Louis-Charles Girard

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 Fund’s 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.

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 Fund’s 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.

Reverse the $5 billion cut to public transit funding and increase the Building Communities Strong Fund’s 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.

Action Plan for Official Languages - Seeking funding through various Action Plan envelopes that support access to quality second-language instruction, evaluation and retention Official Languages policy framework - Updates across linguistic policy files pertaining to rapprochement, linguistic duality or second-language instruction Official Languages in Education Programs - Advocating for increased funding for French Second Language through the Second-language stream across the various areas of intervention. Official Languages Act - ensuring the Government of Canada’s commitment to opportunities to learn a second official language Official Languages Support Programs - Enhancement of Official Languages Program - Second Language Learning Component - Seeking funding for socio-cultural activities, employment and training and other initiatives in French Second Language programs to increase learning and use of French. Official Languages Support Programs - Enhancement of Official Languages Program - Promotion of Linguistic Duality Component - promoting linguistic duality initiatives and projects to promote the benefits of bilingualism and to increase mutual understanding and rapprochement between English-speaking and French-speaking Canadians. Official Languages Support Programs - Enhancement of Official Languages Program - Seeking funding through the Promotion of Linguistic Duality Component for such initiatives and projects. Official Languages Support Programs - Enhancement of Official Languages Program - Second Language Learning Component - promoting and ensuring equitable access to quality French Second Language programs (French Immersion, Core French, Extended French, etc.). Official Languages in Education Programs - Renewal of provincial and territorial bilateral agreements in support of access to quality second-language instruction across Canada. Action Plan for Official Languages - Informing on French Second Language issues/concerns and advocating for policies and programs.

Official Languages Support Programs - Enhancement of Official Languages Program - Second Language Learning Component - Seeking funding for socio-cultural activities, employment and training and other initiatives in French Second Language programs to increase learning and use of French. Official Languages Support Programs - Enhancement of Official Languages Program - Second Language Learning Component - promoting and ensuring equitable access to quality French Second Language programs (French Immersion, Core French, Extended French, etc.). Official Languages Support Programs - Enhancement of Official Languages Program - Seeking funding through the Promotion of Linguistic Duality Component for such initiatives and projects. Official Languages Support Programs - Enhancement of Official Languages Program - Promotion of Linguistic Duality Component - promoting linguistic duality initiatives and projects to promote the benefits of bilingualism and to increase mutual understanding and rapprochement between English-speaking and French-speaking Canadians. Official Languages in Education Programs - Advocating for increased funding for French Second Language through the Second-language stream across the various areas of intervention. Official Languages in Education Programs - Renewal of provincial and territorial bilateral agreements in support of access to quality second-language instruction across Canada. Action Plan for Official Languages - Seeking funding through various Action Plan envelopes that support access to quality second-language instruction, evaluation and retention Action Plan for Official Languages - Informing on French Second Language issues/concerns and advocating for policies and programs. Official Languages policy framework - Updates across linguistic policy files pertaining to rapprochement, linguistic duality or second-language instruction Official Languages Act - ensuring the Government of Canada’s commitment to opportunities to learn a second official language