Kelly DeRidder

Border/port security policy, capacity, and federal-provincial coordination to combat auto theft. Ensure connected vehicle security and national security activities meet the intended objectives in a manner that is efficient with fully aligned outcomes with the U.S. Competitive industrial policies and supports such as the Strategic Innovation Fund. Revisions to the Workplace Hazardous Materials information system and inclusion of globally Harmonized System clarification and labelling of chemicals must recognize the integration production facilities and processes in Canada and the U.S. Regulatory requirements for conventional alternative and renewable fuels and associated fuel quality standards to support vehicle emission control technology and vehicle performance. Promote transportation infrastructure and policies to support testing and deployment of evolving vehicle technologies such as connected vehicles and automated vehicles aligned across Canada and with the U.S.; ensure efficient cross-border movement of vehicles for testing. Promote trade infrastructure to support the automotive manufacturing supply chain. Promote enhancements to highway infrastructure, including that for connected vehicle and automated vehicle technologies; transportation and border infrastructure that support the efficient movement of goods in a just-in-time supply chain environment. Ensure efficiencies in reporting fuel consumption data for the annual fuel consumption guide; ensure website and fuel economy labels are consistent with those in the U.S. Trade agreement negotiation and implementation that maximizes commercial benefits and export opportunities. Federal privacy, AI, cybersecurity-related legislation and regulation; Canadian Anti-spam legislation and regulation; Competition Act amendments; related to the development of new advancements in vehicle technology and in-vehicle communication. Ensure regulatory requirements for vehicle safety and supporting programs and policies meet the intended safety objectives and are aligned and synchronized with the U.S. Ensure the requirements of the Chemical Management plan are developed and applied in a manner that achieves the government's objectives and does not disrupt vehicle manufacturing operations and vehicles and new vehicle battery operations. Ensure the implementation of the new Canadian Environmental Protection Act is applied in a manner that does not disrupt manufacturing operations, vehicles, and vehicle battery operations. Ensure the alignment of Canada and U.S. vehicle emission and greenhouse gas standards, for light duty (2025 and beyond), and heavy duty vehicles (2019 and beyond) under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act. Ensure that federal ZEV policies support consumer uptake and demand, and comprehend the integrated nature of the auto industry and the need for alignment with U.S. federal ZEV policies and programs. Ensure that the proposed Clean Electricity Regulations do not impede the uptake and adoption of ZEVs and building out ZEV charging infrastructure. Ensure low EI rates are maintained and do not unreasonable raise the cost of doing business in Canada, or negatively impact competitiveness for new investment Ensure any further review of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act is applied in a manner that achieves the governments objectives and does not disrupt manufacturing operations and vehicles. Ensure an automotive strategy provides for a competitive environment that encourages maintenance of current and new automotive investment. Ensure alignment of Canada U.S. harmonized Tier 3 and beyond vehicle criteria air emission standards and supporting fuel quality requirements Employment and Training maintaining a strong apprenticeships system across Canada for a skilled workforce. Ensure there is an efficient temporary international worker process to allow for specialized expertise that is required for company-specific tasks. Data privacy framework that comprehends the develop

Initiatiatives the accelerate the artificial intelligence (AI) adoption, including updating existing playbooks and programming, providing practical tools for small and medium sized businesses (SMBs), and the mobilization of students to create new AI-native ventures. Initiatives that support local dual-use and defence companies in accessing capital, customers, and talent, including engagements with the NATO DIANA network, defence stakeholders, and experts in artificial intelligence, quantum, and cyber. Initiatives that support local technology companies, including access to capital, procurement pathways, and the protection of intellectual property.

