Ranjana Sharma

Advocacy related to university engagement in Canadian priorities in artificial intelligence, data systems and related computing science and energy subjects, including but not limited to specific calls for proposals. Advocacy for university initiatives related to Canadian priorities across the defence spectrum, including initiatives relevant to both Defence and Veterans' Affairs, among other federal departments. Advocacy to enhance support for university research mobilization and commercialization activities. Research security, with respect to international research partnerships Discussions with Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada and other relevant departments and agencies regarding the role of universities in supporting federal innovation initiatives, policies and programs. Discussions regarding research and development initiatives and federal support related to energy and environment, and climate change research, innovation, commercialization, talent and knowledge mobilization. Discussions regarding official language funding amounts and mechanisms. Discussions about the Copyright Act and details of its implementation in a post-secondary setting. Advocacy to secure support in the budget for post-secondary education, research, innovation, and science and technology. Advocacy to secure federal support to develop and upgrade university infrastructure, including but not limited to research and learning facilities, digital infrastructure, and transit infrastructure. Advocacy to increase support for university research, including research funding and granting programs administered by the tri-agencies (SSHRC, NSERC, CIHR) and other departments and agencies. Advocacy to improve immigration policies and programs for prospective and current university students, faculty, and staff. 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 our research and education mission. Advocacy to enhance student supports, including but no limited to Canada Student Grants and Loans, the Canada Graduate Scholarship Program, supports for Indigenous students, and work-integrated learning programs. Advocacy to advance Canadian leadership in priority areas to support world class research, talent attraction and retention, and knowledge mobilization. Advocacy related to reconciliation efforts, including but not limited to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's Calls to Action

Seek funding and support for the institution’s teaching, and research and development enterprise in life sciences, basic and applied sciences, social sciences, humanities and fine arts and mental health. Support for the implementation and operation of the Canada Water Agency Support for institutional compliance with federal research security requirements. Seek program development and support for Indigenous-led research Seeking program development for career opportunities for Indigenous post-secondary graduates Seeking greater efficiencies and continued funding of the Canada Student Loan Program Seek funding for international opportunities in student experience through academic exchanges, study abroad and international student visits to Canada Secure funding for Major Science Infrastructure Policy development and research funding for knowledge transfer and the commercialization of research Increase federal funding to the Canada Graduate Scholarship Program and other national initiatives in support of graduate students Funding for research and campus infrastructure Funding for internships, fellowships and student work-integrated learning Facilitation of improved policies that impact international students and other highly qualified personnel Discuss post-secondary institutions' role in securing Canada's water future through education and research. Discuss post-secondary institutions' role in securing Canada's energy future through research and teaching. Development of a national program for the provision of long-term operating funding for major science initiatives like the Canadian Light Source (CLS) and the Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization (VIDO) Continue and increase funding to the Tri-Agency (CIHR, NSERC, SSHRC) in order to maintain an internationally competitive research and development infrastructure. Continue and increase funding to the Indirect Costs of Research Program in order to maintain an internationally competitive research and development infrastructure Continue and increase funding to the Canada Foundation for Innovation in order to maintain an internationally competitive research and development infrastructure. Budget bills in support of the federal role in post-secondary education, research and the science and technology framework

Discussions with Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada and other relevant departments and agencies regarding the role of universities in supporting federal innovation initiatives, policies and programs. Advocacy to secure federal support to develop and upgrade university infrastructure, including but not limited to research and learning facilities, digital infrastructure, and transit infrastructure. Advocacy to increase support for university research, including research funding and granting programs administered by the tri-agencies (SSHRC, NSERC and CIHR) and other departments and agencies. Advocacy to improve immigration policies and programs for university students, faculty and staff. 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 our research and education mission. Advocacy to enhance support for university research mobilization and commercialization activities. Advocacy to enhance student supports, including but not limited to Canada Student Grants and Loans, the Canada Graduate Scholarship Program, supports for Indigenous students, and work-integrated learning programs.

