Michèle Kingsley

Discussion on how immigration policy and programs relating to international students can be improved to meet Canada’s economic and foreign policy goals and sharing the impacts of policy and program changes on the education sector in Canada. Advocating for the role of international education in advancing Canada’s international trade, development and diplomatic goals.

Advocating for easier exchange of students between foreign countries and Canada

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.

Targeted federal transfer payments for postsecondary education. Review of the SR&ED Tax Credit Program to encourage greater participation of small and medium-sized businesses and providing mechanisms for colleges and institutes to assist them in the process. Review of the Canada Student Loan Program with respect to increased grants, modernization and simplification measures and increased flexibility for students in debt repayment. Research integrity related issues with respect to the review of the federal granting agencies' policiy framework for research integrity and the Tri-Council Memorandum of Understanding on roles and Responsibilities in the Management of Federal Grants and Awards. Modification of the Employment Insurance Program to enable workers currently in the workforce to access funding for skills upgrading. Introduction of new tax measures to encourage employer/employee based training, address literacy training and essential skills as well as an increase in internships and apprenticeship opportunities. Increase domesting and international student mobility to the mid-point of other OECD countries. Increased federal investments with regard to college and institute costs of supporting applied research through the Indicrect Costs Program. Harmonization and simplification of immigration policies with respect to facilitating study and work permit processes. Federal Investment for a national college and institute mobility program for faculty and student exchanges between Francophone Institutions and Anglophone Institutions. Extension of the 100% GST exemption that has been afforded to municipalities to postsecondary institutions as recommended by the Standing Committee on Finance Expansion of the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council College and Community Innovation Program Examination of all federal training programs with the goal of eliminating fragmentation, short term funding and inequities for learners. Enhancement of the federal infrastructure policy with respect to college and institute infrastructure and acquisition of leading edge technology. Enhanced opportunities for Aboriginal learners, immigrants and disadvantaged groups to access postsecondary education and training and labour market. Discussions underway with the Global Affairs Canada regarding a proposal for a new partnership between colleges and institutes and the Pacific Alliance with respect to education and training. Discussions underway with the federal government for recognition of college and institute applied degrees as equal to university degrees as stipulated in a statement by the Council of Ministers. Discussions underway with Statistics Canada for current college and institute data. Discussions underway for a new international partnership program - Education for Employment which will support educational reform of technical education in Mozambique, Senegal and Tanzania. Direct 5% of federal investment in research to applied research, product development and commercialization carried out by colleges and institutes and their private sector partners Dedicated funding of college and institute facilities, technology and equipment Creation of a college and Institute Internship Program to expose more students to private sector research challenges. Changes to amend the Copyright Act with respect to support colleges and institutes in their mandate to provide advanced skills and to enable them to better respond to the skills shortage.

Discussions about financial sustainability measures for universities. Discussions about shared priorities related to universities including workforce, talent, and employment. Discussions on the Canada-India Talent and Innovation Strategy. Government of Canada - Universities Working Group roundtable discussion on research security. Discussions about artificial intelligence (AI) funding as it relates to universities. Student housing and community enabling campus infrastructure programs. Working group meeting to discuss academic contributions to the Defence Industrial Strategy. Immigration policies and programs related to international students and affecting universities. Discussions of education and international relations opportunities. Engaging in discussions on research priorities for Canadian universities. Discussions about research policy and programs, Canada-US relations, and their impacts on the post-secondary sector Discussions about international students, the workforce, and the benefits of a university degree. Discussions about the Global Excellence Initiative (GEI) and future funding commitments. Meeting to discuss science policy and programs, impact of Canada-US relations Recent policy changes and development of other policy tools including the Recognized Institutions Framework.

