Matthew Pollesel

HEALTH DATA INTEROPERBILITY: Provide CMA’s perspective as it relates to health data interoperability that would ensure providers have access to the right information at the right time when providing care, and improve patient outcomes and their health care experience. BUDGET: Provide CMA’s perspective on the Government of Canada’s budget, particularly as it relates to modernizing Canada’s health care system by enhancing efficiency, driving innovation, and promoting equitable access to care. HARMFUL ONLINE CONTENT: Advocate to address the escalation of online harassment, intimidation, and threats of violence targeting physicians, other health workers, and anyone seeking health care treatment, including measures to strengthen the Criminal Code of Canada and the Canadian Human Rights Act. TECHNOLOGY AND ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE: provide CMA’s perspective on the impact of technology and artificial intelligence on the health care sector and the means through which advancements can be foreseen and managed. HEALTH PROMOTION AND DISEASE PREVENTION: Increased investments in health and social-determinants-of-health related programs, including measures to address the opioid crisis, mental health and addictions, and the regulation of natural health products. ADMINISTRATIVE BURDEN: Advocate for measures to alleviate the administrative burden on physicians and support their professional wellbeing, including investment to facilitate the development of EHRs and EMRs in Canada, improved remuneration for the completion of federal health forms, the development of a Federal Disability Benefit, ensuring that physicians are not captured in the definition of "promoters" in the Disability Tax Credit Promoters Restrictions Regulations, providing clarity and guidance on federal forms, and advocacy on discontinuing the requirement that employees present sick notes to their employers. The CMA is advocating that the trade of medical goods and medications be protected to avoid disruptions to patient care. Specifically, that the government: Continue to ensure pharmaceutical products and medical devices are not included in any countermeasures on tariffs. Improve safeguards for Canadian health data. Improve labour mobility so physicians can work across the country. Make it easier for qualified physicians to immigrate and work in Canada, including by fast-tracking immigration steps for US physicians. PAN CANADIAN LICENSURE: Advocate for the ability for physicians with full licences to practise independently without restrictions or for medical resident trainees registered in any Canadian jurisdiction to practise or train in any other Canadian jurisdiction without having to acquire more than one licence or pay additional licensing fees. This includes exploring enabling legislation in the provinces and territories. INTEGRATED HEALTH HUMAN RESOURCES Advocate for an Integrated Health Human Resources Strategy, including creating retention incentives and addressing administrative burden for health care professionals, increasing the number of doctors and nurses and ensuring that every Canadian has access to a family doctor or primary health team, increasing access to virtual care, creating an action plan to get internationally trained health care professionals to work, improving workforce data collection across health systems and investing in a supply needs-based planning tool, and facilitating team-based health care. MEDICAL MIS/DISINFORMATION: Provide CMA’s perspective on the impacts of medical misinformation and disinformation, including on public trust in science, medicine, and public health experts. INDIGENOUS HEALTH: Improvement to the health and health care services provided to Indigenous peoples in Canada including adding inclusive lettering on health cards across Canada. Advocating for the creation of a national Chief Health Accountability Officer. PUBLIC-PRIVATE HEALTHCARE: The CMA is conducting a series of in-person sessions across the country to engage key s

Working with federal partners to streamline Health Canada policies and processes related to clinical trials and drug authorization specific to children, including the passage of C-265, an Act to Amend the Food and Drugs Act. Supporting the introduction and passing of legislation that would increase protections for children and youth online, including the passage of C-34, the Safe Social Media Act. Encouraging the development and strengthening of legislation and regulations that limit children's access to nicotine. Engaging federal partners on the national and international role that SickKids plays in child health care, research and education.

Discuss details and provide information to elected officials, minister, staff and officials regarding the request for AI funding to support Brain Research Invite Ministers and MPs to attend research announcements on behalf of the government. Seeking funds from Health Canada through the Canadian Brain Research Fund to continue to support Brain Research across Canada.

