Dilys Fernandes

The Canadian Olympic Committee is advocating to strengthen and modernize the national sport system in support of Canadian athletes and to the benefit of communities across the country through more safe, positive, and accessible sporting programs and environments.

Providing comparable tax incentives for sales of conventional businesses to worker cooperatives as for sales to employee ownership trusts. The creation of a federal Cooperative Investment Plan which would provide a federal tax credit for cooperative members and employees who invest in producer (such as agriculture, fishery, forestry) and employee owned cooperatives Self-directed RRSP rules re: prohibited investments. We continue to seek to have the rule changes made in 2011 reversed or mitigated, as they affect worker co-ops. Creation of a program for business transfer to worker-owned co-operatives, as well as a technical assistance program to facilitate worker co-op development. Creating a Canadian Cooperative Development Fund. Cofunded by the federal government and the cooperative sector. This Fund would provide large and medium sized capitalization loans to new and existing cooperatives A bold approach to climate change regulation by Canada which includes zero carbon emissions by 2050, and a focus on climate justice for the most vulnerable.This is a focus on an integrated and cross-departmental regulatory approach to reducing GHG emissions in the Canadian economy.

Advocating on behalf of the Canadian Worker Co-operative Federation on Employee Ownership Trusts and other matters related to supporting the development and growth of worker-owned cooperatives.

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.

Seeking reciprocity with the US to enable Canadian companies to bid on contracts for airport screening in the US. Seeking changes to the policies regarding the Commissionaires Corps first right of refusal on government contracts for security for federal real property. Security for Canadian Embassy infrastructure

Veterans Independence Program, respecting extension to Royal Canadian Mounted Police veterans. Royal Canadian Mounted Police Superannuation Act, respecting marriage after retirement or over the age of 60; immediate indexation of Canadian Forces Superannuation Act and Royal Canadian Mounted Police Superannuation Act pensions; pension plan funding and security of benefits; and Pension Advisory Committee. Registered Retirement Savings Plans, Registered Retirement Income Fund and Tax Free Savings Accounts, respecting coordination and enhancement of programs. Public Service Superannuation Act, respecting annual statement of benefits for pensioners. Public Service Health Care Plan and Pensioner Dental Service Plan, respecting coordination of plans and maintenance/enhancement. Previously known as Bill C-357 of the 42nd Parliament, An Act to amend the Public Service Superannuation Act (Group 1 contributors); with respect to discussions with government officials the implications of this bill and current legislation on retirees, and the need to fix a gap that emerged following 2012 changes to the federal public service pension plan (specifically, veterans who transfer their pensionable military service to the public service pension plan after 2013 are subject to a later retirement date, even though they have served Canada prior to the cut-off date). Policies and programs which may enhance and protect the rights and well-being of veterans and their families, included, but not limited to The Veterans Well-being Act (S.C. 2005, c. 21), the Pension Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. P-6 as amended and the Veterans Benefit Act, R.S.C. 1970, V-2 as amended. Old Age Security and Guaranteed Income Supplement, respecting coordination and enhancement of programs. Marriage after retirement or over the age of 60; Pension Advisory Committee; pension plan funding and security of benefits. Maintain Canada Health Act and equitable health care access. Implementation of a national pharmacare program that responds to recommendations made by the Advisory Council on the Implementation of National Pharmacare. Government of Canada Workplace Charitable Campaign (GCWCC) and recognition of Federal Retiree as the leading representative body for retirees (or retired public servants, members of the CAF and members of the RCMP). Ensure that the Pension Benefit Standards Act remains unchanged with respect to protecting defined benefit pension plans and changes that would undermine them. Discussions with government officials to ensure and discuss the progress of implementing a national seniors strategy which will encourage and promote the wellness and independence of older Canadians. Canadian Forces and Public Service Supplementary Death Benefit, respecting discriminatory differences. Canada Pension Plan/Quebec Pension Plan, respecting coordination of superannuation plans and enhancement.

Seeking government funding for the Perley Health assisted living services for high risk veterans and seniors.

Engaging federal departments and agencies on policies related to hearing safety and prevention, including the use of noise reduction products to mitigate hearing loss. Engaging federal departments and agencies regarding the potential procurement and utilization of noise reduction products manufactured by Starkey Laboratories Inc.

Engaging federal departments and agencies regarding the potential procurement and utilization of noise reduction products manufactured by Starkey Laboratories Inc. Engaging federal departments and agencies on policies related to hearing safety and prevention, including the use of noise reduction products to mitigate hearing loss.

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.

Canadian Women & Sport is seeking policy and funding support for gender equity in sport across government departments. Canadian Women & Sport is advocating for the integration of gender equity considerations or standards into the funding framework(s) for funding envelopes controlled by Sport Canada. Canadian Women & Sport, on behalf of all National Sport Organizations, Multi-Sport Service Organizations and Canadian Sport Institutes, are seeking the continuation of targeted gender equity in sport funding to support the achievement of the federal government's stated goal of gender equality at all levels of sport by 2035.

Seek funding for cricket infrastructure (i.e. training facilities and stadiums) across Canada. Seek funding to support the Men's National Team prepare and compete at the global T20 world championships. Build awareness around the growing nature of the sport in Canada.