate against U.S. tech and media firms.’ But Canadian cultural groups insist both the Online Streaming Act and the government’s free-trade exemption are critical to supporting this country’s arts and media industries.
Miller will be challenged to put his historic support for Indigenous Peoples to the test by returning full funding to friendship centres
The last budget was silent on NAFC funding which is scheduled to sunset because the existing 10-year funding agreement ends in 2026.