Support for new research and campus infrastructure. Increased funding and program design for various programs administered by Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC), Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC), and Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR). Funding or support with respect to international development cooperation (student and academic mobility, internships, research collaboration, exchanges, technical assistance). Discussions regarding possible research and development initiatives for, and investments in, partnerships with the University of Calgary. Discussions concerning potential research and development initiatives and investments related to clean energy, environmental research and climate change policy. Discussions about policy implementation regarding the academic visa process in support of international faculty recruitment with respect to changes to the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations. Budget bills in support of federal funding for post-secondary education, research, innovation, science and technology.

Funding for STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math)-based innovation and entrepreneurial outreach programs and infrastructure for youth, including First Nations, at-risk youth, girls, First Nations, persons with disabilities, recent immigrants and citizens of Acadien and African-decent.

United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change-Kyoto protocol The Government of Canada is required to: prepare a Climate Change Plan; prepare a statement on GHG emissions; and ensure that Canada meets its obligations under the Kyoto Protocol The mission of the Green Budget Coalition is to present an analysis of the most pressing issues regarding environmental sustainability in Canada and to make a consolidated annual set of recommendations to the federal government regarding strategic fiscal and budgetary opportunities. Species at Risk Act The purposes of this Act are to prevent wildlife species from being extirpated or becoming extinct, to provide for the recovery of wildlife species that are extirpated, endangered or threatened as a result of human activity and to manage species of special concern to prevent them from becoming endangered or threatened. Secured funding from Canadian International Development Agency Partnership Branch Funding for projects in the Americas Oceans Act WHEREAS Canada holds that conservation, based on an ecosystem approach, is of fundamental importance to maintaining biological diversity and productivity in the marine environment National Parks Act and Canada National Marine Conservation Areas Act Maintenance or restoration of ecological integrity, through the protection of natural resources and natural processes, shall be the first priority of the Minister when considering all aspects of the management of parks and marine conservation areas. Migratory Bird Convention Act This Act and its complementary Regulations ensure the conservation of migratory bird populations by regulating potentially harmful human activities. Metal Mining Effluent Regulation Seeking regulatory change to strengthen processes by which the owner or operator of a mine can obtain the Government's approval to deposit a deleterious substance into a natural water body or a tailings impoundment area that is added to Schedule 2 of the Regulations. Great Lakes Fisheries Convention Act An Act to implement a Convention on Great Lakes Fisheries between Canada and the United States Federal Marine Protected Areas sestablished under the Oceans Act to ensure the conservation and protection of species at risk and their habitats, the conservation and protection of unique habitats, and the conservation and protection of marine areas of high biodiversity or high biological productivity. Convention on Biodiversity To promote the conservation of biodiversity, the sustainable use of its components, and the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising out of the utilization of genetic resources Canadian Wildlife Act and Complimentary Regulations. The Act allows for the creation, management and protection of wildlife areas for wildlife research activities, or for conservation or interpretation of wildlife, seeking regulatory and legislative change to strengthen the prohibitions in the Act. Canadian Environmental Protection Act. CEPA regulates toxins and 'animate products of biotechnology'. We are seeking to ensure the Act adequately protects biodiversity from toxins and other harmful products. Canadian Environmental Assessment Act to ensure that projects are considered in a careful and precautionary manner before federal authorities take action in connection with them, in order to ensure that such projects do not cause significant adverse environmental effects

