Cynthia Ralickas

Discussing the development of a trusted institution framework for the post-secondary education sector and international student policies.

Apartment Construction Loan Program (ACLP) funding support tied to the construction of new student housing Discussing the development of a recognized institution framework for the post-secondary education sector and international student policies.

Santé: l'ACUFC par l'entremise du Consortium national de formation en santé (CNFS) qui est sous son égide depuis avril 2015, est un chef de fil dans le domaine de la formation en santé en français. Grâce à l'appui financier du gouvernement fédéral, l'ACUFC/CNFS contribue à accroître l'accès à des services de santé en français de qualité et sécuritaires au sein des communautés francophones en situation minoritaire. Recherche et développement: les collèges et universités de la francophonie canadienne sont des centres d'innovation et de recherche de premier ordre et ont grand besoin de l'appui financier du fédéral pour poursuivre et renforcer leurs initiatives à cet égard. Langues officielles: les initiatives de l'ACUFC sont directement liées aux langues officielles, à leur vitalité et leur pérennité au Canada; les collèges et universités membres de l'ACUFC sont des fervents défenseurs et promoteurs de l'utilisation des langues officielles du Canada et leurs étudiants et diplômés en sont les ambassadeurs. Le rôle du fédéral pour appuyer les efforts de l'ACUFC et autres organismes de la francophonie canadienne est essentiel et toute loi ou politique nous concernent et nous interpellent, ainsi que toute politique ou programme liées aux langues officielles également. Justice: l'appui du fédéral est indispensable pour assurer et augmenter l'accès aux services de justice dans les deux langues officielles au pays; les collèges et universités de la francophonie canadienne sont des alliers du gouvernement pour assurer la formation de professionnels de la justice bilingues. Immigration: les collèges et universités de la francophonie canadienne jouent un rôle de premier ordre pour favoriser et appuyer l'intégration socioprofessionnelle des immigrants au sein des communautés francophones minoritaires au pays en offrant des formations linguistiques, des formations professionnelles et autres. L'éducation et l'immigration sont étroitement liées et l'appui du fédéral est important dans ces domaines pour encourager et faciliter la venue des immigrants au Canada. Emploi et formation: les collèges et universités de la francophonie canadienne forment une main d'oeuvre qualifiée et bilingue pour le marché de l'emploi et favorise le renforcement et l'acquisition des connaissances et compétences requises du marché de l'emploi. Éducation: avoir l'appui du gouvernement fédéral pour renforcer le continuum de l'éducation en français jusqu'au postsecondaire au pays en renforçant la capacité des établissements postsecondaires de la francophonie canadienne qui pourront contribuer à augmenter l'accès à un plus grand choix de programmes d'études de qualité en français. Développement économique: positionner les collèges et universités de la francophonie canadienne comme des moteurs de développement économique, social et culturel des communautés francophones minoritaires qu'ils desservent; avoir l'appui du fédéral pour qu'ils puissent continuer de contribuer au développement économique de ces communautés. Commerce international: appui financier du gouvernement fédéral pour le positionnement à l'international des collèges et universités de la francophonie canadienne afin d'encourager la mobilité étudiante internationale. Budget: s'assurer que le gouvernement fédéral appuie financièrement les objets mentionnés ci-haut tels que: le continuum de l'éducation en français au pays, la mobilité étudiante internationale, l'accès à des services de justice et de santé en français, les langues officielles, le développement économique et la vitalité des communautés francophones minoritaires, la recherche et les sciences aux sein des collèges et universités de la francophonie canadienne, la formation de la main d'oeuvre sur le marché de l'emploi, etc.