The Council of Canadian Innovators (CCI) is engaging with government officials to discuss the alignment between CCI’s priorities and the federal government’s efforts to foster innovation in Canada. These discussions focus on ensuring that government programs and policies effectively support high-growth Canadian technology firms and strengthen the country’s innovation ecosystem. Canadian Sovereign AI Compute Strategy: advocacy was focused on bringing domestic firms into the value chain through policies and measures that provide equal opportunity for Canadian Head Quartered companies. Discussion on the intangible economy, SR&ED, and economic growth as it relates to domestic expenditures for intellectual property filing, as well as a focus on small and medium-sized companies. US Trade - discussed Tariffs and handling of Canada US Mexico Trade Agreement. Sustainable Development Technology Canada (SDTC) to establish a sponsorship agreement related to CCI's Board education training program for the intangible economy. Small Business and Tourism, Changes to Canadian Export Program (CanExport) so it allows more technology companies to apply Procurement – Changes to Request for Proposal (RFP) process to break down large bundles into smaller amounts for Medium and Small Business (SMEs) can apply Health Canada: advocate for an increase of resources for Therapeutics Canada for them to speed up processing times and efficiencies within their department; create working groups and framework with industry leaders and health Canada on digital and data health, and create a therapeutics working group with industry and health Canada. Finance – Changes to Scientific research and experimental development (SR&ED) tax incentive program to make the process easier for Medium and Small Business (SMEs) to apply and report on the current program, to further increase the maximum a SME can apply for Export Development Canada (EDC) to establish a sponsorship agreement related to CCI's Board education training program for the intangible economy. Environment and Climate Change Canada, give input and feedback on the PanCanada Framework, Canada-China agreement for scientific and technological cooperation, and the relationship between Carbon Dioxide (CO2) Emitters & CO2 Reducers. Our focus is on involving Canadian high-growth firms in the policies and programs the government is working on regarding climate change and the greening of government. Discussions on international trade, specifically on the North American Free Trade Agreement with respect to data localisation, labour mobility and tariffs. Defence & Security: advocate for a domestic-focused cybersecurity ecosystem that has Canadian companies at the centre of a national cybersecurity defence policy. Citizenship and immigration – Change the current work visa time lines, seek changes to the the Labour Market Impact Assessment for expatiating and a faster process Changes to Industrial Research Assistance Program (IRAP) to make the process easier for Medium and Small Business (SMEs) to apply and report on the current program, to Increase the maximum amount a SME can apply for Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) - changes to (scientific research and experimental development) SR&ED program with how it is administered and reviewed. Discussed companies SR&ED claims and issues with their processing. Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) to establish a sponsorship agreement related to CCI's Board education training program for the intangible economy.

Discussions with government officials concerning carbon emissions from fertilizer as it relates to municipalities and efforts to reduce carbon emissions. Rail, Airports and Ports: Federal policies and programs with regard to access to national and international markets for trade, intra-city movement of people and goods and sustainability of small and rural communities. Municipal role in the G-7 &G-20 and trade negotiations with foreign countries surrounding tarrifs. Support for farmer-centric policies and strategies that improve resiliency in the face of extreme weather, mitigate against rising costs and inflation, support food security, improve access to new markets while partnering to share the costs of reaching Canada's climate targets; Carbon emission-reduction targets related to fertilizer Federal policies and programs with regard to improving accesses to affordable housing, reducing homelessness, increasing social infrastructure required for immigration and refugee settlement and integration support. Homelessness; Encampments; redevelopment of public lands required to support communities that support the Canadian Armed Forces and its members. Affordable housing; Housing supply; Refugee and asylum seeker settlement; Housing Accelerator Fund; Rapid Housing Initiative; Housing-enabling infrastructure; Redevelopment of public lands; Environmental and sustainable development policies and programs with regard to local climate change mitigation and adaptation; Disaster mitigation and adaptation; Capacity building for sustainable community planning; Greenhouse gas (GHG) reductions; Water management, watershed planning, wastewater, and stormwater policy; Urban forest management and stewardship; Brownfield redevelopment; National Adaptation Strategy; Greener Homes Grant; Green Building Strategy; Green Municipal Fund. Community safety and crime prevention. National/contract policing; Community-based mental health and substance use care; Opioids and harm reduction; Auto thefts; Crime prevention through social development; Community corrections; Federal and municipal roles and responsibilities regarding policing duties and funding Telecommunications and Technology: Telecommunications policies with regard to universal broadband access throughout Canadian communities, antenna tower and municipal rights-of-ways. Rural, remote and northern municipal issues: Federal policies and programs with regard to delivering infrastructure funding in rural, remote and northern communities, trade irritants effecting rural, remote and northern communities, the development and implementation of the northern strategy in the three territories and the development of a rural champion at the federal cabinet level. Municipal Finance and Intergovernmental Arrangements Revenue sharing with the federal and provincial governments: Federal policies and programs with regard to the payments in lieu of taxes (PILTs) system, intergovernmental partnerships, recognition of municipal governments contributions to economic growth, the fiscal imbalance between each order of governments revenues options and their responsibilities to provide services and programs to Canadians. Municipal Growth Framework. Municipal-aboriginal relations issues: Federal policies and programs with regard to municipal-aboriginal relations, resources to meet the needs of the aboriginal population living in municipalities, municipal consultation and communication regarding land management and additions to reserve. Urban and Rural Indigenous Housing; Municipal-aboriginal relations International municipal development; Canadian foreign policy with regard to Global Affairs Canada (GAC) funded programs overseas in various countries Guidelines for urban transit, intra and extra urban transit systems: Infrastructure and Transportation policy with regard to the development of guidelines, policy and dedicated funding for urban, intra and extra urban transit systems; Intercommunity bus; Aerodromes and airport

