Shannon Castellarin

Discussions with government around current and potential extended producer responsibility policies; specifically highlighting global best practices and the opportunity to create measurable, sustainable value for producers, the public and the environment through the development of a circular economy in Canada.

Advising on the climate, environmental, and economic risks of new bitumen pipelines and related fossil fuel industry expansion, and seeking to mitigate harms. Seeking to stop proposal changes to Impact Assessment Act, Fisheries Act and Species at Risk Act that the federal government released a spring 2026 discussion paper concerning proposed changes to the IAA, Fisheries Act and SARA that would significantly weaken protection of environment and human health Seeking that the federal government deny changes to the Tripartite Agreement, and therefore not enable a process toward expanding the Toronto Island Airport to accommodate jets. Supporting the federal government's plans and financial support for decarbonizing steel production in Canada. Seeking Cabinet Emergency Order to protect the critical habitat of piping plover at Wasaga Beach Supporting the federal government in its negotiation of a strong international treaty on plastic pollution. Supporting federal action establishing a Federal Plastics Registry requiring producers to report annually on the quantity and types of plastic they place on the Canadian market, how it moves through the economy, and how it is managed at its end-of-life. Advising on the climate impacts of existing or proposed LNG projects, as well as the global business environment for LNG, and seeking to mitigate harms. Advising on the environmental impacts of projects enabled by Bill C-5 and seeking to mitigate harms. Environmental and industrial strategy approaches to reducing waste and material inputs Seeking a strengthening of the Output-based pricing system intended to make polluters pay Supporting the implementation, under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, of Clean Electricity Regulations to mitigate climate change and build a low carbon future. Supporting stronger regulations under the Fisheries Act on Oil Sands Mining Effluent Release. Supporting investment in systems for reuse and refill as an alternative to single-use packaging. Supporting a Climate-Aligned Finance Act, that would include enforcing science-based targets and holding financial institutions accountable to them. Federal Budget - providing resources for environmental initiatives, including climate change, public transit, renewable energy, climate finance accountability, investment in water and wastewater infrastructure, pollution abatement and enforcement, economic transition, sustainable jobs, aligning federal spending with climate objectives and restricting resources for fossil fuels. Rouge National Urban Park expansion involving the former Pickering Airport lands. Supporting the strengthening of current and future federal government emission reduction targets. Ensure a green investments Taxonomy does not include fossil fuels. Advancing climate transition plans across the economy, requiring federally regulated financial institutions and large companies to develop and implement plans that align their business with the goals of the Paris Agreement. Supporting federal action to protect communities and ecosystems from local impacts in the oil sands, including from seeping oil sands process water. Supporting the establishment, under the Canada Consumer Product Safety Act (CCPSA), of regulations requiring disclosure, and prohibitions, restrictions, or container requirements for certain human health hazards of concern (HHHOCs) in consumer chemical products. Supporting the establishment of the Canada Public Transit Fund and negotiated infrastructure funding agreements with provinces, territories, and cities, where the federal government would establish land-use standards near federally funded transit stations, establish zero-emission bus procurement requirements and expand operations funding to increase transit service levels. Supporting the establishment, under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, of regulations to address plastic pollution. Supporting the establishment, under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, of reg

