Raquel Franco

Seeking opportunities to support implementation of the FCAC's National Financial Strategy 2021-2026. Also seeking opportunities to partner with the FCAC and other organizations to deliver upon the National Financial Literacy Strategy. The Income Tax Act and Taxation Policies - Seeking opportunities under the Income Tax Act through a proposed tax credit for low and middle income Canadians to improve the financial resilience of Canadians by improving the financial accessibility of financial planning advice for Canadians.

Communications about the review of the Lobbying Act, including the Commissioner of Lobbying’s recommendations to the Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics. Discussion about the impact of the Comprehensive Expenditure Review on the Nonprofit sector Preparation for e-filing webinars for charities; Discussion about the Comprehensive Expenditure Review Supporting implementation of Senate Committee recommendations on the charitable sector. Addressing disruptions to donations due to postal strikes; tax credit timing adjustments. Advocating for financial relief and policy responses to emergencies and rising issues (e.g., tariffs). Inclusion of charities in SME-focused programs like Mitacs and BDC advisory services. Budget consultations re: charitable giving incentives, regulatory reforms, and program access. Bill S-222 and S-216: Amendments enabling partnerships with non-qualified donees. Support for the Canadian Centre for Nonprofit Digital Resilience and digital skills development. Supporting sector-wide digital capacity and transformation. Advancing reform of the disbursement quota for registered charities. Improving access and equity in federal funding programs for nonprofits and charities. Strengthening workforce supports for paid and unpaid nonprofit labour. Supporting federal data collection (e.g., Satellite Account, national nonprofit surveys). Advocating for a federal “home” in government for the nonprofit sector. Building knowledge on the activities of the nonprofit sector.

Advocate for the continued and potentially expanded use of flow through shares in the resource and/or technology sectors by demonstrating the job creating results and tax fairness inherent in this regime. Advocate for the continued and potentially expanded use of flow through shares in the resource sector by demonstrating the job creating result and tax fairness inherent in this regime.

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

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