Discussions with government officials concerning carbon emissions from fertilizer as it relates to municipalities and efforts to reduce carbon emissions. Rail, Airports and Ports: Federal policies and programs with regard to access to national and international markets for trade, intra-city movement of people and goods and sustainability of small and rural communities. Municipal role in the G-7 & G-20, and trade negotiations with foreign countries surrounding tarrifs. Federal policies and programs with regard to improving accesses to affordable housing, reducing homelessness, increasing social infrastructure required for immigration and refugee settlement and integration support. Homelessness; Encampments; Affordable housing; Housing supply; Refugee and asylum seeker settlement; Housing Accelerator Fund; Reaching Home; Rapid Housing Initiative; Housing-enabling infrastructure; Federal policies and programs with regard to improving accesses to affordable housing, reducing homelessness, increasing social infrastructure required for immigration and refugee settlement and integration support. Homelessness; Encampments; redevelopment of public lands required to support communities that support the Canadian Armed Forces and its members. Affordable housing; Housing supply; Refugee and asylum seeker settlement; Housing Accelerator Fund; Rapid Housing Initiative; Housing-enabling infrastructure; Redevelopment of public lands; Emergency preparedness and security measures: Emergency preparedness policies and programs with regard to the cost and implementation of emergency equipment and first responder support; Disaster Mitigation and Adaptation Fund; Disaster Financial Assistance Arrangements (DFAA); Wildfire response; Flood mapping; Environmental and sustainable development policies and programs with regard to local climate change mitigation and adaptation; Disaster mitigation and adaptation; Capacity building for sustainable community planning; Greenhouse gas (GHG) reductions; Water management, watershed planning, wastewater, and stormwater policy; Urban forest management and stewardship; Brownfield redevelopment; National Adaptation Strategy; Greener Homes Grant; Green Building Strategy; Green Municipal Fund. Federal infrastructure program funding, including (but not limited to) Infrastructure Canada Canada Community Building Fund; Infrastructure programs and funding; Permanent Public Transit Fund; Canada Infrastructure Bank (CIB) financing; Investing in Canada infrastructure Plan; Universal Broadband; Rural, remote and northern infrastructure; Telecommunications and Technology: Telecommunications policies with regard to universal broadband access throughout Canadian communities, antenna tower and municipal rights-of-ways. Municipal-aboriginal relations issues: Federal policies and programs with regard to municipal-aboriginal relations, resources to meet the needs of the aboriginal population living in municipalities, municipal consultation and communication regarding land management and additions to reserve. Urban and Rural Indigenous Housing; Municipal-aboriginal relations International municipal development; Canadian foreign policy with regard to Global Affairs Canada (GAC) funded programs overseas in various countries. Support for farmer-centric policies and strategies that improve resiliency in the face of extreme weather, mitigate against rising costs and inflation, support food security, improve access to new markets while partnering to share the costs of reaching Canada's climate targets; Carbon emission-reduction targets related to fertilizer Guidelines for urban transit, intra and extra urban transit systems: Infrastructure and Transportation policy with regard to the development of guidelines, policy and dedicated funding for urban, intra and extra urban transit systems; Intercommunity bus; Aerodromes and airports; Intra and extra urban transit systems; Municipal/railway proximity issues; Trade corridors; Shipping routes an