Working with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada to improve visa processing times, the Study Direct Stream program, and lower refusal rates for international students accepted to Canadian universities Lobbying to maintain fair dealing for education. Lobbying for an explicit exception for charities, not-for-profits and/or educational institutions to Canada’s Anti-Spam Law (CASL). Increased supports for Indigenous students seeking to access post-secondary education. Harmonization of immigration policies with regard to the improvement of study and work permit processing to identify areas where policies and procedures could be strengthened. Engaging with reviews of existing legislation covering charities to clarify how they apply to educational institutions. Engage with Statistics Canada regarding postsecondary education and research data collection and analysis with particular attention to the University and College Academic Staff System survey and labour market information. Engage with Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada regarding the role of universities in supporting innovation through the full suite of innovation initiatives (eg. Superclusters, economic sector tables, Innovation Canada, knowledge mobilization, digital research infrastructure etc.) Engage with Global Affairs Canada, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada and ESDC on the implementation of the government’s International Education Strategy – including the targeting and recruitment of international students and the design of the outbound student mobility program for Canadian students to study abroad. Engage with Department of Status of Women and Statistics Canada regarding data collection and policies/frameworks regarding student safety on campus. Discussions with Employment and Social Development Canada concerning international student mobility and internship programs. Discussions concerning federal budget priorities. Priority topics include: federal government's support for university research through the federal granting agencies and other government programs; support for graduate students and post-doctoral fellows; changes to the Canada Research Chairs program; university infrastructure; international research collaboration; knowledge mobilization; equity diversity and inclusion; cybersecurity; and expanding university education opportunities for Indigenous Canadians. Discuss effective strategies and programs to support student transition to the work place and access to upskilling and reskilling programs for mid-career Canadians with Employment and Social Development Canada, including the Student Work-Integrated Learning Program (SWILP) and the Canada Training Benefit.

Santé: l'ACUFC par l'entremise du Consortium national de formation en santé (CNFS) qui est sous son égide depuis avril 2015, est un chef de fil dans le domaine de la formation en santé en français. Grâce à l'appui financier du gouvernement fédéral, l'ACUFC/CNFS contribue à accroître l'accès à des services de santé en français de qualité et sécuritaires au sein des communautés francophones en situation minoritaire. Recherche et développement: les collèges et universités de la francophonie canadienne sont des centres d'innovation et de recherche de premier ordre et ont grand besoin de l'appui financier du fédéral pour poursuivre et renforcer leurs initiatives à cet égard. Langues officielles: les initiatives de l'ACUFC sont directement liées aux langues officielles, à leur vitalité et leur pérennité au Canada; les collèges et universités membres de l'ACUFC sont des fervents défenseurs et promoteurs de l'utilisation des langues officielles du Canada et leurs étudiants et diplômés en sont les ambassadeurs. Le rôle du fédéral pour appuyer les efforts de l'ACUFC et autres organismes de la francophonie canadienne est essentiel et toute loi ou politique nous concernent et nous interpellent, ainsi que toute politique ou programme liées aux langues officielles également. Justice: l'appui du fédéral est indispensable pour assurer et augmenter l'accès aux services de justice dans les deux langues officielles au pays; les collèges et universités de la francophonie canadienne sont des alliers du gouvernement pour assurer la formation de professionnels de la justice bilingues. Immigration: les collèges et universités de la francophonie canadienne jouent un rôle de premier ordre pour favoriser et appuyer l'intégration socioprofessionnelle des immigrants au sein des communautés francophones minoritaires au pays en offrant des formations linguistiques, des formations professionnelles et autres. L'éducation et l'immigration sont étroitement liées et l'appui du fédéral est important dans ces domaines pour encourager et faciliter la venue des immigrants au Canada. Emploi et formation: les collèges et universités de la francophonie canadienne forment une main d'oeuvre qualifiée et bilingue pour le marché de l'emploi et favorise le renforcement et l'acquisition des connaissances et compétences requises du marché de l'emploi. Éducation: avoir l'appui du gouvernement fédéral pour renforcer le continuum de l'éducation en français jusqu'au postsecondaire au pays en renforçant la capacité des établissements postsecondaires de la francophonie canadienne qui pourront contribuer à augmenter l'accès à un plus grand choix de programmes d'études de qualité en français. Développement économique: positionner les collèges et universités de la francophonie canadienne comme des moteurs de développement économique, social et culturel des communautés francophones minoritaires qu'ils desservent; avoir l'appui du fédéral pour qu'ils puissent continuer de contribuer au développement économique de ces communautés. Commerce international: appui financier du gouvernement fédéral pour le positionnement à l'international des collèges et universités de la francophonie canadienne afin d'encourager la mobilité étudiante internationale. Budget: s'assurer que le gouvernement fédéral appuie financièrement les objets mentionnés ci-haut tels que: le continuum de l'éducation en français au pays, la mobilité étudiante internationale, l'accès à des services de justice et de santé en français, les langues officielles, le développement économique et la vitalité des communautés francophones minoritaires, la recherche et les sciences aux sein des collèges et universités de la francophonie canadienne, la formation de la main d'oeuvre sur le marché de l'emploi, etc.

