Jean-Francois Fortin

Energy Security & Supply Resilience - Development and modernization of federal legislation, regulations, policies and programs to strengthen Canada's energy security and fuel supply resilience, including potential amendments to the Energy Supplies Emergency Act. Output-Based Pricing System Regulations & federal benchmarking criteria - Development of federal offset system protocols. Recognition of high performers and linking of offset systems. Stable and predictable carbon pricing system. Competitiveness considerations. Excise Tax Act – Seeking clear, efficient, and practical administration of excise tax requirements, including relief mechanisms, minimization of administrative burden, and avoidance of unintended tax impacts. Tax measures – Seeking clear, efficient, and internationally aligned tax policies, regulations, and reporting requirements. Advocating for practical implementation, administrative certainty, regulatory harmonization across government departments, and minimization of administrative burden. Customs Act, Customs Tariff, Valuation for Duty Regulations, Customs Accounting and Revenue Management (CARM), tariffs and related trade measures – Seeking practical, efficient, and fiscally feasible implementation of customs and trade requirements, including appropriate tariff, surtax, remission, and exclusion relief mechanisms, while minimizing administrative burden and unintended cost impacts. Transportation - Considerations for competitiveness of Canadian shippers. Emphasizing importance of efficient access to markets, security of supply for products, and potential implications of tariffs. Streamlined compliance processes and safety standards requirements. Canadian Environmental Protection Act – Streamlined and efficient regulatory processes, reporting requirements, and information gathering initiatives. Reduction of regulatory and reporting duplication. Feasible implementation of a Right to a Healthy Environment. International and Inter-Provincial Trade: Predictable, diversified and open trade markets. Clear and pragmatic Canada-United States-Mexico trade agreement (CUSMA) compliance requirements. Preservation of CUSMA as currently structured. Clean Fuel Regulations – Efficient implementation. Compliance pathways that recognize emissions reduction actions and projects. Feasible requirements. Reduction in the Release of Volatile Organic Compounds (Storage and Loading of Volatile Petroleum Liquids) Regulations, reduction of benzene releases from gasoline stations, Base-Level Industrial Emissions Requirements – Advocating that regulatory policies and programs are feasible and science-based. Practical implementation. Fuel quality - Increase efficiency/streamline regulatory requirements through consolidation of the five federal fuel regulations. CCUS, clean technology and hydrogen investment tax credits, Clean Growth Fund, Clean Fuels Fund, and other fiscal frameworks to support low carbon fuels and products – Timely, predictable, and feasible fiscal and regulatory policies and programs to advance energy transition and diversification, including gaseous and liquid fuels and their carriers. Clear application & eligibility requirements, broadening of fund scope. Competitiveness of Canadian energy transition infrastructure investment. Net Zero Emissions Accountability Act and other climate policies/regulations including Emission Reduction Plans, Clean Electricity Regulation, oil and gas emissions cap, methane, Zero-Emission Vehicle Mandate, cross border carbon adjustment, carbon markets and interprovincial linkage, Internationally Transferred Mitigation Outcomes (ITMOs) and regional tables – Timely, predictable, and feasible regulatory policies and programs to advance a competitive energy transition. The future Canadian energy mix and the potential pathways. Opportunities and fiscal incentives for emissions reductions and low-carbon solutions. Competition Act - Seeking to understand new requirements. Clear guidelines and prag

Portfolio des Chaires de recherche-Innovation Journée du comité de la recherche du BCI à Ottawa Journée de rencontre entre les responsables de la recherche des universités québécoises et différents responsables gouvernementaux. Les thèmes abordés seront: réseau des universités québécoises, période post budgétaire et préélectorale, organisation des conseils de recherche, interface des conseils de recherche, initiatives d'innovation entre Sciences et Développement économique Canada et le FCI, initiative fédérale des sciences et de la technologie. Journée de dialogue et de sensibilisation aux enjeux des établissements universitaires québécois à l’aube des élections générales fédérales Cette rencontre a pour objectif d’en connaître davantage sur la vision des partis politiques et parlementaires de l’enseignement supérieur. Bien que les discussions soient larges, les thèmes suivants ont été proposé aux participants: 1) Formation: Adéquation de la main œuvre qualifiée avec les besoins du marché du travail, à l'aube de la 4e révolution industrielle, notamment avec avènement de l'intelligence artificielle. Comment les universités devraient-elles aider le gouvernement à anticiper et affronter les changements majeurs qui se profilent en ce domaine? 2) Recherche: Priorités des partis en recherche et en innovation 3) Le rôle des universités dans leur communauté: Comment comptez-vous mobiliser l’apport des universités dans l’élaboration et la mise en œuvre des politiques publiques prioritaires pour votre parti?