Advocate for place-based solutions to Canada’s biggest challenges, which support the region-specific mandates of public colleges and ensure local training needs are considered in policy development. Increase support to developing countries and other partner countries to build technical and vocational training capacity, strengthen skills development and education systems, and enhance Canada’s global education brand. Advocate for support for college-led research as a core component of federal research and innovation funding and policy. Discuss how colleges can support immigration programs, such as foreign credential recognition or international students, to meet Canada’s labour market needs, and share with officials impacts of policy changes on the college sector. Share with officials how colleges can support Canada’s training and workforce development needs to meet Canada’s biggest challenges. Share with officials the role of colleges and institutes in delivering high quality education for Canadians, and ensuring access to education for Canadians. Advance reconciliation through partnerships with Canada’s public colleges, institutes, CEGEPs, polytechnics, and Indigenous Institutes of Education. Promote the role and expertise of colleges in deepening Canada’s relationships with other countries. Promote the value of educational fair dealing in supporting colleges and institutes in their mandate to provide advanced skills and to enable them to better respond to the skills shortage. Increase investments and support to address colleges’ infrastructure needs to increase Canada’s training space and access in key high-demand fields that align with federal priority areas. Enable post-secondary institutions to obtain grants and loans to develop student housing projects, with additional supports for housing that supports students from vulnerable populations. Ensure Canada’s colleges and institutes have the necessary federal support to provide high-quality training for future healthcare professionals. Ensure the specific needs of institutions, including French institutions and those in minority linguistic communities, are taken into account when federal policies and programs are designed and delivered.

Targeted federal transfer payments for postsecondary education. Review of the SR&ED Tax Credit Program to encourage greater participation of small and medium-sized businesses and providing mechanisms for colleges and institutes to assist them in the process. Review of the Canada Student Loan Program with respect to increased grants, modernization and simplification measures and increased flexibility for students in debt repayment. Research integrity related issues with respect to the review of the federal granting agencies' policiy framework for research integrity and the Tri-Council Memorandum of Understanding on roles and Responsibilities in the Management of Federal Grants and Awards. Modification of the Employment Insurance Program to enable workers currently in the workforce to access funding for skills upgrading. Introduction of new tax measures to encourage employer/employee based training, address literacy training and essential skills as well as an increase in internships and apprenticeship opportunities. Increase domesting and international student mobility to the mid-point of other OECD countries. Increased federal investments with regard to college and institute costs of supporting applied research through the Indicrect Costs Program. Harmonization and simplification of immigration policies with respect to facilitating study and work permit processes. Federal Investment for a national college and institute mobility program for faculty and student exchanges between Francophone Institutions and Anglophone Institutions. Extension of the 100% GST exemption that has been afforded to municipalities to postsecondary institutions as recommended by the Standing Committee on Finance Expansion of the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council College and Community Innovation Program Examination of all federal training programs with the goal of eliminating fragmentation, short term funding and inequities for learners. Enhancement of the federal infrastructure policy with respect to college and institute infrastructure and acquisition of leading edge technology. Enhanced opportunities for Aboriginal learners, immigrants and disadvantaged groups to access postsecondary education and training and labour market. Discussions underway with the Global Affairs Canada regarding a proposal for a new partnership between colleges and institutes and the Pacific Alliance with respect to education and training. Discussions underway with the federal government for recognition of college and institute applied degrees as equal to university degrees as stipulated in a statement by the Council of Ministers. Discussions underway with Statistics Canada for current college and institute data. Discussions underway for a new international partnership program - Education for Employment which will support educational reform of technical education in Mozambique, Senegal and Tanzania. Direct 5% of federal investment in research to applied research, product development and commercialization carried out by colleges and institutes and their private sector partners Dedicated funding of college and institute facilities, technology and equipment Creation of a college and Institute Internship Program to expose more students to private sector research challenges. Changes to amend the Copyright Act with respect to support colleges and institutes in their mandate to provide advanced skills and to enable them to better respond to the skills shortage.

Potential policy changes to international student visa policies and programs as it pertains to student applications, admissions and recruitment.

Discussing the development of a trusted institution framework for the post-secondary education sector and international student policies.

