Frances McRae

Women's Housing and Homelessness - The Rollout of the National Housing Strategy through a gender equity lens. Policies and Programs - Request to Create a Community Service COVID-19 relief fund for national service federations to address the economic and social fallout due to COVID-19 Investments in a Early Learning and Child Care Secretariat, rollout of childcare agreements across Canada. Federal budget with respect to investments in the social service sector for funding the supports the mental health of frontline community service workers. A Feminist Economic Recovery Plan for Canada - We are seeking investments in women's labour market participation with investments in re-skilling programs that are gender-responsive. Advancing investments in gender-based violence programs and policies including a National Action Plan on Gender-Based Violence. Addressing online hate and technology-facilitated violence through online safety legislation, policies or regulations.

Strategies to prevent gender-based violence through firearm safety measures, including national firearms buyback program Advancing investments, policies and programs around caregiving and the care economy with a gender equity focus, including supporting the majority-women community services workforce. Investments in Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care, rollout of childcare agreements across Canada. Women's Housing and Homelessness, ensuring a gender equity lens in federal housing policy and affordable housing investments, and the renewal of funding for housing dedicated to women. We are seeking investments in women's labour market participation, including investments in re-skilling programs that are gender-responsive. Advancing policies, programs and investments in gender-based violence prevention and intervention, including the National Action Plan to End Gender-Based Violence. Federal budget with respect to investments in the social service sector for funding the supports the mental health of frontline community service workers. Addressing online hate and technology-facilitated violence through online safety legislation, policies or regulations.

Research and share information from Equal Voice's election tracker and other research projects and initiatives (e.g. national polling). Modernization of legislatures are more gender-inclusive, family-friendly and a workplace free from harassment Addressing the barriers faced by women and gender diverse people seeking, and serving in elected office, such as financial, harassment, gender bias. Obtain funding from the Department of Women and Gender Equality for leadership programming to increase the participation of women and gender diverse people in Canada's political life.

Arranging meetings to discuss the modernization of legislatures to ensure they are more gender-inclusive, family-friendly, and a workplace free from harassment. Arrange meetings to obtain funding from the Department of Women and Gender Equality for leadership programming to increase the participation of women and gender-diverse people in Canada's political sphere. Arranging meetings with officials to address the barriers faced by women and gender diverse people seeking and serving in elected office such as, financial, harassment, and gender bias. We will be also seeking funding to address such barriers. Arranging meetings with officials to address the barriers faced by women and gender diverse people seeking and serving in elected office such as, financial, harassment, and gender bias.

Federal budget 2026 approaches to gender equality funding for women's and gender justice organizations, investment in the National Action Plan to End Gender-based Violence, advancing implementation of GBA Plus, investment in child care, strengthening online safety regulation and platform accountability, inclusion of young women and gender-diverse youth in skilled trades program. Care Economy and pay inequity for women & gender-diverse people with disabilities & care economy Online Harms, tech-facilitated GBV, and the need for new federal legislation on platform regulation and governance Presented and discussed of selected grantees for National Capacity Building funds through funding for Women and Gender Equality Canada Creating relationship with the office of the Minister of Jobs and Families to advance issues related to gender equality Arranging a roundtable with the Minister of Women and Gender Equality to meet with women's and gender justice organizations to discuss gender issues Advancing gender equality during current shifts in economic policy, women in the economy including trades, child care, northern gender equality, gendered digital harms Youth mental health, gender-based violence, advancing gender equality and community resilience in northern territories. Discussed priority areas for programming and funding: expansion of the National Action Plan on Gender-based Violence, initiatives on gendered digital harms, advancing gender equality and community resilience in the northern territories and intersectional approaches to addressing youth mental health. Encouraged support for creation of a Feminist Finance Fund, and a transformative Gender Equality Philanthropic Fund. Shared Foundation research on Gendered Digital Harms, including advocating for recommendations based on findings, including the need for legislation and regulation. Educating federal government decision-makers on the Foundation's role in supporting community-based youth mental health work, share insights into state of youth mental health with special regard to impacts of racism and anti-trans initiatives, and funding to support community organizations serving youth to address these issue Requesting continuation of funding through the Women's Entrepreneurship Ecosystem Fund for our Partnering for Feminist Entrepreneurship Project, and discussion of the Feminist Business Model. Private members Bill for Signal for Help Day on gender-based violence Contiinuing supports for women, girls and gender-diverse people and government action on expanding gender equality Signal for Help with gender-based violence, youth mental health, Gender Justice Sustainability fund Gender gap in emergency preparation and disaster management, support for Climate, Gender and Disaster Network Funding and training and inclusion of an intersectional gender lens to close the gender gap in emergency preparedness and disaster management planning, address intersectional gender impacts of climate crisis events, and re-establish a Climate, Gender and Disaster Network Suggested changes to employment conditions for migrant workers, especially those involved in the care economy during the pandemic Submitted letter to the CRTC in support of the application by Egale Canada (Egale) calling for the removal of Fox News from the list of non-Canadian programming services and stations authorized for distribution in Canada. Sought and supported calls for gun control measures Seeking funding to sustain and expand the Foundation's Northern Strategy for women and gender diverse people, focused on supporting economic empowerment and development for Indigenous women, Two Spirit and gender-diverse people. Seeking change to labour standards regarding domestic violence in the workplace Renewal of the Investment Readiness Program 2024-2029 Re-introduction and adoption of amendments to Bill C-21 to define and ban assault-style firearms Regularization of immigration status for migrant workers in Canada Meeting with

