Leo Housakos
Senator, Senate of Canada·18 communications in the past year
Lobbied by
Alstom Transport Canada
5Promotion de l'avancement de la cybersécurité dans les transports publiques. Advocating for the rail sector in relation to changes to clean technology investment tax credit. Recherche de financement via le programme de fonds stratégiques pour l'innovation (FSI) afin d'offrir des solutions ferroviaires innovantes. Establishment or modification of appropriate regulations regarding trade. Research and Development funding for advanced manufacturing and developing mobility low to zero carbon technologies. Infrastructure projects related to transit systems, including rolling stocks and signalling. Establishment or modification of appropriate regulations regarding public transportation.
Amazon Web Services Canada
4Communicating with the Government of Canada about Bill C-8 (An Act respecting cyber security, amending the Telecommunications Act and making consequential amendments to other Acts). Communicating with the Government of Canada about Bill C-22 (An Act respecting lawful access) Communicating with the Government of Canada about Bill formerly known as C-27 (Digital Charter Implementation Act, 2022), more specifically the creation of the Artificial Intelligence and Data Act. Communicating with the Government of Canada about Bill C-2 (An Act respecting certain measures relating to the security of the border between Canada and the United States and respecting other related security measures). Work with government to promote and support Canadas digital economy, including ensuring the availability of a high-skilled tech workforce. Seeking to influence policy direction related to cloud based services. Seeking government contract with multiple government departments and institutions with regards to Amazon Cloud based solutions and related support services.
Capilano Students' Union
3Reverse the $5 billion cut to public transit funding and increase the Building Communities Strong Funds overall size so transit agencies such as TransLink and BC Transit can proceed with urgently needed expansion projects that improve access to education and employment. Provide stable, recurring operations funding so TransLink and BC Transit can implement necessary service improvements and start work on key regional transportation projects. Provide ongoing funding to municipalities for the infrastructure upgrades necessary to support an increasing population. Increase the allocation for post-secondary education in the Canada Social Transfer so provinces can properly fund institutions to help manage growing deficits brought on by underfunding and over reliance on student tuition. Ensure fair and predictable treatment for international students already studying in Canada by red-circling study permit renewals for current students and allowing them to transfer institutions or take courses at other institutions without requiring a new study permit application. Convert the CMHC Apartment Construction Loan Program Student Housing stream to grants so post-secondary institutions can access financing to build on-campus student housing, helping address the growing shortage of affordable housing for students in British Columbia. Enforcement of the Canada Health Act principle of universality to prohibit the province of British Columbia from charging international students a $75 health fee to access government-insured medical services.
Ensure fair and predictable treatment for international students already studying in Canada by red-circling study permit renewals for current students and allowing them to transfer institutions or take courses at other institutions without requiring a new study permit application. Increase funding for student job placements focused on climate action and environmental sustainability and to establish a national Youth Climate Corps that provides students with jobs focused on climate action. Increased regulation of grocery stores by the federal government to prevent price gouging and excess profit generation. Direct financial assistance from the federal government to help students afford good food. Climate Change action, with respect to the federal government taking all actions necessary to keep global warming at 1.5c including emissions reductions, ending fossil fuel expansion, and investment in green transportation. The creation of a federal student loan and financial aid program that is accessible to part-time and full-time undergraduate and graduate international students and is not contingent on program completion. Provide stable, recurring operations funding so TransLink and BC Transit can implement necessary service improvements and start work on key regional transportation projects. Reverse the $5 billion cut to public transit funding and increase the Building Communities Strong Funds overall size so transit agencies such as TransLink and BC Transit can proceed with urgently needed expansion projects that improve access to education and employment. Increase the allocation for post-secondary education in the Canada Social Transfer so provinces can properly fund institutions to help manage growing deficits brought on by underfunding and over reliance on student tuition. Convert the CMHC Apartment Construction Loan Program Student Housing stream to grants so post-secondary institutions can access financing to build on-campus student housing, helping address the growing shortage of affordable housing for students in British Columbia. Provide ongoing funding to municipalities for the infrastructure upgrades necessary to support an increasing population. The Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations, with respect to increasing the number of hours an international student is permitted to work off-campus during a regular academic session from 24 to 32, and extending permission to work to part-time international students. Enforcement of the Canada Health Act principle of universality to prohibit the province of British Columbia from charging international students a $75 health fee to access government-insured medical services. Childcare funding, with respect to federal financial assistance to British Columbia to create and operate a fully functional $10-a-day program.
