Edward Irving

Tax policy affecting philanthropy, small business innovation and post-secondary institutions; tax benefits and credits for apprentices; tax benefits and credits for employers. Participate in all relevant policy discussions and consultations about academic research funding, business innovation and applied research; how businesses, non-profits and other enterprises benefit from innovation supports from academic institutions/polytechnics. Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council, College and Community Innovation Program; tri-council structure and funding; eligibility of polytechnics and colleges for research funding and research support; Horizon Europe and opportunities for polytechnics to engage in international research partnerships. Highly skilled workforce; in-demand occupations. Supports, programs and policies designed to boost innovation and productivity; technology adoption; respond to skills needs; polytechnics and colleges as innovation intermediaries. Student housing; funding to support equipment purchase for training in high-demand fields, infrastructure programs geared to the post-secondary sector. Respond to consultations and advocate for change to international student policy; consider how polytechnics/colleges support inward and outward student mobility; consider international best practices for workforce development and applied research; better integration of newcomers through credential recognition, prior learning recognition and upskilling. Participate in all relevant policy discussions about skills training and work-integrated learning; upskilling and reskilling policies, programs and funding; apprenticeship training, attraction, retention and completion, including on federal projects. Adequate financial support for learners through the Canada Student Loan Program and other student-centered programs; Edu-Canada marketing and branding initiatives. Participate in all relevant policy discussions and consultations related to productivity, business innovation, technology adoption and artificial intelligence. Seeking funding for the activities of polytechnics and colleges in areas including workforce development, applied research and infrastructure/equipment. Canada Foundation for Innovation - Seek ongoing infrastructure support for the applied research conducted by colleges and Polytechnics.

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.

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.

YOUNG TRAINEES AND STUDENTS: Advocate for continued support of and investment in the next generation of highly skilled researchers through the federal awards system for doctoral students, post-doctoral trainees and fellows. RESEARCH HOSPITALS: Advocate for direct support and stability for Canada's academic health science centres and research hospitals that will further enable them to fulfill their strategically critical contribution to Canada's health and economic security. INDUSTRY: Advocate for policies that enhance the health and biosciences sector’s capacity to do business in Canada and to invest in Canadian health research and commercialization. INDIRECT COSTS OF RESEARCH: Advocate for an increase to the minimum threshold for reimbursement of indirect research costs for all institutions via the Research Support Fund. INDIGENOUS RESEARCH: Advocate for greater investments in Indigenous health research through the three granting councils and the Canada Research Coordinating Committee. HEALTH RESEARCH: Focus on increasing public investments across the research spectrum of operating grants, people and infrastructure and encourages investments from private and private-not-for-profit sectors. GOVERNMENT FUNDING: Advocate for increased health research funding through the three granting councils (Canadian Institutes of Health Research, Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council, and Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada) and the Canada Research Coordinating Committee. FEDERAL BUDGET CONSULTATION: Advocate for continued support of Canadian health research and health innovation through investments and commitments made in the federal budget, such as the Strategic Science Fund, the Canada Graduate Scholarship Program, etc. DIVERSE TALENT BASE: Advocate for better support for a diversified talent base in Canada, with a focus on Indigenous researchers, Black and people of colour researchers, early-career researchers, and other underrepresented and equity-deserving groups. DIGITAL HEALTH SYSTEM: Advocate for investment in the digitalization of our health system so that high-quality data and digital technologies support healthcare decisions, empower patients as partners, and drive research and innovation.

Discussions related to the Canadian Innovation Pipeline Initiative, as proposed by Tech-Access Canada for consideration in the 2026 federal budget. Discussions related to improving the commercialization outcomes of Canadian university research through the UnivLaunch program, proposed by Tech-Access Canada. Discussions related to Tech-Access Canada's proposed Technical Workforce Resilience Initiative (TWR Initiative): A Proposal for Supporting Displaced Technical Workers Through TACs. Discussions related to maintaining current funding levels for the College and Community Innovation Program administered by NSERC. Discussions related to the Competency Assessment for Newcomers Pilot Program Seeking the participation of content matter experts from the Technology Access Centres in all relevant federal policy discussions concerning applied research and development, and business innovation. Requesting meetings with officials to provide an overview on the nature and contribution of Technology Access Centres to Canada's regional economic development and business innovation outcomes. Discussions related to the Interactive Visits program administered by Tech-Access Canada. Discussions related to designing and building respectful, accessible, sustainable, and functional residential housing in five First Nations communities, as proposed by Tech-Access Canada. Discussions on assisting older learners and growing Canada's talent pool by raising the upper age limit for eligibility in federal internship programs from 30 to 45. Discussions concerning federal budget priorities including support for increasing capacity of Canada's Technology Access Centres, as proposed by Tech-Access Canada.