Discuss increasing incidents of violence against health care workers, prevention, and enforcement of existing laws. Support nursing students through targeted financial support such as paid preceptorships and federal grants. Support internationally educated nurses through establishing a collaborative, multi-stakeholder body hosted by Health Canada, to lead national strategy, planning and coordination for internationally educated nurses' registration, integration and support. Targeted funding of $1 billion as an initial investment to immediately begin to address the current health care workforce crisis experienced by provinces/territories across Canada, with funding focused on short and long-term goals. To achieve patient-centred quality care based on the WHO’s comprehensive health labour markets framework that would be acceptable to, and delivered by, the provinces/territories. Provide sustainable funding so nurses and other healthcare workers have access to mental health supports. In keeping with the recommendations of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, establish specific targets and timelines for the admission and graduation of First Nations, Métis and Inuit health professionals in all postsecondary institutions and provide funding dedicated to indigenous nurse students. Implementing a Universal single-payer pharmacare program. Fund innovative retention and recruitment programs targeted at early-career, mid-career and late-career nurses. Establish a dedicated coordinating body to address critical health workforce data gaps based on global best practices on health workforce management. Address health workforce shortages through the implementation of a comprehensive, pan-Canadian health human resources strategy, in coordination with the provinces and territories, backed by sufficient funding and with real accountability for achieving desired health outcomes; and address critical data gaps through significantly enhancing existing health workforce data infrastructure to standardize data collection and analysis across workers, sectors and jurisdictions, with links to relevant patient information, healthcare utilization and outcome data, for more fit-for-purpose planning and tools available at the provincial, territorial, regional and training program level. In designing this, Canada should draw on global best practices in health workforce planning including in Australia and New Zealand.

Promoting the important contributions of diagnostic medical sonographers to preventive medicine in Canada. Improving conditions for credential recognition and consistency for diagnostic medical sonographers in Canada.

Communicating with the Government of Canada about ways to strengthen Canadians’ pensions and financial well-being. Communicating with the Government of Canada about various health solutions and services (offered by TELUS Health entities) including virtual care, remote health monitoring, and symptom triage systems. Communicating with the Government of Canada about the need for increased cooperation between all levels of government on developing next generation health care services and optimizing healthcare provider rules to maximize health outcomes for Canadians. Communicating with the Government of Canada about opportunities to support Canadian sales in foreign markets.

Communicating with the Government of Canada about various health solutions and services (offered by TELUS Health entities) including virtual care, remote health monitoring, and symptom triage systems. Communicating with the Government of Canada about ways to strengthen Canadians’ pensions and financial well-being. Communicating with the Government of Canada about opportunities to support Canadian sales in foreign markets. Communicating with the Government of Canada about the need for increased cooperation between all levels of government on developing next generation health care services and optimizing healthcare provider rules to maximize health outcomes for Canadians.

International trade regarding tobacco control, alcohol, products containing carcinogens and products associated with cancer. Internal trade regarding tobacco control, alcohol, products containing carcinogens and products associated with cancer. Funding for programs to be operated by the Canadian Cancer Society to advance cancer control. Canadian Partnership Against Cancer, as it relates to continued federal funding for the cancer control strategy Canada Health Transfer and health system bilateral funding agreements intended for provinces/territories to support the delivery of healthcare services Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, including protocols, guidelines and implementation Tobacco and Vaping Products Act, as it relates to regulations, implementation and enforcement Non-Smokers' Health Act including implementation and enforcement Food and Drugs Act and regulations, as it relates to nciotine replacement products Federal Tobacco Control Strategy, including all matters related to tobacco control Taxation, revenue measures, controlled products regulations, including implementation, for alcohol, tobacco control, products containing carcinogens and products associated with cancer. Communication regarding alcohol consumption guidance. Food and Drugs Act and regulations, as it relates to alcohol warning labels Food and Drugs Act and regulations, as it relates to restricting the advertising to children of foods high in sodium, sugars and saturated fat. Healthy Living - Supporting initiatives, legislation, regulation, policies, and programs that prevent cancer or improve the social determinants of health Adoption of HPV testing and increasing HPV vaccination rates Sustainable funding of the National Advisory Committee on Preventive Health Services to ensure timely, up?to?date cancer screening guidelines Equitable and timely access to cancer screening. Measures and funding related to the charitable sector generally Equitable access to care along the full cancer continuum for First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities Employment Insurance special benefit programs, including the sickness benefit and compassionate care benefit Canada Labour Code and Employment Insurance Act, as it relates to job-protected leave, employment insurance special benefits, return to work policies, and human rights protections for people affected by cancer Access to information and support to make decisions regarding end-of-life care, including Medical Assistance In Dying Supports for mental health during people's cancer journeys Implementation and funding of the National Grief Action Plan as part of the government's work on palliative care and mental health Canada Health Act as it relates to access to care, including long-term, home, and palliative care National Caregiving Strategy Financial supports for caregivers, including the Canada Caregiver Credit Implementation of the Framework on Palliative Care in Canada and integration of a palliative approach to care in our health system, including national standards and data, care provider training, research, and implementation of the National Grief Action Plan and distinctions?based frameworks for First Nations, Inuit and Métis people Setting and measuring pan-Canadian wait time benchmarks and targets and measures to address them, including addressing healthcare shortages, increased and sustainable funding for care, infrastructure and equipment, targeted strategic funding to PTs for workforce shortages, particularly in rural and remote communities. Sustained core funding for federal research agencies, improved coverage of indirect research costs, Canadian research sovereignty, strengthening capacity and the economic benefits of domestic research, research commercialization. Increasing access to care including models of care, removing barriers to care, particularly for underserved communities, using innovative approaches to improve access to care including AI to improve timely diagnosis and treatment. Issu