Provide stable, recurring operations funding so TransLink and BC Transit can implement necessary service improvements and start work on key regional transportation projects. Reverse the $5 billion cut to public transit funding and increase the Building Communities Strong Funds overall size so transit agencies such as TransLink and BC Transit can proceed with urgently needed expansion projects that improve access to education and employment. Provide ongoing funding to municipalities for the infrastructure upgrades necessary to support an increasing population. Increase the allocation for post-secondary education in the Canada Social Transfer so provinces can properly fund institutions to help manage growing deficits brought on by underfunding and over reliance on student tuition. Ensure fair and predictable treatment for international students already studying in Canada by red-circling study permit renewals for current students and allowing them to transfer institutions or take courses at other institutions without requiring a new study permit application. Convert the CMHC Apartment Construction Loan Program Student Housing stream to grants so post-secondary institutions can access financing to build on-campus student housing, helping address the growing shortage of affordable housing for students in British Columbia. Enforcement of the Canada Health Act principle of universality to prohibit the province of British Columbia from charging international students a $75 health fee to access government-insured medical services.
Fédération des communautés francophones et acadienne du Canada
3Veiller à la mise en uvre de l'application du Règlement sur les langues officielles - communications avec le public et prestation de service suite aux résultats du Recensement de 2011 Recherche d'appui et de contributions gouvernementales pour appuyer la mise en oeuvre du plan stratégique pour favoriser l'immigration au sein des communautés francophones en situation minoritaire Programme des langues officielles - Prochain Plan d'action pour les langues officielles Programme de promotion de l'accès à la justice dans les deux langues officielles - participation à la mise en oeuvre du programme Programme d'appui aux langues officielles de Patrimoine canadien - volet vie communautaire - renouvellement des accords de collaboration provinciales et territoriales en appui aux développement des communautés francophones et acadiennes ainsi que de l'appui aux organismes nationaux à vocation sectorielle. Programme d'appui aux langues officielles de Patrimoine canadien pour promouvoir les besoins des communautés francophones et acadiennes Politique sur les paiements de transferts - mise en oeuvre des recommadations du groupe d'experts et mise en oeuvre des obligations sous la Partie VII de la Loi sur les langues officielles Politique sur l'utilisation des langues officielles pour les communications avec le public et la prestation des services Obtenir des contributions du Programme d'établissement de Citoyenneté et Immigration Canada relativement à la coordination du dossier de l'immigration dans les communautés francophones et acadiennes et l'appui du ministère pour des services d'accueil et d'établissement en français dans diverses régions du pays. Loi sur les langues officielles - son application et sa mise en oeuvre - particulièrement les Parties IV,V et VII Charte canadienne des droits et libertés - mise en oeuvre des articles 16 à 20 et 23 - mise en oeuvre d'un programme d'appui aux droits linguistiques Cadre de politiques en matière de langues officielles - Mise à jour de la règlementation relié à la Loi sur les langues officielles et du régime linguistique au Canada
The Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs
3Taxation and Finance: Canada must ensure, fairness, accountability and transparency regarding CRA decisions that impact Jewish charities. Provide economic support for the charitable and not-for-profit sector through a direct granting program. Donations from Canadians should be incentivized through a temporary enhancement of the charitable giving tax credit, or through a donor matching program, whereby the government matches donations from Canadians. Religion: Include a question on religion in every census, instead of every second census. National Security/Security (3): A ministerial directive to the RCMP and CSIS to prioritize and intensify monitoring, intelligence collection, investigations, disruption, and enforcement against antisemitic and Islamist violent extremism, as well as against foreign actors seeking to sponsor or exploit protests in Canada. National Security/Security (2): Continued support for revocation of citizenship in cases involving war crimes, crimes against humanity, terrorism, and extreme promotion of hate; strengthened screening to bar entry and deny citizenship to individuals who pose security threats or have ties to extremist or terrorist organizations; removal of individuals already in Canada who obtained status through false representation; establishment of a fast-track removal stream for high-risk individuals linked to foreign extremist organizations; accelerated removals for individuals convicted of violent crimes; and standalone immigration consequences for expressing support for listed terrorist entities, even in the absence of criminal convictions. National Security (1): Canada Community Security