Advocacy for investment in the Canadian energy sector. Advocacy to advance international collaboration to support sustainable development. Advocacy to support funding for higher education programs and research initiatives in the health sciences. Advocacy to advance Canadian leadership in key areas through long-term support for major research facilities and initiatives. Advocacy related to policies that impact international students. Advocacy to represent university interests in the allocation of land. International collaboration to support the reputation of Canadian universities abroad. Advocacy to advance Canadian leadership in priority areas, including artificial intelligence and defence, to support world-class research and the attraction and retention of top talent, including, but not limited to, specific calls for proposals. Regulations related to visitor visas to support international engagement. Support in principle for high-speed rail along the Québec–Toronto corridor and advocacy for the inclusion of a stop in Kingston. Advocacy to secure support in the budget for post-secondary education, research, innovation, and science. Advocacy to increase support for university research, including research funding and granting programs administered by the tri-agencies (SSHRC, NSERC, CIHR) and other departments and agencies. Advocacy to enhance support for university research mobilization and commercialization. Timeliness of decisions regarding Temporary Residence Visas in the recruiting of international faculty. Student assistance and financial support for higher education, sources of funding to be determined. Science and Technology Policy - Operating funding for major scientific installations and equipment from the Canada Foundation for Innovation. Regulations related to the provision of immigration advice (under section 91 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act) Military and Veteran's Health - seeking support for the national research program of the Canadian Institute for Military and Veteran Health through Veterans Affairs Canada and the Department of National Defence. Maintenance and growth in funding for investigator-driven grants from tricouncils. Indirect Costs of Research Program - increase in support to levels of international peers, source of funding to be determined. Funding for infrastructure to support advanced research and teaching Funding for health sciences initiatives - Obtain federal funding to extend the value chain of cancer clinical trails in Canada. Sources of funding to be determined. FedDev Ontario Applied Research and Commercialization (ARC) initiative to support applied research and commercialization for SME-University partnerships

Discussions regarding universities' role in science diplomacy and export development opportunities Discussions regarding Canada's defence industrial strategy and related programs Advocacy to maintain and enhance funding of Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council, Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, Canadian Institutes of Health Research, and Canada Foundation for Innovation. Advocacy to secure federal support to develop and upgrade university infrastructure, including but not limited to research and learning facilities, digital infrastructure, and transit infrastructure Discussion regarding support for Indigenous post-secondary students, faculty and staff Discussion regarding research and development, infrastructure initiatives and investments in the area of agri-tech Discussion regarding research and development, infrastructure initiatives and investments in clean and conventional energy, and critical minerals Advocacy to improve immigration policies and programs for students, faculty and staff Discussion regarding research and development, infrastructure initiatives and investments in the areas of artificial intelligence (AI), quantum, and dual-use technologies Discussion regarding increasing training pipelines and work integrated learning opportunities for students in the federal government

Providing regular updates on TRIUMF’s operations, programs, and capabilities as per by the laboratory's agreements with the federal government Promoting TRIUMF's successes and achievements in the context of the laboratory's five-year plan and 20-year vision documents, the former of which is the primary vehicle that supports the laboratory's core operational funding which traditionally comes in five year allocations via the federal budget Developing long-term solutions for securing the supply of medical isotopes for Canada, with funding for the development of both local and national initiatives being sought through available and relevant programs, including the Strategic Innovation Fund Connecting TRIUMF's federally-funded research programs in subatomic physics, accelerator science, and nuclear medicine with relevant international partners and stakeholders Advocating for modern systems and mechanisms to support Canada's network of large science infrastructure

The University of Lethbridge will seek support for campus infrastructure to support research, innovation and teaching. The University of Lethbridge will lobby the Federal government to ensure a focus on research and learning is reflected in the budgeting process with respect to increased funding for student scholarships, increased funding (direct and indirect) for research at universities, and increased funding for deferred maintenance for university buildings. The University of Lethbridge will advocate for program development throughout the Federal government that is inclusive of medium-sized, comprehensive universities in Canada. The University is interested in working with the Government of Canada to help build housing capacity at and near its campuses. The University is interested in working with the Government of Canada to ensure policies and programs enable high-quality international students are able to study at the University of Lethbridge. The University is interested in working with the federal government to create synergies between federal research initiatives and our own. The U of L will meet with various government officials (elected and non-elected) to obtain a better understanding of Federal research priorities in the areas of agriculture, environment, health and immigration.