Mary-Catherine Spiers

Advocate for place-based solutions to Canada’s biggest challenges, which support the region-specific mandates of public colleges and ensure local training needs are considered in policy development. Increase support to developing countries and other partner countries to build technical and vocational training capacity, strengthen skills development and education systems, and enhance Canada’s global education brand. Advocate for support for college-led research as a core component of federal research and innovation funding and policy. Discuss how colleges can support immigration programs, such as foreign credential recognition or international students, to meet Canada’s labour market needs, and share with officials impacts of policy changes on the college sector. Share with officials how colleges can support Canada’s training and workforce development needs to meet Canada’s biggest challenges. Share with officials the role of colleges and institutes in delivering high quality education for Canadians, and ensuring access to education for Canadians. Advance reconciliation through partnerships with Canada’s public colleges, institutes, CEGEPs, polytechnics, and Indigenous Institutes of Education. Promote the role and expertise of colleges in deepening Canada’s relationships with other countries. Promote the value of educational fair dealing in supporting colleges and institutes in their mandate to provide advanced skills and to enable them to better respond to the skills shortage. Increase investments and support to address colleges’ infrastructure needs to increase Canada’s training space and access in key high-demand fields that align with federal priority areas. Enable post-secondary institutions to obtain grants and loans to develop student housing projects, with additional supports for housing that supports students from vulnerable populations. Ensure Canada’s colleges and institutes have the necessary federal support to provide high-quality training for future healthcare professionals. Ensure the specific needs of institutions, including French institutions and those in minority linguistic communities, are taken into account when federal policies and programs are designed and delivered.

We're working with Health Canada, the Canadian Chamber of Commerce and the Government of Ontario to distribute rapid tests through local chambers of commerce and boards of trade. The Canadian Chamber of Commerce is working with Health Canada to get funding for the chambers running this program. USMCA and CETA, with respect to promoting international trade. Telecom Order CRTC 2019-288, with respect to new wholesale rates. Recently signed contract in June 2021 with the Ministry of Small Business, Export Promotion and International Trade for $8.8 million for a buy local campaign. Shop Local is a program run by the Government of Canada through provincial and territorial chambers of commerce and boards of trade to support businesses to encourage Canadians to shop local. https://occ.ca/shop-local/ Pre-Budget Submission Process with respect to the Ontario Chamber of Commerce's pre-budget submission. Policy and advocacy around women’s economic empowerment during the COVID-19 pandemic in the OCC’s September report “The She-Covery Project” https://occ.ca/wp-content/uploads/OCC-shecovery-final.pdf): Use procurement to incentivize diversity and inclusion; include women in all decision-making bodies around economic recovery; improve long-term affordability and accessibility of child care; address the shortage of early childhood educators. Explore creative solutions ranging from in-program changes to workplace-based child care; support women’s reskilling; foster an inclusive innovation ecosystem for entrepreneurs; consider policy options to encourage more employers to offer flexible work arrangements; Opportunities Fund with Employment and Social Development Canada: - The total Opportunities Fund is $1,194,410 (beginning in 2019 and flowing into 2021). The fund helps connect people with disabilities with employment. Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP), with respect to the expansion of allocations. New Signed agreement with the Ministry of Small Business, Export Promotion and International Trade for $12 Million for the Canada United Small Business Relief Fund. We received the initial 50% of the fund and are actively distributing grants. The Canada United Small Business Relief Fund is managed by the Ontario Chamber of Commerce on behalf of the national Chamber network in support of other chambers and partners to help small Canadian businesses with their recovery efforts as a result of COVID-19. More info on the fund here: https://occ.ca/canada-united-small-business-relief-fund/ New agreements with Employment and Social Development Canada: Student Work Placement Program (SWPP): - July 23, 2020 – signed an amending agreement with ESDC to deliver the Student Work Placement Program: $5,795,779 (Project #OCCCOVID19-01) - July 14, 2020 – original agreement with ESCD: $16,347,883 (Project #016698664) - This program is focused on supporting multi-stakeholder partnerships to work collaboratively to create more quality work-integrated learning opportunities for young Canadians & better align work-ready skills development to ensure that students and better position to secure more meaningful employment opportunities across all disciplines. Ministry of Transportation, with respect to supporting Canada’s airports requests for additional short-term relief and a longer-term stimulus package as a component of Canada’s overall economic recovery, and to rebuild public confidence in travel during the COVID-19 pandemic. https://occ.ca/wp-content/uploads/Support-for-Canadas-Airports-During-the-COVID-19-Pandemic.pdf Ministry of Finance, with respect to access to capital during the COVID-19 pandemic (specifically, supporting asset-based finance lenders offering temporary deferrals on loan and lease repayments, and providing additional liquidity to asset-based finance lenders). https://occ.ca/wp-content/uploads/Access-to-capital-during-the-COVID-19-pandemic.pdf Infrastructure funding and development, specifically with respect to accelerating broadband connectivi

