Karina Rolland

Federal Housing Project Alignment and Program Access: Engagement with federal officials concerning the alignment of 2B Developments’ shovel-ready housing projects with federal housing and economic priorities, including potential access to funding, financing, or other support available through Build Canada Homes or related federal housing initiatives. Build Canada Homes – Program Design and Implementation: Engagement with federal departments, agencies, ministers’ offices, and senior officials regarding the development, design, and implementation of Build Canada Homes, including program objectives, eligibility criteria, timing, and structure, as they relate to the advancement of 2B Developments’ housing project portfolio.

To communicate with public office holders and provide advisory service in respect of federal legislation, regulations, and public initiatives affecting youth, including but not limited to online harms legislation, artificial intelligence technologies (including chatbots), and other existing or proposed legislative or regulatory measures that may impact young people Seeking a federal investment of $2.5 million over three years through the Public Health Agency of Canada or the Youth Mental Health Fund to scale Jack.org’s Be There Certificate and edHub, reaching 75,000 youth by 2028 with evidence-informed mental health literacy tools in both digital and school-based formats. Requesting $500,000 over two years to formally integrate youth mental health leadership and lived experience into federal workforce, health, and education strategies, by funding partnerships with Jack.org to support youth co-design, policy consultation, and evaluation initiatives with departments like Health Canada, ESDC, PHAC and PCH. Advocating for the recapitalization of the Youth Employment and Skills Strategy (YESS) and allocation of $3 million over three years to Jack.org to fund 420 paid, peer-led youth mental health leadership positions—delivering mentorship, Jack Talks, and outreach that will reach 200,000 youth across Canada by 2028. Engaging with Canada’s regional development agencies (e.g. ACOA, CanNor, PrairiesCan, FedNor, FedDev Ontario) to explore regionally tailored initiatives that strengthen the youth talent pipeline, support youth mental health and leadership, and contribute to the growth of local businesses by equipping young people with the skills, resilience, and capacity to participate in and lead regional economic development.

Seeking federal endorsement and adoption of forecast-based municipal housing delivery plans as a condition of Build Canada Homes funding, using BuildingIN’s data-driven tools—including zoning overlays, uptake modeling, and servicing analysis—as a standardized methodology to ensure funding is tied to buildable, market-ready outcomes. Seeking federal investment to fund the design and delivery of modular, small-scale infill housing demonstration projects, using BuildingIN’s prefabricated design prototypes and technical expertise to demonstrate cost-based, community-compatible housing delivery across at least 50 municipalities as part of Build Canada Homes. Seeking federal funding for the creation of a National Technical Assistance Program under Build Canada Homes, with our BuildingIN department engaged as an expert implementation partner to support municipalities in modeling infill capacity, aligning zoning, and developing market-aligned delivery plans, drawing on the firm’s existing municipal engagement experience and delivery methodologies. Seeking federal funding and/or adoption of BuildingIN’s Low-Rise Infill Enablement Toolkit, developed through field-tested municipal partnerships, so that the Toolkit would serve as core delivery infrastructure for Build Canada Homes—standardizing zoning, mapping, and feasibility tools to accelerate modular infill housing delivery across Canadian municipalities.

Engagement with Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada, Build Canada Homes, and other applicable federal officials regarding Catalyst’s potential participation in Build Canada Homes and the delivery of long-term affordable rental housing. This includes program design, delivery expectations, and alignment between federal housing supply objectives and the operational realities of non-profit affordable housing providers delivering covenant-restricted rental housing at scale. Engagement with Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, HICC, BCH, and other related federal officials regarding federal financing and underwriting practices as they affect non-profit affordable housing providers. This includes the treatment and recognition of social-purpose or mission-aligned capital as equity and its impact on the ability of non-profit organizations to stack capital efficiently and deliver long-term, covenant-restricted affordable rental housing. Engagement with the Canada Revenue Agency, the Department of Finance, and other applicable federal officials regarding the administration of GST self-supply rules as they apply to non-profit, covenant-restricted affordable rental housing. This includes CRA approaches to determining fair market value where permanent, successor-binding affordability covenants restrict rents, tenant eligibility, refinancing, transfers, and operations; audit, reassessment, objection, and settlement practices; and potential administrative guidance or regulatory clarification under the Excise Tax Act to ensure GST administration aligns with Parliament’s intent to remove tax barriers to affordable rental housing supply.

Federal policies that unlock public land for affordable housing by providing incentives for land trusts and private developers to acquire it at below-market rates, ensuring its dedicated use for affordable housing. Engage government on skills training for newcomers to Canada and the country's existing workforce. That the government develop a National Workforce Strategy that features support to expand pre-apprenticeship programs to support the creation of a complete pipeline of talent into the construction workforce. Pursue federal investment in Blue Door's enterprise training model to facilitate housing creation, skills development, and homelessness reduction. That the government make Blue Door a key partner in establishing a Skilled Trades Talent Hub in the 905 area, in the style of the Workforce Hubs created by the Biden administration across the United States.