Helen Gao

Calling for further reform of the Disability Tax Credit (DTC) and relevant programs under its umbrella as part of its forthcoming review by ESDC and the Government of Canada Advocate for the introduction of an income-tested tax credit for low-income renters delivered monthly through the CRA to improve housing affordability and reduce food insecurity Advocate for the introduction of a federal food donation tax credit for agricultural products donated to charitable food programs. Ensuring all low-income Canadians have access to the Canada Child Benefit and that rates are indexed to inflation Call for implementation of Canada Disability Benefit as Federal Income Supplement Advocating for the realization of the right to housing, including increasing the supply of, and access to, affordable housing for low-income Canadians.

Advocate for the introduction of a federal tax credit for agricultural products donated to charitable food programs. Call to strengthen the Canada Disability Benefit by raising the rate, reducing barriers to accessing the benefit, and committing to no clawbacks. Securing formal recognition that food is a human right in domestic policy Reforms to Employment Insurance (EI) to enable low-wage, temporary, casual, and/or contract workers to have access to EI benefits Expansion of national child care and early learning program that is accessible to low-income families Establishment of national Pharmacare and Dental Care programs Ensuring all low-income seniors have access to Old Age Security and Guaranteed Income Supplement and that these benefits are increased to reflect the cost of living Ensuring all low-income Canadians have access to the Canada Child Benefit and that rates are indexed to inflation Enhancing frequency of national data collection on food insecurity and establishment of targets for reducing food insecurity as part of the Poverty Reduction Strategy Ease filing of taxes for people living in poverty Creation of financial benefits (e.g., refundable tax credits) for single adults with low incomes Conversion of non-refundable tax credits that benefit low-income Canadians to refundable tax credits Call for National School Lunch Program Call for implementation of Canada Disability Benefit as a Federal Income Supplement Advocating for the realization of the right to housing, including increasing supply of, and access to, affordable housing for low-income Canadians Advocate for policies to address the financialization of housing

Advocating for upholding Canada's commitments to international human rights. Advocating for the protection of freedom of religion in Canada and with respect to the reasonable accommodation of religious observances. Advocating for stronger legislation to address hate crime and online hate. Advocating for policy initiatives related to combating Islamophobia and discrimination; Supporting various programs to protect fundamental freedoms in Canada. Advocating for policies to enhance the security and safety of Canadian Muslim communities and other at-risk communities given the rise in hate crimes; countering supremacist violent extremist groups

National caregiving strategy including necessary policy, program, and budgetary allocations. Convert the Canada Caregiver Credit into a refundable tax-free benefit.

Strengthening Canada's tobacco control strategy and National Tobacco control programs. Promotion of positive public health initiatives and achievements Personal Information Protection and Electronic Document (PIPEDA) with regard to improvements to privacy of health information. Oral health programs and policies related to prevention and care of children's oral health in indigenous communities. Iso Technical Committee 106 with regard to the creation of international standards for dental devices and materials. Investment from the Government of Canada in order to regulate and facilitate the development of Electronic Health Records (EHRs). Increased investment and improved regulations to protect and enhance the oral health of Canadians Indigenous Children. Increased funding for research to help improve oral health for Canadians. Increased funding for Canadian Faculties of Dentistry with regard to dental education. Increased funding and federal leadership to improve provincially funded dental programs for persons with disabilities. Increased funding and administration of oral health care for seniors living independently and in long term care facilities. Improvements to non-insured health benefits and dental program in order to enhance the oral health status of patients accessing the program. Federal Budgetary Process with regards to funding of dental care. As well as pre budget consultation with regard to Federal investments of taxation changes to improve the oral health care of Canadians and practice environment for dentists. Excise Tax Act: GST and Dental Services: Changes to the application of the GST (Zero-rate) on Dental Practices. Discuss the negative impact and strain that taxing employer provided health benefits would have on the health of Canadian and on the provincially funded healthcare system. Discussing the importance regarding regulations surrounding food and beverage marketing to young children, as well as food labeling and healthy eating for Canadians, and its positive impact on oral health. Chemical Management Plan: The Challenge process with regards to the regulation of Bisphenol A in oral health care. Canadian Environment Protection Act - Mercury-ROMS (Risk Management Strategy) with regards to safe disposal of dental amalgam waste.