Embodied carbon in roofing and buidling envelope materials Development of Life Cycle Assessment inventory for embodied carbon in roofing and building envelope materials. Our advocacy efforts center on polices that would require roofing contracts for federal infrastructure investments contain qualified CRCA contractors.

Private Career Colleges are not eligible to have students apply for Post Graduate Worker Permits. The NACC would like to see this changed as it believes their students are being disadvantaged and discriminated against. To do this there must be a directive from the ministerial level that will allow for post graduate students to make application for the worker permits.

Changes to Student aid and Grants to ensure equitable access to regulated career colleges in budget 2025 and its impact on our members. Private Career Colleges are not eligible to have students apply for Post Graduate Worker Permits. The NACC would like to see this changed as it believes their students are being disadvantaged and discriminated against. To do this there must be a directive from the ministerial level that will allow for post graduate students to make application for the worker permits.

Advocacy regarding the Government of Canada’s innovation and economic development agenda, including policies, programs and regulations developed by Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada and other relevant departments and agencies that directly or indirectly impact the post-secondary education sector. Advocacy regarding the Government of Canada’s health research and life sciences agenda, including policies, programs and regulations developed by Health Canada and other relevant departments and agencies that directly or indirectly impact the post-secondary education sector. Advocacy regarding immigration policies, programs and regulations related to international students, faculty, and highly qualified research personnel developed by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada and other relevant departments and agencies that directly or indirectly impact the post-secondary education sector. Advocacy regarding housing strategy issues, policies and programs that directly or indirectly impact the post-secondary education sector. Advocacy regarding Government of Canada training, employment and skills policies or programs, developed by Employment and Social Development Canada and other relevant departments and agencies, that directly or indirectly impact the post-secondary education sector with respect to their research and education activities. Advocacy regarding Canada’s research and development agenda, including research funding administered through the granting agencies and other federal departments and agencies, program design, and regulatory concerns related to research, including research security. Advocacy to ensure that proposals to develop or amend federal legislation, regulations, policies or programs that directly or indirectly impact the post-secondary system reflect the needs of universities and support research and education activities, including communication with public office holders in the House of Commons of Canada, the Senate of Canada and relevant departments and agencies. Activities related to the operation of U15 digital initiatives including Cognit.ca and SecureScholar.

Discussing the development of a trusted institution framework for the post-secondary education sector and international student policies.

Apartment Construction Loan Program (ACLP) funding support tied to the construction of new student housing Discussing the development of a recognized institution framework for the post-secondary education sector and international student policies.

Raising awareness around MPOWER Financing's services to international students that attend Canadian post-secondary institutions

Exploring a potential partnership for the SSHRC Policy and Innovation Grant. Engage the Department of National Defence on upskilling and retraining of personnel. To engage with government toward adoption of Recognized Institutions Framework. Align new post-graduate work permit restrictions to provincial labour market needs, and ensure that colleges have sufficient lead time to put new credit programs in place to provide the training required. Work with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada to discuss international student visa processing times and the need to expand the Student Direct Stream. Engage with government officials regarding skills training opportunities under the Skills for Success, Sectoral Workplace Solutions, and Just Transition programs. Engage Innovation, Science, and Industry Canada and PrairiesCAN to expand the AI Pathways Partnership project to develop capacity at NorQuest for learning surrounding AI and upskill learners. Engage in discussions regarding health human resources to identify opportunities to expand training and employment for Indigenous and newcomer health care providers. Engage Indigenous Services Canada in discussions regarding funding opportunities for Indigenous students in Alberta seeking academic upgrade. Engage Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada to expand the Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada (LINC) program. Encourage flexibility in learning modalities to qualify for post-graduation work permits. Access federal funding for newcomer settlement services.