Discussing encouraging the federal government to work with the provinces to break down interprovincial trade barriers as they relate to labour and credentials Discussing promotion of trades to youth, including marketing programs, advertisements, trade shows, working in collaboration with schools and the provinces. Discussing labour mobility policy in Canada, ensuring workers have the correct certification to work throughout the country. Discussing enhancing credentialing to enable faster and more streamlined certification for new Canadian workers. Discussed program structure and policy direction of the upcoming workforce alliances and the sectorial workforce innovation fund initiatives Advocated for opportunities within Canada's manufacturing sector to support future infrastructure initiatives in housing and/or public works projects. Discussing issues within Quebec's manufacturing sector, including Temporary Foreign Workers. Advocating for improvements to Canada's trade-enabling transportation infrastructure. Advocating for specific implementation measures related to recent policies or measures outlined in the latest budget process. Advocating for Health Canada-related policies that impact manufacturing. Advocate for support for Canada's steel industry Matters related to advancing female workforce in the manufacturing industry. Matters related to the renewal of CUSMA. Matters related to military and defence procurement Discuss the upcoming priorities of the RNNR Committee and its impact on the industry Advocate for policies to enhance Canadian manufacturing productivity Plastic issues as they are related to waste, pollution, health, single-use plastics, sources of plastic waste, government-industry cooperation in reducing plastic pollution, strengthening sustainable economies, protecting the environment, plastic registry, PFAS, etc Matters related to the impacts of rules limiting the intake of temporary foreign workers on manufacturing business. Matters related to upcoming RNNR Committee priorities on energy, forest, minerals and metals, and earth sciences sectors, and the impacts on the industry. Advocating for extension of existing IRCC pilot programs Matters related to trade with USA as they related to trade policies, tariffs, trade agreements, regulatory reform, retaliatory measures, tariff policy, remissions/relief policies considered by the federal government, provincial impact of implementing tariffs, etc. Matters related to the expected impact of US tariffs on manufacturing sectors and discuss funding opportunities for BuyCanada and BuyOntario Campaigns. Matters related to EI, worksharing program Critical minerals issues as they are related to barriers to extraction and processing, environmental impacts, social impacts, technological challenges, limited energy options, etc. Advocate for assistance to manage the frequent disruption of critical transportation infrastructure due to trade conflict and better financial support for trade corridors and a flexible regulatory approach for trucking regulations, renewal of iZEV program, removal of the luxury tax which impacts aircraft manufacturing Advocate for supply chain issues as they related to transportation and logistics, labour shortages/strikes, rising fuel and energy costs, regulatory changes such as ESG compliance laws, broken supply chains due to transportation barriers/strikes and long wait times for materials, etc. Advocated for broad supports to Canada's manufacturing sector to cope with U.S. trade developments. This includes relief for technology investment, on-the-job training, excise duty, broad red tape reduction, using both grants (e.g. SIF) and taxation (e.g. capital gains, corporate tax, excise duty). Advocate for Labour and skills shortages, support for workforce development training and education Advocate for the simplification, modernization and harmonization of the Canada's border regulations, including Beyond the Border. Advocate for reform to the Tempo

Accelerated Capital Cost Allowance Program: making it permanent or extending it to align with Canada’s ITCs for emissions reduction. Water policy in terms of providing input on the impact of chemical manufacturing operations and the substances used/produced by the industry Transportation of Dangerous Goods Act: providing input related to the Transportation Code contained in the chemical industry's Responsible Care® Ethic and the safe management of chemicals in transport Scientific Research and Experimental Development (SR&ED) Tax Credit: providing input on its applicability to research in the chemical industry Occupational Health and Safety Workplace Hazardous Material Information System (WHMIS) and Globally Harmonized System (GHS): input on the impact of the chemical industry within the context of the Responsible Care® Ethic Impact of Carbon Pricing or emission intensity criteria on industry. Environmental Policy: input on chemical manufacturing operations and the substances produced and used by the industry Energy Policy: greater federal/provincial alignment on energy policies and streamlined environmental assessments for energy projects. Economic and Fiscal Policy: input on federal financial and tax issues Competition Act: impact of federal policies on the competitiveness of the Canadian chemical and plastic industries; Bill C-59 and amendments to greenwashing provisions. Concerns regarding climate change policies: impact of carbon pricing and emissions criteria on the industry. Climate Change Policy: input on federal federal strategies and processes to address greenhouse gas emissions Clean Air Regulatory Framework and Comprehensive Air Management System: Impact on the chemical and plastic industries. Chemical Industry Statistics: Data related to the chemical and plastic industries. Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA): Application to substances produced or used in the chemical and plastic industries. Canadian Environmental Assessment Act and Regulations: impact on assessments of projects in the chemical and plastic industries. Canada Transportation Act: provisions related to railways and impact on the Canadian chemical and the plastic industries. Bill S-5 An Act to Amend the Canadian Environmental Protection Act 1999, to make related amendments to the Food and Drugs Act and to repeal the Perfluorooctane Sulfonate Virtual Elimination Act (CEPA Modernization). Key areas: changes to the assessment and management of Chemicals and Products; the Right to a Healthy Environment; the protection of Vulnerable Populations; the creation of a "Watch List" for chemical substances; and the protection of confidential business information. Amendments to the Canadian Environmental Protection Act to remove plastic manufactured items from the list of toxic substances in Schedule 1 – Bill C-380 International Trade Issues associated with cross border trade between Canada and the USA. This includes negotiations with the USA on the implementation of the Canada, US, Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) and other trade agreements including the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP). World Trade Organization (WTO) and regional free trade negotiations and policies in terms of providing input on the impact of exports and imports in Canada. Marine Policy in terms of providing input on chemical emergency response plans Impact of Clean Fuel Standard (CFS) on industrial operations in Canada Federal government plan to set explicit targets for diverting plastic waste and eliminate the unnecessary use of single-use plastics in government operations Amendments to the Canadian Environmental Protection Act relating to the export of plastic waste – Bill S-234