DENTAL CARE FUNDING: discussions around the federal budgetary process and program development with regard to funding of dental care, including the Canadian Dental Care Plan and the Interim Federal Health Program. HEALTH HUMAN RESOURCES: discussions on addressing health human resources challenges within dentistry, including challenges in remote areas, the Canada student loan forgiveness, Canada Student Grant, PGWP for dental assistants, internationally trained dentists, administrative staffing. US Tariffs: working with the federal government to advocate on minimizing the impact of tariffs on access to dental care in Canada. DE-INSURANCE: To discuss the potential impact of the Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) on employer-provided dental coverage and to advocate for a range of strategies that prevent employers from dropping their dental benefits, including but not limited to tax credits and changes in eligibility requirements. TAXATION OF HEALTH BENEFITS: to discuss the negative impact and strain that taxing employer provided health benefits would have on the health of Canadians and on the provincially funded healthcare system. SENIORS ORAL HEALTH: funding and administration of oral health care for seniors living independently and in long term care facilities PRE-BUDGET CONSULTATIONS: Federal investments or taxation changes to improve the oral health care of Canadians and practice environment for dentists PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES: increased funding and federal leadership to improveprovincially funded dental programs for persons with disabilities. PERSONAL INFORMATION PROTECTION AND ELECTRONIC DOCUMENT ACT (PIPEDA): PRIVACY PROTECTION OF HEALTH INFORMATION AND THE REGULATORY REVIEW: Improvement to privacy legislation to protect the privacy of health information ORAL HEALTH RESEARCH, ACCESS AND DATA: increased funding for research and projects to help improve the oral health of Canadians, such as filing of submissions and advocacy for improvements to the Oral Health Access Fund NON INSURED HEALTH BENEFITS: Improvement to the dental program in order to enhance the oral health status of patients accessing the program. NATIONAL TOBACCO CONTROL PROGRAMS: Strengthening Canada's tobacco control strategy MARKETING TO KIDS: Sugar/Healthy Eating: to discuss the importance regarding regulations and legislation, Including Bill C-252, surrounding food and beverage marketing to young children. Healthy Eating: to discuss the issue of food labeling and healthy eating for Canadians and its positive impact on oral health. ISO TECHNICAL COMMITTEE 106: creation of international standards for dental devices and materials INDIGENOUS ORAL HEALTH: Programs and policies related to prevention and care to improve the oral health of Indigenous peoples. HEALTH PROMOTION AND DISEASE PREVENTION: Increased investment and improved regulations to protect and enhance the oral health of Canadians HEALTH INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES (ELECTRONIC HEALTH RECORDS): Investment and needed regulations to facilitate the development of EHRs in Canada FLUORIDE: promotion of positive public health initiatives and achievements EXCISE TAX ACT: GST AND DENTAL SERVICES: Changes to the application of the GST (zero-rate) on Dental practices DENTAL EDUCATION: Increase funding for Canadian Faculties of Dentistry CHEMICAL MANAGEMENT PLAN: The Challenge Process, with regard to regulation of Bisphenol A in oral health care. CEPA (Canadian Environment Protection Act) - Mercury- ROMS (Risk Management Strategy) with regard to safe disposal of dental amalgam waste. CAPITAL GAINS TAX: to discuss the impact that the recent changes to the capital gains tax regulations have on Canadian dentists and to advocate for amendments and/or exemptions that would mitigate the adverse effects. ANTI INDIGENOUS RACISM IN HEALTH: discussions to promote the Truth and Reconciliation Calls to Action as they relate to Health, such as funding for cultural safety programs in dentistry.

Advocating for Canada to impose an immediate Arms Embargo on Israel using Canada's Special Economic Measures Act and for Canada to suspend the Canada-Israel Strategic Partnership and the Canada-Israel Free Trade Agreement given Israel's violations of international law in Palestine, Lebanon, Yemen, Syria, and Iran. Changing the way the government applies the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act to ensure Canada's migration regime is not engaging in systemic anti-Palestinian racism or Islamophobia. Pushing for reforms to the act to ensure it is consistent with international law and human rights. Ensuring Canada's migration streams are not based on anti-Palestinian racism or Islamophobia. Encouraging a whole-of-government approach to ending Canadian complicity in Israeli settlements. Ensuring Canada enforces its war crimes legislation. Stopping Canadian participation in the settlement economy through legislative options to stop the import of goods from Israeli settlements in occupied Palestinian territory and the end to real estate sales in Israeli settlements. Advocating repeal of the federal government’s adoption of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of antisemitism. Advocating for increases to all development assistance in support of Palestine and in particular increased funding for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). Advocacy for an immediate and unconditional recognition of the State of Palestine and for Canada to adopt a non-interventionist position on the internal politics of the state, Palestinian authority, PLO. For Canada to end military and policing ties to the Palestinian Authority. Adding anti-Palestinian racism to Canada's Federal anti-racism strategy. Ensuring Canada views settler colonialism as central to our analysis of racism and our anti-racism strategy. Ensuring our anti-racism programming respects political and civil rights of Palestinians, including Charter Rights. Ensuring Canadian policy does not suppress Palestinians right to speak on their experience of structural racism in Israel and Canada.

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.

Promote the benefits of salmon farming, including increased investments, job creation, food security, exports, and economic reconciliation with First Nations. Convey to the government the importance of collaboration and partnership between indigenous groups and the federal, and provincial governments regarding salmon farming.