Program (CCSP): Sustained and recurrent funding and program optimization; support for life-saving protective measures for communities at risk, particularly the Jewish community; funding for capital security upgrades and training; and ongoing support for security guards and paid duty officers. Justice and Law Enforcement (2): Conflict of Interests, Foreign Interference, Ethics, Lobbying, Canada Revenue Agency. Ensuring CIJA fully respects all its legal and regulatory obligations while advocating for the current framework to be more efficient and respectful of the needs, objectives and resources of cultural and religious communities. Justice and Law Enforcement: Canada should pursue a comprehensive, accountable approach to combating hate and promoting inclusion by strengthening legal tools, enforcement capacity, and public institutions. This includes modernizing human rights and criminal frameworks to address hate speech and antisemitism, guided by the IHRA definition; investing in anti-racism, tolerance, and genocide education initiatives; and ensuring police are properly resourced to prevent and respond to hate crimes, with clear accountability for results. Bail reform to include a reverse onus on hate related offences. International Trade: Advancing and expanding bilateral trade through the promotion, application, and potential enhancement of the Canada–Israel Free Trade Agreement, as well as fostering increased investment and academic exchanges. International Relations: Canadian diplomatic relations with Israel and the broader Middle East, including Canadas role in the Israel–Palestinian peace process; Canadian interventions at the UN and other multilateral bodies, including sanctions regimes and related legislation; and policy toward Iran, including maintaining non-renewal of diplomatic relations alongside continued sanctions against the IRGC and senior regime figures. Immigration: Matters related to the Department of Citizenship and Immigration Act, including visa applications and issuance; Immigration and Refugee Board policies, including refugee claims from Israel; broader Canadian immigration policy; integration and settlement of new immigrants, recognition of foreign-trained credentials and language training; and standards and requirements for refugee status, permanent residence, and citizenship
WAR CRIMES PROSECUTIONS (continuing advocacy to push the denaturalization and deportation of persons found in Canada who lied about their records in the Second World War or more recent conflicts and the prosecution of war criminals when sufficient evidence is adduced.) Update the Criminal Code of Canada with respect to combating antisemitism and online hate. Create a national strategy to tackle online hate and radicalization using the 2019 Justice Committee report, "Taking Action to End Online Hate", as a foundation. A strategy should draw upon the Christchurch Call, and use the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance definition of antisemitism. Transportation: Assisting in the development of briefings on airport security by Israeli officials for Transport Canada - including ministerial staff. The project United Against Online Hate aims to develop a national coalition with numerous targeted communities to actively combat online hate, following recommendations from the study conducted by the House of Commons Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights. We have been granted $141,000 for the governments current fiscal year (ending March 31 2021). We were also awarded $31,800 for the year April 1 2021 to March 31 2022. Tax credit for volunteerism: proposing that a process be added to provide tax credits for individuals who contribute time to charitable activities on a sustained basis. Taxation and Finance: Discussions regarding CRA tax policies with respect to charitable organizations, and general policies. Raoul Wallenberg "Park of the Righteous": For the Government to establish a national park in honour of Raoul Wallenberg paying tribute to individual Canadians who have made a significant contribution to humanitarian causes. Qualifications for refugee status claimants and citizenship and immigration requirements for new immigrants related to standards for qualification for entry Public Security threats to the safety and security of the Jewish community of Canada and the extension of funding of capital costs and staff training for security of communities at risk PSC (Public Safety Canada) and Infrastructure Canada seeking program applicability to full range of Jewish communal institutions with respect to the timing of the program and the scope and determination of reimbursements Provide economic support for the charitable and not-for-profit sector through a direct granting program. Donations from Canadians should be incentivized through a temporary enhancement of the charitable giving tax credit, or through a donor matching program, whereby the government matches donations from Canadians. National Holocaust Memorial: To ensure that the Government of Canada provide resources for year-round access to the memorial as well as educations supports for visitors to the Holocaust Memorial Myanmar/Burma/Uighurs: Rohinga refugees and displaced persons: For Canada to augment humanitarian allocations to assist the Rohinga refugees in Burma and Bangladesh and implement elements of the recommendations submitted