Engaging with the Ministry of Transport on supply chain matters and impact on business operations. Trade policy as it relates to the import and export of spirits (EU and UK Free Trade Agreements; Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement) Tax policy on alcohol related to the enabling environment and competitiveness of spirits (addressing the impact of the escalator excise tax on the alcohol industry) Policy affecting women and gender equality, as it relates to empowering women and promoting the representation of women in the food & beverages industry Interprovincial trade barriers related to the spirits business, including e-commerce/direct-to-consumer Environmental policy as it relates to the alcohol industry; measures on plastic/polyethylene terephthalate, carbon, recycling (extended producer responsibility programs) Engaging with Ministry of Transportation, Health Canada, Public Health Agency of Canada and Foreign Affairs on WHO’s Global Alcohol Strategy and actions undertaken by the industry in Canada to reduce harmful drinking Agriculture policy as it relates to promoting sustainable agriculture

Canada-U.S. trade relations, including the implementation and administration of tariffs, the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA), and the food and beverage manufacturing industry. The United States Surtax Remission Order and the remission of tariffs on goods utilized in the manufacturing of food and beverage. Regulations Concerning Food Additives and Compositional Standards and the implications for food and beverage manufacturers. The Federal Plastics Registry and its impact on food and beverage manufacturing in Canada. Bill C-5: An Act to enact the Free Trade and Labour Mobility in Canada Act and the Building Canada Act - and considerations around food safety and export diversification. International Trade: The provisions of the text of the USMCA as they relate to agriculture and agri-food, including tariff schedules, Tariff Rate Quotas, regulatory cooperation and measures related to non-tariff barriers. Tariff and non-tariff barriers with the United States. The pollution prevention (P2) planning notice for primary food plastic packaging, with respect to its impact on food and beverage manufacturers. Temporary Foreign Worker Program - with respect to amendments to the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations and the Temporary Foreign Worker Program, and the access of food and beverage manufacturers to various elements within the program. Support for the housing needs of temporary foreign workers and new Canadians. Science and Technology: Polices and programs to develop, maintain and adapt cybersecurity within the food and beverage processing sector Science and Technology: ISED policies and programs to promote innovation and technology adoption in the food and beverage processing sector Refugees - requesting resettlement programs for refugees Industry: The adoption of innovation in the food and beverage sector in the context of the Strategic Innovation Fund. Immigration: Enhancements to the Temporary Foreign Workers program and pathways to permanency for food and beverage processing labour. Health: Policies and regulations related to food and beverage products including the federal government's Health Eating Strategy, Front of Pack labelling regulations, Marketing to Children regulations, modifications to the Food Guide, modifications the Food and Drugs Regulations. Grocery Code of Conduct: Advocating for a mandatory and enforceable Grocery Code of Conduct for the food industry. Facilitating the entry into Canada of technicians required to maintain critical infrastructure Budget: Measures in annual federal budget to support food and beverage processing, including implementation of Agri-food Economic Strategy Table Report. Agriculture: Policies related to the food and beverage processing sector including: funding for industry research and development, implementation of Safe Foods for Canadians Regulations.