Financing infrastructure projects, as it relates to investments by insurers. Discussions relating to the development of Financial Consumer Protection Framework and voluntary commitments to promote protection for consumers. Communicating with the government on the 2026 Spring Economic Update, including their plan to introduce Canada’s first sovereign wealth fund—the Canada Strong Fund. Discussions with respect to federal government policies to improve the economic potential, contribution and capacity of Canada's Indigenous communities. Capital markets statutory, regulatory and self-regulatory organization regime applicable to banks as corporate issuers and their provincially regulated subsidiaries that are capital markets participants. Discussions regarding general economic conditions and fiscal policy that can stimulate economic growth, competitiveness and social progress. Providing inputs on climate standards and disclosures. Providing input on the prudential regulation of the banking sector. Providing input on federal budget measures that may impact the banking sector. Discussions on policies, legislation, or regulations related to stablecoins and other digital assets. Financial Institutions, with respect to the Canadian regulatory framework. Financial institutions with respect Canada/US relationship and trade policy. Providing inputs on Basel III Implementation with respect to capital floor phase-in and risk weights Advocate for globally competitive policies that position artificial intelligence as a positive economic driver, and support the responsible development, deployment, and use of AI in business. Prescription drugs - Seeking to raise awareness about prescription drug & workplace benefit coverage. Federal government programs and policies respecting consumers as they pertain to relationships with financial institutions. The Proceeds of Crime (Money Laundering) and Terrorist Financing Act, initiatives for enhancement of reporting mandatory information, and risk assessment methodology. Work with the government to protect Canadians against fraud and scams. Providing input on the development of the Consumer-Driven Banking Framework Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions guidelines with respect to capital adequacy requirements, prudential limits and restrictions, accounting and disclosure, and sound business and financial practices Income Tax Act as it applies to corporate taxation, personal taxation, registered saving products, investment and competitiveness. Support the goals outlined in the National Cyber Security Strategy and collaborate with government, including the Canadian Centre for Cyber Security, to strengthen Canada’s cyber resiliency. The financial sector regulatory framework as it relates to electronic payments, credit, debit and interchange rates. Regulatory review of the proposed acquisition of HSBC Canada. Policies and programs that affect the Canadian housing market and lending practices. Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA), the Privacy Act, and any legislation and associated regulations with regard to privacy and security, identity theft risks, use and protection of information. Payment Clearing and Settlement Act as it applies to the five year financial system review. Over-the-counter (OTC) Derivatives: seeking to void duplicative OTC derivatives regulation and negative effects on the competitiveness of Canadian businesses and further negotiations regarding derivatives regulation with foreign regulators in order to avoid duplication of requirements. Initiatives related to gender diversity, inclusion and accessibility as they apply to financial institutions. Financial Consumer Agency of Canada Act as it applies to consumer protection. Employment Equity Act as it applies to banks as employers. Discussions to understand and determine the nature of the banking industry’s role in facilitating COVID-19 government benefit programs and about the possible challen

Provisions under the Consumer Product Safety Act and federal and provincial technical safety and code requirements for authorised and licensed repair. We seek to consult on proposed revisions to the Valuation for Duty regulations. The proposed changes result in higher declared values which will raise costs for consumers and grant broad authority to CBSA previously reserved for the Minister. Energy Efficiency regulations and harmonization with the United States Department of Energy (DOE) / U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) technical standards and test procedures. Bill S-4 An Act to amend the Energy Efficiency Act Regulations and policy development with respect to C-5 An Act to enact the Free Trade and Labour Mobility in Canada Act and the Building Canada Act specific to internal trade. Canada - U.S. trade policy - tariffs Interprovincial Trade - Canada Free Trade Agreement (CFTA) and provincial regulatory burden Canada - United States - Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) updates and working group proposals