research into blockchain technology in traceability programs, Business risk management programs, Livestock Tax Deferral, Livestock Price Insurance, Agristability, Animal Health programs. Regulations and legislation related to beef cattle and meat production, exports and imports. Market access for beef and cattle, achieving new and defending existing trade agreements. Farm policy and programs with respect to business risk management, innovation, environment, etc. "Taxation policies and programs related to farm income, capital gains, generational transfer of assets, family income sharing, investment income, and tax deferrals for extraordinary revenue due to inventory liquidation during a declared disaster."

Science-based food regulations: Working with the Government of Canada on a variety of regulations to promote safety, efficiency, and competitiveness. Trade diversification: Working with the government to seek out and sign new free trade agreements with markets that have a potential for increased Canadian meat exports. Canada-U.S. relations: Ensuring that the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) continues in its entirety. Labour: Advocating for a permanent food processing immigration stream, stemming from the success of the Agri-Food Pilot. International Barriers to Trade: Seeking to eliminate or prevent out-dated, overly burdensome, discriminatory or otherwise inappropriate technical requirements in other countries that can create unnecessary obstacles to trade, reduce competition and prevent Canadian exporters from participating in global supply under the WTO SPS and TBT Agreements. The Canadian Meat Council is advocating for strengthened regulatory cooperation initiatives in regional, plurilateral and multilateral trade agreements to further facilitate trade. Accelerated Capital Cost Allowance: Encouraging the adoption of an increased and permanent accelerated capital cost allowance to match the tax benefits available to the American meat processing sector. Canadian Food Inspection Agency and User Fee Act: Advocating for a review of the CFIA fee structure and establishment of service standards as required by the User Fee Act. Interprovincial trade of meat: Advocating for all meat that is processed in Canada and that crosses provincial borders to be inspected by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency under the Safe Food for Canadians Act and Regulations. Canada-U.S. Regulatory Cooperation: Seeking greater regulatory alignment between American and Canadian food inspection systems to ensure that Canada remains regulatory competitive. Canada-EU: Promoting commercially viable access to Europe for Canadian beef and pork under the provisions of the Canada Europe Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA). Canada-China: Advocating for tariff-free access to the Chinese market for Canadian beef and pork exports. Domestic processing: Advocating for a targeted federal support program to assist small and medium-sized beef processors who are experiencing severe financial stress due to limited cattle supply and rising input costs. The program would aim to stabilize operations, preserve regional processing capacity, and sustain employment through short-term financial relief and resilience measures developed in collaboration with the Government of Canada Terrestrial animal diseases: Ensuring the Government of Canada is adequately prepared to respond to foreign animal diseases, including funding support for processors and zoning agreements with key trading partners.

Providing expert knowledge on paediatric health human resources, including supports for a healthier workforce that can meet the changing needs of children and youth. Providing expert knowledge on the impacts of screen use and digital media on child and youth health and development. Providing expert knowledge on issues related to child and youth mental health and well-being, and supporting the expansion of evidence-based resources and supports. Providing expert knowledge into regulatory responses to address youth vaping in Canada, including through the Tobacco and Vaping Products Act. Improving access to paediatric drugs and therapeutics and ensuring the unique needs of children and youth are represented in relevant legislation, regulation and policies (including through the Pediatric Drug Action Plan).