Discussions regarding federal programs with respect to international transfer pricing.? The discussion will focus on the Advance Pricing Arrangement (APA).

CRA Electronic Filing Program - Discussions with officials on how to enhance electronic filing for Canadian taxpayers. Financial Consumer Agency of Canada - Promote industry collaboration to increase financial literacy of Canadians. SimpleFile - Promote industry collaboration in offering telefiling services to low-income Canadians as identified by the CRA. Electronic consent - Discussions with government officials to permit the use of electronic signature and forms for tax returns by the tax preparation industry. Data-sharing - Discussions with government officials to examine statistical data-sharing. Community Volunteer Income Tax Program - Promote industry collaboration to increase tax filing by Canadians. Canadian Emergency Response Benefit - Discussions with government officials on individual taxation policy. Automated tax filing - discussions with government officials on the proposal to implement automated tax filing in Canada.

Discussions about financial sustainability measures for universities. Discussions about shared priorities related to universities including workforce, talent, and employment. Discussions on the Canada-India Talent and Innovation Strategy. Government of Canada - Universities Working Group roundtable discussion on research security. Discussions about artificial intelligence (AI) funding as it relates to universities. Student housing and community enabling campus infrastructure programs. Working group meeting to discuss academic contributions to the Defence Industrial Strategy. Immigration policies and programs related to international students and affecting universities. Discussions of education and international relations opportunities. Engaging in discussions on research priorities for Canadian universities. Discussions about research policy and programs, Canada-US relations, and their impacts on the post-secondary sector Discussions about international students, the workforce, and the benefits of a university degree. Discussions about the Global Excellence Initiative (GEI) and future funding commitments. Meeting to discuss science policy and programs, impact of Canada-US relations Recent policy changes and development of other policy tools including the Recognized Institutions Framework.

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

Seek funding and support for the institution’s teaching, and research and development enterprise in life sciences, basic and applied sciences, social sciences, humanities and fine arts and mental health. Support for the implementation and operation of the Canada Water Agency Support for institutional compliance with federal research security requirements. Seek program development and support for Indigenous-led research Seeking program development for career opportunities for Indigenous post-secondary graduates Seeking greater efficiencies and continued funding of the Canada Student Loan Program Seek funding for international opportunities in student experience through academic exchanges, study abroad and international student visits to Canada Secure funding for Major Science Infrastructure Policy development and research funding for knowledge transfer and the commercialization of research Increase federal funding to the Canada Graduate Scholarship Program and other national initiatives in support of graduate students Funding for research and campus infrastructure Funding for internships, fellowships and student work-integrated learning Facilitation of improved policies that impact international students and other highly qualified personnel Discuss post-secondary institutions' role in securing Canada's water future through education and research. Discuss post-secondary institutions' role in securing Canada's energy future through research and teaching. Development of a national program for the provision of long-term operating funding for major science initiatives like the Canadian Light Source (CLS) and the Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization (VIDO) Continue and increase funding to the Tri-Agency (CIHR, NSERC, SSHRC) in order to maintain an internationally competitive research and development infrastructure. Continue and increase funding to the Indirect Costs of Research Program in order to maintain an internationally competitive research and development infrastructure Continue and increase funding to the Canada Foundation for Innovation in order to maintain an internationally competitive research and development infrastructure. Budget bills in support of the federal role in post-secondary education, research and the science and technology framework

International Student Policy Development. Student Assistance Programs. Discussions to support co-operative education and work-integrated learning opportunities for students. Tri-Council Grant Programming (SSHRC, NSERC, CIHR) and Canada Foundation for Innovation, with respect to research funding Post-Secondary Policies to advance knowledge development and mobilization. Legislation and budgetary measures to support the role of post-secondary education to advance education, innovation, research and science. Discussions regarding supports for research programming related to reconciliation, health, climate, energy, oceans and aerospace initiatives. Partnerships, Policy and funding to advance research, development and deployment of community-based clean energy systems Funding for research and campus infrastructure Advance discussions and supports for UVic’s research centres Continue to advance partnerships and funding to support Ocean Networks Canada Development of a national network for CanAssist to increase opportunities to develop assistive technology equipment for people with disabilities Canada-wide. Support for education and importance of knowledge based economy. Role of Canadian University Research Parks in Commercialization of Research and Technology.