Saba Khwaja

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.

Taxation and Finance - ACEC is sharing information about the possible impacts of capital gains tax changes. Transportation - long-term strategic transportation policy is required. International Trade - ensure that international trade agreements respect engineering services as a professional service, rather than a commodity. Infrastructure: The Association of Consulting Engineering Companies - Canada is advocating that a long-term sustainable infrastructure program be created to provide better value to taxpayers. Government Procurement - The Association of Consulting Engineering Companies - Canada is advocating that Treasury Board, government departments and agencies, change the policy by which it procures consulting engineering services. Use of Qualifications-Based Selection procurement policy is recommended. Economic Development - ACEC is looking to encourage government departments to develop infrastructure investment programs that will sustain and grow the expertise and capacity of the Canadian consulting engineering sector in order to make it more competitive and to provide long-term value to taxpayers. Budget - monitoring government infrastructure investment on behalf of ACEC members. This includes ongoing and new programs. Lobbying for a long-term and sustainable level of infrastructure funding that focuses on value term value rather than short term expenditures.

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.

Promoting Business Sustainability and Industry Competitiveness – TIAC promotes optimal forms of government intervention that support the competitiveness of Canada’s tourism companies via public grants, tax credits, repayable financing contributions and policies and programs that augment entrepreneurship, innovation and commercial protections. During this critical period as the sector looks to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, TIAC is working to ensure that government loans provided through the CEBA, RRRF, HASCAP and related initiatives have an optimal impact through guidelines and repayment conditions that are conducive to business growth. Improving Access for Visitors to and within Canada – TIAC supports the efficient movement of travellers to and within Canada through enhancements to the visitor visa process in order to meet international demand for travel to Canada. TIAC also works to ensure that regulations and policies related to transportation, air travel, waterways and ports of entry are developed and implemented to optimally connect, and not impede, domestic and international travellers to urban and rural destinations, key attractions, sporting events, and business meetings in Canada. Developing and Promoting World-class Tourism Assets – Ensuring Canada maintains and promotes the development of world-class tourism assets requires considerable investment from both public and private sources. TIAC advocates for continued investment, particularly in respect to under-serviced communities, and effective promotion of existing assets as well as the development of new, more competitive ones for both Canadian and world travellers to discover and experience. TIAC’s efforts on this front include monitoring and raising policy issues that directly affect Indigenous tourism development with a goal of empowering Indigenous communities in generating their own economies while also providing Canadians and foreign visitors alike the opportunity to connect with Indigenous peoples and to experience their unique and diverse culture in a deeply meaningful way. Building a Regenerative and Inclusive Tourism Industry – TIAC works with government to support a tourism sector that is more resilient, sustainable, and equitable through priority investment in regenerative tourism and specialized recruitment programs for equity seeking groups. Attracting and Retaining a Sustainable Tourism Workforce – TIAC supports the creation and optimization of policy and programs aimed at addressing the significant labour shortages that now exist in the tourism sector due to the affects of restrictive public health measures, border closures, and increased operational costs that were related to the COVID-19 pandemic. TIAC also advocates for a strong tourism workforce via regulations and policies in regard to immigration, including issues related to pathways to permanent-residency and the Temporary Foreign Worker Program.