Discussions with the Government of Canada around the use of plastics in consumer products in relation to the recent announcement concerning single-use plastics.

Advocate greater transparency in Canada’s fisheries Advocate for Canada to sign on to the global Mombasa Declaration Federal support for plastic alternatives and reuse policies. Policies to support a circular economy in Canada. Advocating for harmful chemicals to be eliminated from plastics used in food packaging. Advocating for harmful chemicals to be eliminated from plastics used in food packaging. Funding to co-ordinate refill options at FIFA 2026 Advocating for modernizing the Fisheries Act and policies to be inclusive of Indigenous Knowledge Systems, ecosystem-approaches and climate change. Advocate for the implementation of the precautionary approach framework for forage fish stocks. Advocate for the batching of certain stocks under the new rebuilding regulations and implementing rebuilding plans. Improved transparency and traceability in the seafood value chain in Canada to combat seafood fraud (defined as any activity that misrepresents the product that is being purchased) through improved labelling and documentation, traceability verification measures and greater consumer information. Advocating for the public availability of information regarding fish stock targets and limits through annual reports. Advocating for sustainable fisheries decisions. Advocating for regulations on recycled content for certain plastic manufactured items. Advocating for improvement to fisheries and shipping measures that will protect North Atlantic right whales. This includes changes to regulations under the Fisheries Act and Canada Shipping Act. Advocate for the creation of a registry for plastic manufactured items. Advocate for marine protected areas.

Labour disruptions that impact retail supply chains and the retail industry Safe Food for Canadian Act, formerly Bill S-11, An Act respecting food commodities, including their inspection, their safety, their labelling and advertising, their import, export and interprovincial trade, the establishment of standards for them, the registration or licensing of persons who perform certain activities related to them, the establishment of standards governing establishments where those activities are performed and the registration of establishments where those activities are performed. RCC is interested in working with government to see regulations related to food safety and consumer product safety harmonizes with similar regulations that exist in the united states. RCC is interested in seeing the elimination of import duties that still exist on finished goods. Proposed legislation and policies related to prevention of forced and child labour in Canadian supply chains. Proposed changes to the tax treatment of privately held corporations; concerns with income distribution by family businesses and passive investments. Proposed changes to the tax treatment of privately held corporations International Trade - Request for Tarriff Relief for Retail Goods Formerly Bill C-243 - An Act to Amend the Payment Card Network Act (credit card acceptance fees) Discussion of Retail Council of Canada's priorities and government intentions regarding Federal Digital Charter implementation Bill C-27 Copyright Act - with respect to possible changes introducing levies on blank media, digital rights management technology, parallel imports; changes to "notice and takedown" regulations contained within existing copyright legilsation; lobbying for exceptions for photo finishers. Consumer Product Safety Act with respect to business confidentiality provisions and recall provisions Changes to the payments industry in Canada as described in the proposed Voluntary Code of Conduct for the Debit and Credit Card Industry in Canada issued by Finance Canada. Possible legislation to regulate the payments industry in Canada, either designating the credit card companies under the Canadian Payments Act, or a similar legislative proposal. Implementation of certain provisions of "Transparency, Balance and Choice: Canada’s Credit Card and Debit Card Systems" - Report of the Senate Committee on Banking Trace and Commerce. An Act to promote the efficiency and adaptability of the Canadian economy by regulating certain activities that discourage reliance on electronic means of carrying out commercial activities, and to amend the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission Act, the Competition Act, the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act and the Telecommunications Act (Fighting Internet and Wireless Spam Act) with repect to mandatory reporting requirements An Act to amend the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (Safeguarding Canadians’ Personal Information Act) with respect to the mandatory breach notification provisions