Monitor development of new policy for the banning of the sale of illegal cigarettes (contraband tobacco enforcement strategy) Monitor all developments to the Tobacco Act and its regulations Monitor all developments regarding Health Canada regulation of vaping products.

Small Business & Tourism: Lobby in favor of the implementation of the federal government`s Red Tape Reduction Commission and advocate for the inclusion of principles that are specific to the tobacco industry. Monitor all developments regarding Bill S-5 An Act to amend the Tobacco Act and the Non-smokers’ Health Act and to make consequential amendments to other Acts Health Canada: Advocate for reasonable tobacco control policies and regulations. Finance/Public Safety/Health Canada: Lobby the federal government to raise the awareness of illegal tobacco trade activities in Canada; to dedicate more enforcement resources to combat this illegal industry; and to bring the illicit trade of cigarettes in line with the taxation and regulation regimes that the tobacco industry is submitted to. Finance: Continue to demonstrate the unintended consequences of a high taxation regime on the illicit trade of cigarettes in Canada.

The Anti-terrorism Act formerly known as Bill C-51. Bill C-22, the National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians Act. Canada's policies with respect to domestic and international civil liberties, privacy and public security Promoting legal measures and regulations to ensure that Canadian resource extraction companies are legally accountable within Canada for international operations and activities. Overseas development assistance, with regard to quantity of support, thematic and geographic focus, and modalities of delivery. Obtain contributions, and report on assistance from Global Affairs Canada (Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Canada) for the delivery of development and humanitarian assistance for the following countries: Colombia, Peru, Guatemala, Mexico, Central America regional, Ghana, West Africa regional, Sudan (North, Africa regional, Great Lakes region of Africa, Bangladesh, India, Asia regional, Malaysia, Boarder regions of Burma and the Philippines. Inter Pares meets with various Canadian ambassadors to countries in which we have active programs to discuss Canada's international cooperation. Inter Pares is in the process of fulfilling various grants and contributions from Global Affairs Canada (Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Canada) and could take part in a competitive process for funding from the Partnership with Canadians Branch of Global Affairs Canada if Inter Pares' program fits the criteria of a competitive process. International Development (Inter Pares shares analysis on various facets of human rights, women's rights, economic justice, food sovereignty and migration globally). Ensuring Canada’s official development assistance place a priority on strengthening local food systems for poor and small rural households and communities in the South. Ensuring Canada maintain a strong presence promoting human rights domestically and in the South. Canadian assistance to Colombia, Peru, Guatemala, Mexico, El Salvador, Central America regional, Ghana, West Africa regional, Sudan (North), Africa Regional, Great Lakes region of Africa, Bangladesh, India, Asia regional, Malaysia, Border regions of Burma, the Philippines with respect to areas of focus and modalities of delivery. Canada’s position and climate change strategies with respect to mitigation and adaption in countries in the South. Canada's position and policies on religious and ethnic discrimination related to countries where Inter Pares works. Canada's position and policies on migration, and resettlement related to countries where Inter Pares works.