by The Hon. Bob Rae regarding the Rohinga refugee population. Make the Disability Tax Credit refundable, and increase its accessibility by making it inclusive, especially for those with non-physical and/or episodic disabilities. Reforms should be undertaken in partnership with disability advocates, to ensure the application process is simpler, less subjective, and more accessible for individuals and medical professionals alike. Make the Canada Caregiver Credit a refundable tax credit. Launch a parliamentary inquiry on Canadians and global terrorism: Parliament should launch a study on Canadian victims and perpetrators of foreign terrorism to identify gaps and propose solutions in two areas: federal support for victims, and evidence collection on perpetrators. INTERNATIONAL TASK FORCE ON HOLOCAUST EDUCATION, COMMEMORATION AND RESEARCH; ensure that the Government of Canada fulfills its obligations as a full member. International
Air Transport Association of Canada (ATAC)
2Outreach related to COVID protocols impacting the air transportation sector.
Discussion about marketing Canadian Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul companies on international stage. Discussions about digital ID for travel in the global travel continuum. Discussion on government investment in infrastructure for remote and northern airports. Working with Transport Canada Aviation Security on Enhanced Security measures harmonizing with the Transportation Security Administration and Department of Homeland Security requirements. Working with the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) ensuring the Orders in Council make operational sense in their requirements in keeping the travelling public safe during the COVID-19 pandemic. Also ensuring that the Transport Canada Aviation Security and Civil Aviation are harmonized in the issuance of Interim Orders which regulate the Aviation Industry during the pandemic. Status of European Union (EU) Bilateral - The Canadian Government and the European Union entered into Bilaterals. The issues are its impact on costs and trade to our industry. Request funding from CanExport Associations Program (CEA) International Marketing assistance from Global Affairs Canada with regard to Aircraft Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) and Flight Training. Passenger Bill of Rights, Foreign Ownership, Joint Ventures and the possible cost impacts to our industry and unintended consequences. (Formerly known as Bill C-49 Transportation Modernization Act) Participation in the development of mitigation measures for the use of Ethylene Glycol and Halon and Greenhouse Gases with Environment and Climate Change Canada, and Transport Canada Participation in stakeholder consultation with Health Canada on regulatory matters with regard to public safety and costs to the industry. Obtain support from relevant government departments in dealing with the European Union Emissions Trading Scheme to ensure fairness to Canadian companies. International Student Program in respect of streamlining the process to obtain student study permits for commercial pilot training in Canada and provide exemptions on the caps for foreign aviation students. (Imagine Education au/in Canada Brand program) with Global Affairs Canada and Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. Government consultation (Transport Canada) with stakeholders on the privatization of CATSA and its impact on the industry and the cost to passengers. Acts to amend the Aeronautics Act and the Access to Information Act and to make consequential amendments to other Acts with regard to all sections, particularly the provisions enabling safety management systems and the protection of safety data from public dissemination. Federal jurisdiction at aerodromes as it pertains to noise responsibilities. We do not want the province/municipality to enforce noise around airports. We oppose attempts by provinces/municipalities from attempting to usurp the federal powers. The Federal Government regulation in this case refers to the Aeronautics Act. Excise Tax Act with regard to Reduction of Air Travellers Security Charge. Excise Tax Act with regards to the reduction of Aviation Fuel Taxes. Enhancement and growth of the Canadian Council for Aviation and Aerospace to cover all aviation human resource issues. Encouraging the implementation of Safety Management Systems throughout Canadian commercial aviation. Discussions with Transport Canada and Employment & Social Development Canada on removing barriers to entry for people who want to become pilots or aircraft maintenance engineers or technicians. Discussions with regard to the on-going management of the Air Carrier Security Measures (Document is classified). Discussions with Public Safety Canada regarding, and support for, actions to prevent Human Trafficking. Discussions on the Statutory Review of the Canada Transportation Act with respect to administerial advice on policies Discussions about restrictions (timelines, airspace and procedures onboard aircraft) in the context of special events with regards to public sa
Amazon Canada Fulfillment Services, ULC
2Work with government to promote and support Canadas digital economy, including ensuring the availability of a high-skilled tech workforce. Work with government to facilitate the process of selling goods and services online, and delivering them to consumers.
