Pascal Girard

We engage with various elected and staff officials in the federal government on issues relevant to urban life, including the governance and financing of municipal governments. and specific federal funding and policies that affect urban life, including housing, mental health, economic development, small businesses, land use, infrastructure, urban planning and design, heritage, support for tourism and culture, immigration, skills development and employment, climate, and equity, the health of neighborhoods and downtowns as places. This has been particularly true during COVID.

Renew CUTRIC's role as the Preferred Non Profit Provider of Planning Services under the Canada Public Transit Fund to provide feasibility studies and empirical analysis for transit agencies across Canada to advance their fleet decarbonizations. Launch Canadian Cybersecurity Innovation Initiative for Rail and Transit (CCIIRT) with funding of $50 million over eight years. The increasing digitalization of our transit systems offers numerous benefits to passengers and freight alike but it also presents growing cybersecurity risks which pose threats to transportation and national security. The CCIIRT addresses gaps in Canada's rail and transit cybersecurity by establishing a federal regulatory framework with mandatory compliance guidelines for transit operators and vendors. Establishing the need for the heavy duty transit manufacturing sector to have a seat at the table in Canada-US trade negotiations so that any renegotiation of CUSMA (Canada-US-Mexico Agreement) recognizes the jobs-at-risk within the Canadian manufacturing landscape. Positioning Canada’s North American-leading transit manufacturing sector (bus, coach, shuttle, rail and public mobility) at the heart of industrial policy mechanisms as part of the Canadian job growth strategy to benefit from support to manufacturing that other sectors and verticals will benefit from. Advocating to maintain and grow the Canada Public Transit Fund (CPTF) to at least $5 billion per year as part of Prime Minister Carney’s initiative to Build a Stronger Canada and based on key performance indicators associated with the Zero Emissions Transit Fund (ZETF). The Government of Canada must launch the development of a robust Canadian Transportation Innovation & Industrial Development Strategy. The Strategy would require a “hub” marriage between Natural Resources Canada (NRCan), Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada (HICC), Innovation, Science and Industry and Environment Canada, and Transport Canada on the transportation innovation file. The Strategy should be launched with a federal Task Force with the support of Members of Parliament, mobility manufacturers, integrators, fleets/transit systems, and alternative fuel providers to generate programming aimed at future low-carbon smart mobility infrastructure integration, innovation and technological advancement in transportation. Recognize that the transition to zero-emissions transportation, including battery electric and hydrogen fuel cell electric transit, coach and rail systems, will require an energy “systems overhaul of entire fleets and infrastructural systems, meaning that incentives and funding programs designed and launched by Natural Resources Canada (NRCan), Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada (HICC), Environment, Climate Change Canada and/or Transport Canada will need to support coordinated energy systems integration efforts (i.e. both vehicle and fuelling ends of the equation) with consortia of partners to be effective, immediate and long-term from an economic sustainability standpoint. 1) Recognize that fleet adoption – specifically heavy duty vehicle fleet adoption in the public sector, including bus, coach and rail systems – offers more immediate and substantial emissions reductions opportunities for taxpayers compared to individual passenger car incentives over the next four year period. To present the Foreign Affairs, Commerce & Trade (FACT) Task Force, a multi-stakeholder working group established by the Canadian Urban Transit Research & Innovation Consortium (CUTRIC). Its purpose is to support Canada's transit manufacturing sector in navigating international trade challenges, particularly in light of recently imposed U.S. tariffs and anticipated Canadian countermeasures. The Task Force serves as a forum for manufacturers, suppliers, transit agencies, labour representatives, and academic experts to share insights, assess risks, and collaboratively develop policy recommendations. Its objective is to mitigate

Comprehensive public policy reform to protect the environment and well-being, now and for the future. Framework for Implementing the Right to a Healthy Environment in the Administration of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act Monitoring Canada's participation in international meetings on climate change. Implementation of 2030 Nature Strategy and Global Biodiversity Framework Strengthening aspects of the proposed regulations Amending the Pest Control Products Regulations (Strengthening the Regulation of Pest Control Products in Canada) relating to species at risk, cumulative risks, and transparency. Emissions cap regulation Biodiversity Accountability Act Sustainable Jobs Act implementation Development of Regulations implementing the modernized Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999. Well-being economies Urging cancellation of Ontario's Highway 413 The role of natural infrastructure and communities in the National Adaptation Strategy Targeted review of the Pest Control Products Act Single-Use Plastics Prohibition Regulations Regulations under the Species At Risk Act advocating the listing of species, identification of critical habitat, policies related to the spirit and intent of the Act. Regulations Respecting Reduction in the Release of Methane and Certain Volatile Organic Compounds (Upstream Oil and Gas Sector) Regulation of pesticides Proposal to establish mandatory zero-emission vehicle sales quotas (ZEV mandate) Proposal to cap emissions from the oil and gas sector Pesticide Regulations and Pest Management Regulatory Agencies Approval Process Nature-based solutions Monitoring the status of the proposed Aquaculture Act Monitoring design and implementation of the Greenhouse Gas Offset Credit System Regulations Monitoring Canadian position in negotiations of the Global Agreement on Plastics Maintaining stringency of the Passenger Automobile and Light Truck Greenhouse Gas Emission Regulations Legal protection of environmental rights iZEV Program and achievement of ZEV sales targets Introduction and passage of a Nature Accountability Bill Integration of robust biodiversity objectives in design of the 2 Billion Trees program Implementing the Canada Greenhous Gas Pricing Act Implementation of the Species at Risk Act Implementation of the Northern Shelf Bioregion Marine Protected Area Network Implementation of the Emissions Reduction Plan Implementation of Pacific Salmon Strategy Initiative High level input on policy and energy issues Funding mechanisms for natural infrastructure Federal funding for public transit Expanding coverage under the Output-Based Pricing System Regulations Establishment of a National Office of Environmental Justice Establishment of an ambitious 2035 emissions reduction target, pursuant to the Net-Zero Emissions Accountability Act Ending public financing for fossil fuels Development of the proposed Clean Electricity Regulations, including the role of natural gas Control of plastic waste exports under proposed amendments to Cross-Border Movement of Hazardous Waste and Hazardous Recyclable Material Regulations Conservation of Fish Stocks and Management of Pinnipeds Act (Bill C-251) Bill C-234, an Act to Amend the Greenhouse Gas Pollution Pricing Act (qualifying farm fuel) Bill C-219, Canadian Environmental Bill of Rights Aquaculture regulations under the Fisheries Act An Act to amend the Canadian Environmental Protection Act (final disposal of plastic wastes) (Bill S-234) Adoption of the Green Budget Coalition recommendations in the federal Budget and budget bill

Engage with the federal government to secure funding for the re-envisioning of the St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts in Toronto, which will be Canada’s first arts space to fully address the existing cultural, social, environmental, and digital imperatives.