Chris Bates
Director General, Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC)·0 communications in the past year
Lobbied by
NorQuest College
1Exploring a potential partnership for the SSHRC Policy and Innovation Grant. Engage the Department of National Defence on upskilling and retraining of personnel. To engage with government toward adoption of Recognized Institutions Framework. Align new post-graduate work permit restrictions to provincial labour market needs, and ensure that colleges have sufficient lead time to put new credit programs in place to provide the training required. Work with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada to discuss international student visa processing times and the need to expand the Student Direct Stream. Engage with government officials regarding skills training opportunities under the Skills for Success, Sectoral Workplace Solutions, and Just Transition programs. Engage Innovation, Science, and Industry Canada and PrairiesCAN to expand the AI Pathways Partnership project to develop capacity at NorQuest for learning surrounding AI and upskill learners. Engage in discussions regarding health human resources to identify opportunities to expand training and employment for Indigenous and newcomer health care providers. Engage Indigenous Services Canada in discussions regarding funding opportunities for Indigenous students in Alberta seeking academic upgrade. Engage Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada to expand the Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada (LINC) program. Encourage flexibility in learning modalities to qualify for post-graduation work permits. Access federal funding for newcomer settlement services.
Counsel Public Affairs
Ontario Power Generation
1- Re - the Fisheries Act encouraging regulatory reform, harmonization and equivalencies amongst the regulators to reduce duplication and encourage more efficient use of resources while continuing to manage risk of existing OPG operations as it relates to fish and fish habitat. - Re - Nuclear Liability and Compensation Act with regard to language, timing and liability limit, insurance requirements and to make it compatible with the Convention of Supplementary Compensation. - Regulatory Framework for Industrial Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Canada in respect to controlling greenhouse gas and conventional air pollutant emissions in the electricity sector including advocating for a role of nuclear energy in meeting targets Regulatory approach to prohibit asbestos and products containing asbestos including advocating for reasonable timeframe to phase out all asbestos containing products. - Regulations to reduce Green House Gas (GHG) emissions from the electricity sectors fossil fuel-fired electricity generation units, advocating the role that existing and uprated natural gas plants play in the electricity market and seeking compliance flexibility for thermal units burning gas to provide grid reliability due to regulation. Advocating for the development of low-emitting Nuclear, Hydroelectric and Hydrogen Developments in meeting targets. Regulations regarding requirements and guidance for managing fitness for duty of workers in relation to alcohol and drug use and abuse at high-security sites. Regulations regarding polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB). - Re - Federal Waterways with respect to developing tangible actions for and improved policy and practical business practices among infrastructure and operators. - Partnership discussions with Canadian Commercial Corporation. Investment discussions with Canada Infrastructure Bank and Canada Growth Fund Inc. Issues pertaining to federal legislation, policies and programs with respect to OPG's existing nuclear operations or new nuclear opportunities including small modular reactors (SMRs). Issues pertaining to federal legislation, policies and programs with respect to hydrogen. Issues pertaining to federal legislation, policies and programs related to energy storage facilities. Issues pertaining to federal legislation, policies, programs, and permits and other approvals affecting OPGs current operations as well as other potential opportunities including in the areas of new generation development and/or other economic opportunities including electrification, as well as to support collaboration and partnership between Indigenous communities and OPG. - In respect to the Protection of Electricity Critical Infrastructure in Canada, including expediting background checks for prospective employees and contractors, changes to the Criminal Code of Canada relating to "Interference with Electricity Critical Infrastructure" (copper wire theft), "Priority Access for Electricity Critical Infrastructure Personnel to receive Vaccinations and Antivirals" and priority access to "Telecommunications Spectrum". - Energy policy and the role of Nuclear in regards to Atomic Energy of Canada Limited (AECL) restructuring. Discussion on subjects related to the MOU signed by Canada and the ITER (International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor) to help identify the precise domains in which Canadian suppliers could export expertise and technologies on a commercial basis to the ITER Project and OPGs interest in leading and acting as an agent for the cooperation with ITER. - Changes to the Impact Assessment Act or implementing regulations, including towards achievement of improved alignment with the ongoing licensing process for nuclear facilities under the Nuclear Safety and Control Act. - Changes to the Canada Labour Code as they apply to nuclear new build activities in respect to allowing coordination between provincial and federal labour requirements Approach to electricity used as a transportation fuel within the Fed
Windmill Microlending
1Raise awareness with elected and departmental officials about the work that Windmill is doing to support immigrants, newcomers and refugees. Explore opportunities for federal referral partnership. Discuss what we can all do to facilitate labour market integration for skilled immigrants and explore opportunities for new program and additional federal funding.