B'nai Brith National Organization of Canada
2Ensure that digital gaming platforms are regulated as online services under Bill C-34. Application of the Museums Act regarding ministerial oversight of federally funded national museums. Conduct a national review of organizations, networks, and entities that promote, finance, facilitate, or legitimize extremist ideologies Withhold Federal funding from universities and publicly funded institutions which neither protect Jewish students nor enforce policies against harassment, intimidation, discrimination, and hate. Strengthen immigration screening and enforcement to ensure newcomers embrace the democratic values, pluralism, equality, and rule of law that define Canada. Use every available legal mechanism to investigate, prosecute, remove, or deport non-citizens who support terrorism, engage in hate-motivated criminality, incite violence, or threaten public safety. The creation of legislation that will impose a duty to report on AI generators to report when certain user and AI behavior thresholds are crossed. The creation of legislation that will require AI generators to identify AI generative content with watermarks to easily identify human-generated content from synthetic content generated by AI. That the Government of Canada develop and fund a coordinated national youth digital literacy program focused on online harms That the Government of Canada provide permanent and ongoing funding to the Canada Centre for Community Engagement and the Prevention of Violence within Public Safety Canada. Concerns regarding alleged misuse of the CRA charitable complaints process targeting Jewish educational institutions and camps, and application of neutral and consistent enforcement of charitable compliance laws. Assessment of foreign nationals scheduled to speak in Canada and application of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act regarding admissibility and public safety. The Prime Minister must address the nation immediately, acknowledge the crisis of antisemitism, and outline concrete actions to ensure the safety of Jewish Canadians, defend Canadian values, and confront rising extremism threatening the countrys social fabric. Deploy national security resources to protect Jewish institutions. Treat attacks on Jewish institutions as acts of domestic terrorism. That the Government of Canada formally recognize the national crisis of antisemitism by establishing a national antisemitism emergency task force. That the new Advisory Council on Rights, Equality and Inclusion recognize that Jewish Canadians remain the most frequently targeted group for hate crimes in Canada and ensure this reality informs both its composition and priorities, that individuals tasked with addressing antisemitism reflect the broadly accepted understanding of antisemitism within the Jewish community in Canada, and that support for the IHRA Working Definition of Antisemitism serve as a foundational element guiding the Councils work. Establish a Royal Commission on Antisemitism in Canada That Canada takes tangible steps to actuate on the commitments made with regards to social media and online harms in the 2025 G7 Interior and Security Ministers Communiqué. Recommendations for the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights on Bill C-9, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (hate propaganda, hate crime and access to religious or cultural places): 1. The Committee should support Section 3 and Subsection 4(2), while maintaining the requirement for Attorney General consent for private prosecutions under the Hate Propaganda provisions; 2. The Committee should reject the proposed Subsection 319(2.2) as drafted, limit it to hate symbols, remove the term Nazi Swastika, use the term Hakenkreuz (Hooked Cross), include the Sieg Heil salute, and create a new subsection under Section 83.18 prohibiting the public display of symbols used by listed terrorist entities; 3. The Committee should require that any codified definition of Hatred conforms with the Supreme Court of Canada
