Avi Caplan

Advocate for government to introduce programs/testing to monitor and address the movement of poultry into Canada outside of Canada's import (TRQ) controls. Provide input and advice on Canada's Food Security Strategy and other measures to address food insecurity. Inquiries regarding the processing of Remission Applications Advocate for red tape reduction. Funding under Strategic Innovation Fund and other government programs to support food manufacturing in Canada. Extension of open work permits and addition of pathways to permanent residency for foreign workers in the food manufacturing sector. Advocating for regulations to exclude food from the Free Trade and Labour Mobility in Canada Act given the significant risks to food safety and international trade. Tariffs: Lobby federal government on Canada's response to U.S. and other tariffs Orderly functioning of Poultry Supply Management including allocation decisions. Plastic packaging - ensure Federal Policy framework sets achievable targets for food packaging and recognizes packaging functional requirements. Greenwashing provisions of Competition Act - requesting amendments to address concern that legislation will reduce climate leadership in Canada. Temporary Foreign Worker Program and its application to food manufacturing and agriculture. The National Animal Health and Welfare Strategy, planning for a foreign animal disease outbreak and updating the Animal Transport Regulations. The Import for Re-export Program for chicken, administration of import controls for chicken and fowl and design of a Processor Modernization Program. The Food and Drugs Regulations and policies, specifically approval of food ingredients including anti-microbial treatments for meat, approval of health claims, implementation of new allergen labeling regulations and policies on sodium reduction. Public Opinion Polling related to food insecurity and poverty Preparedness for African Swine Fever Policies and Programs to reduce food insecurity Policies and programs that address the social determinants of health Initiatives under the Canadian Action Plan on Antimicrobial Use and Antimicrobial Resistance as it relates to the meat and livestock industry. Implementation of a national school food program Healthy Eating Strategy including implementation of the new Nutrition Facts Table, front-of-pack nutrition labeling regulations, development of the new Canada's Food Guide. Government action to stengthen the food safety system through new regulations under the Safe Food for Canadians Act. CFIA's labeling modernization initiative and impact on food labeling practices in the food marketplace. Access to funding under Canadian Agricultural Partnership programs Providing input on the scope of the 21st Century Corporations Act, particularly as it relates to the obligations placed on corporations and directors under the Act.

Simplifying or clarifying tax rules that impede the effective operations or development of community housing. The creation of an incentives for private sector investment in affordable housing projects, while maintaining non-profit and municipal management. Recognizing that the federal government has a permanent role in supporting community housing through ongoing rental subsidies, backed by a predictable, long-term funding framework. That the government provide funding and financing to support the growth of for-Indigenous, by-Indigenous urban, rural, and northern Indigenous housing. That the federal government must lead a collaborative effort with provincial and territorial governments to create shared housing initiatives to develop a stronger community housing sector in Canada. That the government make a long-term commitment of funding and financing designed to support the creation, repair, and renewal of community housing That the government leverage federally owned land for the use of creating housing. Provide stabilized pre-development funding for community housing providers to ensure that there is a strong development pipeline of affordable housing products Investing in a Canada Community Housing Growth Fund aimed at building a strong and robust community housing sector in Canada. The full and timely rollout of the Rental Protection Fund to support community housing providers to buy existing rental properties and preserve affordability. Upcoming and future federal budgets with respect to policies and programs that will support the creation, renewal, or operation of non-market, affordable, social, or community housing across Canada.

We engage with various elected and staff officials in the federal government on issues relevant to urban life, including the governance and financing of municipal governments. and specific federal funding and policies that affect urban life, including housing, mental health, economic development, small businesses, land use, infrastructure, urban planning and design, heritage, support for tourism and culture, immigration, skills development and employment, climate, and equity, the health of neighborhoods and downtowns as places. This has been particularly true during COVID.