Communications about the review of the Lobbying Act, including the Commissioner of Lobbying’s recommendations to the Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics. Discussion about the impact of the Comprehensive Expenditure Review on the Nonprofit sector Preparation for e-filing webinars for charities; Discussion about the Comprehensive Expenditure Review Supporting implementation of Senate Committee recommendations on the charitable sector. Addressing disruptions to donations due to postal strikes; tax credit timing adjustments. Advocating for financial relief and policy responses to emergencies and rising issues (e.g., tariffs). Inclusion of charities in SME-focused programs like Mitacs and BDC advisory services. Budget consultations re: charitable giving incentives, regulatory reforms, and program access. Bill S-222 and S-216: Amendments enabling partnerships with non-qualified donees. Support for the Canadian Centre for Nonprofit Digital Resilience and digital skills development. Supporting sector-wide digital capacity and transformation. Advancing reform of the disbursement quota for registered charities. Improving access and equity in federal funding programs for nonprofits and charities. Strengthening workforce supports for paid and unpaid nonprofit labour. Supporting federal data collection (e.g., Satellite Account, national nonprofit surveys). Advocating for a federal “home” in government for the nonprofit sector. Building knowledge on the activities of the nonprofit sector.

Programmes d'aide internationale en rapport au respect de l'engagement pris par les pays développés de consacrer 0,7% de leur Produit intérieur brut (PIB) à l'aide publique au développement et en lien avec la loi canadienne sur l'aide au développement. Politiques Canadiennes vis-à-vis Haïti, Afghanistan, République Démocratique du Congo, en relation avec la réponse humanitaire et la protection des civiles. Politiques Canadiennes dans le cadre des négociations au sein des Nations Unies sur le Traité international sur le commerce des armes, en relation avec la protection des civiles et le développement durable. Politiques Canadiennes dans le cadre des négociations au sein des Nations Unies sur les changements climatiques, en relation avec le financement pour l'adaptation et mitigation des pays en développement. Politique Canadienne sur allègement de la dette des pays admissibles à l’Initiative des pays pauvres très endettés (IPPTE), en relation avec la lutte contre la pauvreté et l'atteinte des objectifs du Millénaire pour le développement. Entente de contribution auprès du Ministère des Affaires mondiales Canada pour financer des projets bilatéraux de développement, de projets d'aide humanitaire, un programme d'envoi de stagiaires et un programme de coopération volontaire.

Advocating for programs and funding that support employment services and broader workforce development efforts, including upskilling, reskilling, career exploration, and support for businesses. Advocating for continued and/or increased funding for employment, language, youth, newcomer, and women's services. Immigration programing, with respect to advocating for government supports for newcomers to Canada, including settlement services, supports for foreign credential recognition, training/upskilling, pre-arrival services, language supports, and employment. Advocating for more government supports for youth, including youth programs that provide employment opportunities, training/upskilling, wrap around supports, community engagement, and mental health supports. Government investment with respect to innovations in language services applications. Amendments to existing government funded program contracts. This includes requests to increase, expand, or otherwise adjust government contracts for programs that Achev operates.

As per the Government of Canada's commitments related to children's health and well-being and the protection of their rights, the object of Children First Canada's lobbying is to build support for policies and investments that improve the lives of 8 million young Canadians.

As per Government of Canada commitments related to child well-being and safety, build a national movement to improve the lives of Canada’s children.

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.

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.

Work to ensure sleep and Chronic Insomnia Disorder (CID) are discussed as a n essential pillar of health in Canada.

Draw attention to Chronic Insomnia's impact on the burden of health and the economy in Canada. Elevating sleep to be recognized as a pillar of health in Canada

Seeking increased Federal funding for the Moose Hide Campaign to address the growing demand for its work.