Parker Varnai

Advocacy related to the contents of the Spring Economic Statement and particularly initiatives related to federal housing policy and the environment. These include: - discussions around reduction in development charges through federal grants to provinces and municipalities - reduction in the federal GST on new homes for sale - possible financing tools to encourage new housing development - technical amendments to the EIFEL and accelerated capital cost allowance rules for purpose-built rental - encouraging foreign investment and speeding up development approval timelines - some questions around implications of the Cowichan decision in British Columbia and the Musqueam Rights Recognition Agreement on private property rights - discussion around energy policy, decarbonization policy, and REIT legislation reform. Advocacy related to Budget 2025, including taxation issues, issues relevant to public capital markets, issues related to housing and housing incentive programs, issues related to GST taxation, and issues related to programs to restart the housing sector. Providing input on the implementation of the Public Surplus Lands for Homes program that was announced in the Budget 2024. Working with Natural Resources Canada and Finance Canada to create a robust Sustainable Development Strategy for Commercial Real Estate in Canada We are working with staff on Interest Deductibility Limits (the “Proposed Interest Rules”) as proposed in the 2021 federal budget and relating to our concern that the Proposed Interest Rules may unfairly impact Canadian real estate investors, relative to both investors in other Canadian industries and investors in foreign jurisdictions (most importantly the United States (“US”)) Discussions with the Ministry of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities on the development of the Renters' Bill of Rights announced in the 2024 Budget Advocating for policy proposals within Canada's Sustainable Development Strategy which would improve building energy efficiency. Advocating for policy inclusions within annual budgets that improve the national commercial real estate markets. These include infrastructure enhancements, tax fairness, and energy efficiency grants. Advocacy with the Department of Finance regarding Clean Technology Investment Tax Credits (applicability to real estate entities and program implementation) Advocacy with Natural Resources Canada's regarding their Energy Star Portfolio Manager Program and Green Building Strategy. Advocacy with Environment and Climate Change Canada relating to their Clean Electricity Regulations. Advocacy with CMHC, the Federal Housing Advocate, and the Ministry of Housing regarding affordable housing programs and policies Advocacy relating to the government's possible proposal to impose an earnings-based interest deductibility limitation on Canadian corporations, including commercial real estate corporations and housing providers. Advocacy relating to the government's Budget 2024 proposal to increase the Capital Gains Inclusion Rate from one-half to two-thirds for corporations and trusts, and from one-half to two-thirds on the portion of capital gains realized in the year that exceed $250,000 for individuals, and in each case for capital gains realized on or after June 25, 2024. Advocacy relating to the creation of seniors' housing real estate investment trusts vehicles that would encourage institutional investment in seniors' housing similar to existing real estate investment trust models. Advocacy relating to the 2024 Federal Budget proposal to temporarily provide accelerated CCA for new eligible purpose-built rental projects, increasing the CCA rate from 4% to 10%. Advocacy related to Budget 2024 proposal to introduce a new anti-avoidance rule that will preclude a corporation from qualifying as a “mutual fund corporation” where it is controlled by or for the benefit of certain specified groups (which may be comprised of any combination of persons that do not deal with one anot

Implementation of the Homelessness Reduction Innovation Fund Expand funding for community efforts to address homelessness through Reaching Home and make changes to the National Housing Strategy, Reaching Home, and federal housing policy to support ending homelessness and the implementation of the right to housing in Canada. Seeking to secure federal government investment in affordable and supportive housing for Canadians experiencing or at risk of homelessness and expand housing options for people at risk of or experiencing homelessness through Build Canada Homes. Policies and investments in support of ending homelessness in Budget 2026 Taxation relating to Canadian charities Seeking program and policy changes from Women and Gender Equity to address housing need and homelessness for women. Seeking program and policy changes from Veterans Affairs Canada and Housing Infrastructure and Communities Canada to support federal action on ending homelessness for veterans. Seeking funding support for National Conference on Ending Homelessness, funding to support work to prevent and reduce homelessness as well as funding for research on homelessness and housing need in Canada, through Reaching Home (HICC); Veterans Affairs Canada; Canada Mortgage Housing Corporation; and Women & Gender Equality, to support research on homelessness for women and advancing the right to housing. Encouraging the implementation of housing policies in alignment with the human right to housing and National Housing Strategy Act

Seeking one time capital federal funding to support future capital projects and infrastructure expansions. Advocating for the development of a federal capital funding program to address transitional housing needs for vulnerable populations, including families served by Ronald McDonald House.

Advising on the climate, environmental, and economic risks of new bitumen pipelines and related fossil fuel industry expansion, and seeking to mitigate harms. Seeking to stop proposal changes to Impact Assessment Act, Fisheries Act and Species at Risk Act that the federal government released a spring 2026 discussion paper concerning proposed changes to the IAA, Fisheries Act and SARA that would significantly weaken protection of environment and human health Seeking that the federal government deny changes to the Tripartite Agreement, and therefore not enable a process toward expanding the Toronto Island Airport to accommodate jets. Supporting the federal government's plans and financial support for decarbonizing steel production in Canada. Seeking Cabinet Emergency Order to protect the critical habitat of piping plover at Wasaga Beach Supporting the federal government in its negotiation of a strong international treaty on plastic pollution. Supporting federal action establishing a Federal Plastics Registry requiring producers to report annually on the quantity and types of plastic they place on the Canadian market, how it moves through the economy, and how it is managed at its end-of-life. Advising on the climate impacts of existing or proposed LNG projects, as well as the global business environment for LNG, and seeking to mitigate harms. Advising on the environmental impacts of projects enabled by Bill C-5 and seeking to mitigate harms. Environmental and industrial strategy approaches to reducing waste and material inputs Seeking a strengthening of the Output-based pricing system intended to make polluters pay Supporting the implementation, under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, of Clean Electricity Regulations to mitigate climate change and build a low carbon future. Supporting stronger regulations under the Fisheries Act on Oil Sands Mining Effluent Release. Supporting investment in systems for reuse and refill as an alternative to single-use packaging. Supporting a Climate-Aligned Finance Act, that would include enforcing science-based targets and holding financial institutions accountable to them. Federal Budget - providing resources for environmental initiatives, including climate change, public transit, renewable energy, climate finance accountability, investment in water and wastewater infrastructure, pollution abatement and enforcement, economic transition, sustainable jobs, aligning federal spending with climate objectives and restricting resources for fossil fuels. Rouge National Urban Park expansion involving the former Pickering Airport lands. Supporting the strengthening of current and future federal government emission reduction targets. Ensure a green investments Taxonomy does not include fossil fuels. Advancing climate transition plans across the economy, requiring federally regulated financial institutions and large companies to develop and implement plans that align their business with the goals of the Paris Agreement. Supporting federal action to protect communities and ecosystems from local impacts in the oil sands, including from seeping oil sands process water. Supporting the establishment, under the Canada Consumer Product Safety Act (CCPSA), of regulations requiring disclosure, and prohibitions, restrictions, or container requirements for certain human health hazards of concern (HHHOCs) in consumer chemical products. Supporting the establishment of the Canada Public Transit Fund and negotiated infrastructure funding agreements with provinces, territories, and cities, where the federal government would establish land-use standards near federally funded transit stations, establish zero-emission bus procurement requirements and expand operations funding to increase transit service levels. Supporting the establishment, under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, of regulations to address plastic pollution. Supporting the establishment, under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, of reg

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 government’s 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