That Canada takes tangible steps to actuate on the commitments made with regards to social media and online harms in the 2025 G7 Interior and Security Ministers Communiqué. That a national program be developed to enhance the digital literacy of youth relating to misinformation and disinformation that they may encounter online. Recommendations for the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights on Bill C-9, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (hate propaganda, hate crime and access to religious or cultural places): 1. The Committee should support Section 3 and Subsection 4(2), while maintaining the requirement for Attorney General consent for private prosecutions under the Hate Propaganda provisions; 2. The Committee should reject the proposed Subsection 319(2.2) as drafted, limit it to hate symbols, remove the term Nazi Swastika, use the term Hakenkreuz (Hooked Cross), include the Sieg Heil salute, and create a new subsection under Section 83.18 prohibiting the public display of symbols used by listed terrorist entities; 3. The Committee should require that any codified definition of Hatred conforms with the Supreme Court of Canadas articulation in the Whatcott decision; 4. The Committee should repeal or amend the exemptions in Subsections 319(3)(b) and 319(3.1)(b). That Transport Canada conduct an investigation into three incidents that took place at airports in October 2025 in Kelowna, Victoria and Windsor. At each airport, the flight information screens and the public address system were hijacked to display and broadcast pro-terror messages. That the Chair of the Standing Committee on Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, extend invitations to the Minister of Transport and the Minister of Public Safety to testify and provide Canadians with essential information about how these airports were compromised, and what steps are being taken to ensure the continued safety of Canadian travelers. That the Minister of Public Safety investigate and, where possible, enforce restrictions on terror-glorifying content, including but not limited to video games and online activity. That the Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security launch a new study on the topic of the rise of online radicalization among Canadian youth. That the new Capstone Research Funding Organization ensures that Canadas three federal research funding agencies amend their funding agreements with post-secondary institutions to include, as a component of the agreements, an attestation that the institutions will ensure that all activities funded by the agencies are in alignment with Canadas Anti-Racism Strategy. That the Government of Canada formally recognize the national crisis of antisemitism and establish a federal task force to develop a coordinated, nationwide response. Legislate mandatory parliamentary briefings and annual public reporting on the scope, evolution, and response to foreign interference threats, enhancing accountability and transparency and Develop a graduated enforcement regime that empowers the government to respond proportionately to violations, from public reprimands to criminal charges, where warranted. Examine the enhancement of section 83.18 of the Criminal Code, which prohibits the participation in the activity of a terrorist group. Membership in, recruiting others to become members of, and the promotion or glorification of a listed terror entity should also be criminalized using this section. Explore reformation of section 319(3)(b) of the Criminal Code. The defences from prosecution contained in these provisions are being manipulated by bad faith actors who are taking advantage of these sections by misusing their roles as faith leaders to justify their promotion of hatred. Propose amendments to the Criminal Code to criminalize the public display of the emblems and symbols of listed terror entities to effectively prevent the glorification and promotion of the ideologies and actions of listed terror entities. This c
Blue Ant Media
2Broadcasting policies and regulations related to the television industry, foreign ownership, production funding, media funding, and tax credits to support innovation for Canadian independent broadcaster-producers. Advocacy related to the Canada Periodical Fund.
Policies with respect to production funding and tax credits Discuss whether consumer shows are within the gambit of the Ministry of Tourism's policies or programs. Broadcasting Policies related to Specialty Television Industry policies with respect to foreign ownership
Canadian Coalition for Firearm Rights
2Repeal SOR/2020-96, Regulations Amending the Regulations Prescribing Certain Firearms and Other Weapons, Components and Parts of Weapons, Accessories, Cartridge Magazines, Ammunition and Projectiles as Prohibited, Restricted or Non-Restricted. Repeal C-21, An Act to amend certain Acts and to make certain consequential amendments (firearms).