Rebekah Cassidy

Amendments to immigration policies, regulations, and legislation that would help to remove barriers to foreign trained physicians practicing in Canada and inter-provincial barriers. Improvements to health care funding and policies including health workforce strategies, reducing administrative burden, reducing emergency dept, surgical, diagnostic wait times, advancing digital health services, health equity and the interpretation of the Canada health act, improving public health and promotion, expanding mental health programs, reducing interprovincial barriers to physician licensure, and improving access to primary and team based care. This also includes advocating for increases to the Canada Health Transfer and other health transfers to provinces. The administrative burden for physicians caused by the disability tax credit form.

The Council of Canadian Innovators (CCI) is engaging with government officials to discuss the alignment between CCI’s priorities and the federal government’s efforts to foster innovation in Canada. These discussions focus on ensuring that government programs and policies effectively support high-growth Canadian technology firms and strengthen the country’s innovation ecosystem. Canadian Sovereign AI Compute Strategy: advocacy was focused on bringing domestic firms into the value chain through policies and measures that provide equal opportunity for Canadian Head Quartered companies. Discussion on the intangible economy, SR&ED, and economic growth as it relates to domestic expenditures for intellectual property filing, as well as a focus on small and medium-sized companies. US Trade - discussed Tariffs and handling of Canada US Mexico Trade Agreement. Sustainable Development Technology Canada (SDTC) to establish a sponsorship agreement related to CCI's Board education training program for the intangible economy. Small Business and Tourism, Changes to Canadian Export Program (CanExport) so it allows more technology companies to apply Procurement – Changes to Request for Proposal (RFP) process to break down large bundles into smaller amounts for Medium and Small Business (SMEs) can apply Health Canada: advocate for an increase of resources for Therapeutics Canada for them to speed up processing times and efficiencies within their department; create working groups and framework with industry leaders and health Canada on digital and data health, and create a therapeutics working group with industry and health Canada. Finance – Changes to Scientific research and experimental development (SR&ED) tax incentive program to make the process easier for Medium and Small Business (SMEs) to apply and report on the current program, to further increase the maximum a SME can apply for Export Development Canada (EDC) to establish a sponsorship agreement related to CCI's Board education training program for the intangible economy. Environment and Climate Change Canada, give input and feedback on the PanCanada Framework, Canada-China agreement for scientific and technological cooperation, and the relationship between Carbon Dioxide (CO2) Emitters & CO2 Reducers. Our focus is on involving Canadian high-growth firms in the policies and programs the government is working on regarding climate change and the greening of government. Discussions on international trade, specifically on the North American Free Trade Agreement with respect to data localisation, labour mobility and tariffs. Defence & Security: advocate for a domestic-focused cybersecurity ecosystem that has Canadian companies at the centre of a national cybersecurity defence policy. Citizenship and immigration – Change the current work visa time lines, seek changes to the the Labour Market Impact Assessment for expatiating and a faster process Changes to Industrial Research Assistance Program (IRAP) to make the process easier for Medium and Small Business (SMEs) to apply and report on the current program, to Increase the maximum amount a SME can apply for Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) - changes to (scientific research and experimental development) SR&ED program with how it is administered and reviewed. Discussed companies SR&ED claims and issues with their processing. Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) to establish a sponsorship agreement related to CCI's Board education training program for the intangible economy.

Infrastructure funding to support innovation, student housing and other capital projects. Support the Recruitment of World-Class Faculty and Staff Research Funding for the purpose of attracting talent including Tri-Council programs such as CRCs , scholarships and bursaries Mobilizing science and technology to Canada's Advantage Funding for research related infrastructure through CFI and other tri-council programs Support through programs and involvement in policy development with regard to the application of university research in the area of population health. Student assistance and financial support with respect to the Canada Student Loans Program, Federally Funded Internships, Federal Scholarships, and Federal Bursary Programs. Research funding with respect to growth to Federal granting councils Research funding with respect to allocation of funds for indirect costs of research International student recruitment and acceptance through Citizenship and Immigration policies Funding for infrastructure projects associated with universities through federal economic stimulus funding and the FedDev program.

Communicating with government officials regarding regulatory requirements for the domestic manufacturing and market entry of generic semaglutide in Canada.