Seeking support for Indigenous leadership in conservation efforts, such as Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas. Seeking support for Indigenous Guardians that would create jobs and economic development in Indigenous communities. Seeking support for boreal conservation and forest-related climate change action across the country. Exploring innovative conservation and stewardship financing initiatives.

Speaking with elected officials and their staff to discuss funding options to advance birthwork (e.g., midwifery, doula, and abortion) services in the Northwest Territories on behalf of the Northern Birthwork Collective, a MakeWay Project.

Advocacy to design and fund a summer food program in Canada Updating Canadian regulations for flooding, wildfires and more including insurance for natural disasters Truth and Reconciliation Commission's Call to Action 66, with respect to equitable funding and implementation. The renewal of the Canada Water Act legislation, including the practice of co-governance and co-creation with Indigenous Governments The prioritization of British Columbia River Basins for investments through the Freshwater Action Plan The need for the Federal government to invest $1Billion in the Freshwater Action Plan Seeking strengthening of fish habitat protections and implementation of the Wild Salmon Policy and Pacific Salmon Strategy Initiative (PSSI). Regulatory development for the implementation of the modernized Fisheries Act, including the creation of Ecologically Significant Areas and rebuilding plans Regulation of genetically engineered organisms including regulatory guidance on novel foods and which plants are subject to Part 5 of the Seeds Regulations. Policies relating to the use of genetically engineered organisms in food and agriculture, in particular environment health and human safety, and public transparency. Increased support for expanding birthwork (e.g., midwifery, doula, and abortion) services in the Northwest Territories Discussing government decisions around the release of the Athabasca oil sands tailing ponds into the Athabasca River (Alberta, Northwest Territories and Federal governments) Discussing financial investment by the federal government through economic stimulus in watershed projects in British Columbia and beyond as opportunity for economic recovery and employment generation. Discussing engaging pension fund beneficiaries and supporting pension fund managers to be a part of the transition to a low-carbon economy to achieve the inextricably linked goals of pension wealth and planet health. Sharing research and discussing new laws and programs that various states and governments have been passing related to this area. Creating guidelines/adaptation strategies/resilience strategies for wildfires, droughts, flooding and climate-related disasters Advocating for Canada-USA international waters relationships and problem-solving, notably in BC, Alberta and the Great Lakes regions. Advocating establishment of a Canada Water Agency before 2023, and working with government to create a successful, meaningful Agency both at its headquarters in Winnipeg and other branches (Montreal, Burlington) Advocacy for a Federal government investment in the BC Watershed Security Fund. Advance robust policy and law reform to end Canada’s public finance for the fossil fuel sector, including by providing analysis on, the Export Development Act, Bill S-243 (An Act to enact the Climate-Aligned Finance Act and to make related amendments to other Acts), the Guidelines for Canada’s International Support for the Clean Energy Transition, and the Inefficient Fossil Fuel Subsidies: Government of Canada Guidelines. Advance robust policy and law reform to address human rights and environmental abuse in Canadian business activity abroad, including by providing analysis on, the Fighting Against Forced Labour and Child Labour in Supply Chains Act, the Customs Tariff, Bill C-262 (An Act respecting the corporate responsibility to prevent, address and remedy adverse impacts on human rights occurring in relation to business activities conducted abroad), Bill C-263 (An Act to establish the Office of the Commissioner for Responsible Business Conduct Abroad and to make consequential amendments to other Acts), and the Responsible Business Conduct Abroad strategy (2022-2027).

Issues impacting the competitiveness of credit unions in relation to the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), including CMHC’s mortgage insurance policies and eligibility requirements. Promoting awareness and understanding of the credit union system’s structure and function, as part of advocacy related to the Competition Act with a focus on merger review standards. Financial Sector Legislative Review - ensuring that credit union perspectives are considered throughout the scheduled financial sector legislative review. Proceeds of Crime (Money Laundering) and Terrorist Financing Act with respect to reporting and compliance obligations of credit unions. Monitor and address concerns related to the financial powers and operations of federal crown corps such as the Business Development Bank of Canada and Farm Credit Canada to ensure market conduct and policy that foster equitable competition. Monitor and address concerns related to the Canadian Payments Act, particularly those of credit unions, while monitoring the Department of Finance, Bank of Canada, and Canadian Payments Association’s work on any amendments and modernization initiatives. Inform the development of Canada Open Banking Framework including related policies, programs or legislation to support consumer directed finance (open banking). Income Tax Act as it relates to the definition of credit unions, interpretation of arranging for financial services, discriminatory excise tax policies, and tax fairness for small-medium financial institutions. Discuss measures to strengthen and safeguard the resilience of the Canadian Credit Union system. Advocacy for government actions that support the financial health and well-being of Canadians and advance financial inclusion.

To promote awareness of Servus, as the largest credit union in Alberta and an integral part of the economy, as a means to being consulted and engaged as a stakeholder.