Advocacy related to university engagement in Canadian priorities in artificial intelligence, data systems and related computing science and energy subjects, including but not limited to specific calls for proposals. Advocacy for university initiatives related to Canadian priorities across the defence spectrum, including initiatives relevant to both Defence and Veterans' Affairs, among other federal departments. Advocacy to enhance support for university research mobilization and commercialization activities. Research security, with respect to international research partnerships Discussions with Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada and other relevant departments and agencies regarding the role of universities in supporting federal innovation initiatives, policies and programs. Discussions regarding research and development initiatives and federal support related to energy and environment, and climate change research, innovation, commercialization, talent and knowledge mobilization. Discussions regarding official language funding amounts and mechanisms. Discussions about the Copyright Act and details of its implementation in a post-secondary setting. Advocacy to secure support in the budget for post-secondary education, research, innovation, and science and technology. Advocacy to secure federal support to develop and upgrade university infrastructure, including but not limited to research and learning facilities, digital infrastructure, and transit infrastructure. Advocacy to increase support for university research, including research funding and granting programs administered by the tri-agencies (SSHRC, NSERC, CIHR) and other departments and agencies. Advocacy to improve immigration policies and programs for prospective and current university students, faculty, and staff. Advocacy to ensure that proposals to develop or amend federal legislation, regulations, policies or programs that directly or indirectly impact the post-secondary system reflect the needs of universities and support our research and education mission. Advocacy to enhance student supports, including but no limited to Canada Student Grants and Loans, the Canada Graduate Scholarship Program, supports for Indigenous students, and work-integrated learning programs. Advocacy to advance Canadian leadership in priority areas to support world class research, talent attraction and retention, and knowledge mobilization. Advocacy related to reconciliation efforts, including but not limited to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's Calls to Action

Support for new research and campus infrastructure. Increased funding and program design for various programs administered by Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC), Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC), and Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR). Funding or support with respect to international development cooperation (student and academic mobility, internships, research collaboration, exchanges, technical assistance). Discussions regarding possible research and development initiatives for, and investments in, partnerships with the University of Calgary. Discussions concerning potential research and development initiatives and investments related to clean energy, environmental research and climate change policy. Discussions about policy implementation regarding the academic visa process in support of international faculty recruitment with respect to changes to the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations. Budget bills in support of federal funding for post-secondary education, research, innovation, science and technology.

Information sharing related to Canada’s defence policy and the opportunities for leveraging existing resourcing at UM. Advocacy for dual-use proposals. Information sharing related to opportunities for collaboration concerning development of Canada’s north, including the greater Churchill area. Advocacy for utilization of UM resources such as the Churchill Marine Observatory for Canada’s plans in Hudson’s Bay and the high arctic. Information sharing regarding UM’s research strengths and capacity to assist the Government of Canada. Information sharing on research and innovation opportunities/capacity including facilities and research focus areas. Information sharing and collaboration related to northern and arctic food security. Information sharing on UM’s research strengths in designing resilient all-weather roads and rail-line relocations that improve northern connectivity while minimizing impacts on local wildlife and traditional ways of life. Information sharing and advocacy for support regarding UM’s work with Indigenous communities to increase access and opportunities for Indigenous learners in Manitoba. Advocacy of proposals related to the Build Strong Communities Fund. Advocacy for federal, long-term solution to address challenges experienced by dental college and clinic since the onset of the Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDPC). Advocacy for changes to immigration policy limiting the number of international students Canada accepts, and advocacy to address the consequences of Canada’s diminished international reputation. Advocacy and information sharing on opportunities for fostering a collaborative and impactful innovation ecosystem that supports researchers, the institutions they represent, and commercialization of ideas and property. Support, advocacy and information sharing related to the mandate of the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation’s ongoing activities. Accessing Government records and archives related to residential schools. Advocacy for support for annual events and programming.

Yorkville University wishes to engage with the Federal Government as it relates to policies and programs that may impact foreign students studying in Canada.