PIPSC advocates for strengthening the federal government’s capacity to deliver high-quality public services and programs. This includes engagement on the impacts of the federal government’s comprehensive expenditure review and associated workforce adjustments on service delivery and the retention of internal expertise. PIPSC also engages on concerns related to the federal government's growing reliance on outsourcing and professional services contracts and the need to rebuild in-house public sector capacity. PIPSC advocacy focuses on the protection of scientific integrity and the role of evidence-based decision-making across federal departments and agencies, along with the integrity and fairness of Canada’s tax system, including appropriate resourcing for enforcement and compliance, and broader workforce management policies related to recruitment, retention, and the preservation of specialized expertise within the federal public service.

Assist CanFASD in advocating for the development of a National FASD Strategy.

The NFA’s main goals are the repeal and replacement of the Firearms Act (Bill C-68), which was introduced into Canadian Parliament in 1995 (Now called "Chapter 39 of the 1995 Statutes of Canada"), the promotion of marksmanship and firearm safety and the protection of the right to hunt, and self-defence and property rights.

CFIB supports the principle behind the Canada Jobs Grant but encourages flexibility in its implementation and consideration of small and medium-size enterprises (SMEs)' needs. For example, introducing a permanent refundable tax credits for co-op and internship hires and reducing red tape from programs like Canada Summer Jobs to make it easier for small businesses to continue hiring youth. Advocating on behalf of small and medium-sized businesses to facilitate trade between Canada and other countries (CAN-US tariffs, the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement, Chinese tariffs). Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) shares its suggestions for Budget 2026 focusing on: reducing the small business tax rate from 9% to 6% and increasing the small business deduction (SBD) threshold to $700,000 and index it to inflation going forward. Canada is experiencing an “entrepreneurial drought”: a sustained period where business closures consistently outpace new business starts, leading to a shrinking entrepreneurial base and declining confidence in entrepreneurship. CFIB recommends that reversing this trend should be treated as a national economic priority. Sharing small businesses' views on Labour Code changes, impact on small businesses and the need to ensure the fluidity of the supply chain. Sharing survey results on improving CFIA customer service to encourage the review of their operations to better meet the needs of small and medium-size enterprises (SMEs) - reducing red tape and facilitating food mobility within Canada. Sharing data information and recommendations related to the state of small and medium-size enterprises (SMEs) overall and for specific sectors which could also include provincial data. Promoting reforms to the Competition Act that will ensure small businesses have an equitable opportunity to compete in today’s economy, especially as small and medium-size enterprises (SMEs) have noted an increase in large corporate giants within Canada. Shipping costs pose a significant barrier for small business, as such we continue to advocate for favourable shipping rates with carriers (including the cost of shipping along with better service levels and addressing the work stoppage at Canada Post). Presenting the views of small business owners based on our survey data to the Canada Revenue Agency to share ways of improving customer service interactions with small and medium-size enterprises (SMEs) and suggest ways to ease the tax burden on small business owners as well as increase accountability within the agency. CFIB continues to monitor the effects of the Consumer Product Safety Act on small and medium-size enterprises (SMEs) and other issues raised related to the mandate of Health Canada. We also continue to monitor customer service interactions between our members and Health Canada. Any issues are raised with officials. CFIB advocates for simplification to the federal procurement process on behalf of small and medium-size enterprises (SMEs). Lobbying to reduce Red Tape by focusing on removing interprovincial trade barriers, facilitating labour mobility and improving government customer service. This includes providing input for the consultations on the Annual Regulatory Modernization Bill. Goods and Services Tax/ Harmonized Sales Tax Administration with regards to Transitional Rules, Out of Province Sales Rules, Point-of-Sale Rebate, and fillings. Retirement Income Policies, and proposed Canada Pension Plan increases. CFIB is against mandatory increases in Canada Pension Plan, and has provided alternative approaches. CFIB has also shared recommendations to reduce disincentives to work for older workers. Presenting the views of small business owners on infrastructure spending through member survey results, mandate votes and other CFIB research. Offering funding solutions and alternatives to government proposals on transit and infrastructure expansion. Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA)