Sheila Kennedy

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

Federal AI Adoption capability for ISED as a federal department Joint health data proposal together with research hospitals Pan-Canadian AI Compute Environment (PAICE) program progress and AI compute Bill C-27: Artificial Intelligence and Data Act (AIDA) consultation

Communicating with the Government of Canada about Bill C-8 (An Act respecting cyber security, amending the Telecommunications Act and making consequential amendments to other Acts). Communicating with the Government of Canada about Bill C-22 (An Act respecting lawful access) Communicating with the Government of Canada about Bill formerly known as C-27 (Digital Charter Implementation Act, 2022), more specifically the creation of the Artificial Intelligence and Data Act. Communicating with the Government of Canada about Bill C-2 (An Act respecting certain measures relating to the security of the border between Canada and the United States and respecting other related security measures). Work with government to promote and support Canada’s digital economy, including ensuring the availability of a high-skilled tech workforce. Seeking to influence policy direction related to cloud based services. Seeking government contract with multiple government departments and institutions with regards to Amazon Cloud based solutions and related support services.

Temporary Foreign Worker Program - with respect to meeting the needs of Canada's emerging technology-based businesses. National Research Council Canada – Industrial Research Assistance Program – with respect to funding programs supporting small-medium and large sized (SMEs) enterprises Invest Canada - with respect to attracting foreign investors in digital media, information, communications and technology companies International Science and Technology Partnership Program – with respect to exchanging knowledge between Canadian companies and foreign countries Income Tax Act - Amendment to the Income Tax Act with respect to angel investors Global Opportunites for Associations - with respect to facilitating SME experience aboard FedDev Ontario - Regional Innovation Ecosystem Program – with respect to scaleup platform work Employment and Social Development Canada - Opportunities to fund skills and training programs in Waterloo Region Centre of Excellence in Research and Commercialization - with respect to bringing new technologies to market to create more companies, jobs and wealth in Canada. Building in Canada Fund - with respect to Two-way Go Train service linking Waterloo Region to the Greater Toronto Area

Monitor and provide feedback on the federal government's international student program Monitor policies and programs related to science and research

Tax policy affecting philanthropy, small business innovation and post-secondary institutions; tax benefits and credits for apprentices; tax benefits and credits for employers. Participate in all relevant policy discussions and consultations about academic research funding, business innovation and applied research; how businesses, non-profits and other enterprises benefit from innovation supports from academic institutions/polytechnics. Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council, College and Community Innovation Program; tri-council structure and funding; eligibility of polytechnics and colleges for research funding and research support; Horizon Europe and opportunities for polytechnics to engage in international research partnerships. Highly skilled workforce; in-demand occupations. Supports, programs and policies designed to boost innovation and productivity; technology adoption; respond to skills needs; polytechnics and colleges as innovation intermediaries. Student housing; funding to support equipment purchase for training in high-demand fields, infrastructure programs geared to the post-secondary sector. Respond to consultations and advocate for change to international student policy; consider how polytechnics/colleges support inward and outward student mobility; consider international best practices for workforce development and applied research; better integration of newcomers through credential recognition, prior learning recognition and upskilling. Participate in all relevant policy discussions about skills training and work-integrated learning; upskilling and reskilling policies, programs and funding; apprenticeship training, attraction, retention and completion, including on federal projects. Adequate financial support for learners through the Canada Student Loan Program and other student-centered programs; Edu-Canada marketing and branding initiatives. Participate in all relevant policy discussions and consultations related to productivity, business innovation, technology adoption and artificial intelligence. Seeking funding for the activities of polytechnics and colleges in areas including workforce development, applied research and infrastructure/equipment. Canada Foundation for Innovation - Seek ongoing infrastructure support for the applied research conducted by colleges and Polytechnics.

S2E would like to learn more about the Government of Canada's programs, priorities, and policies pertaining to artificial intelligence (AI) and data centers, and if there are any environmental and climate change considerations to these federal initiatives. S2E would like to share their clean technology expertise and industry insights to help inform and support the Government of Canada's policies, programs, and regulations related to sustainability and climate change. S2E would also be interested in pursuing contracting opportunities with the federal government in the fields of renewable energies, smart grids, clean energy infrastructure, and diesel replacement programs for remote communities. S2E is interested in learning more about, and potentially applying for, federal grants and programs related to renewable energies, smart grids, clean energy infrastructure, and diesel replacement programs for remote communities.

Engage government decision-makers regarding Canada’s Sovereign AI Compute Strategy, including advancing Slate’s upcoming proposal to the Digital Research Alliance of Canada, and opportunities to advance digital innovation and clean growth.

Renewing the multi-year funding agreement between the Government of Canada and the Digital Research Alliance of Canada, in the context of Budget 2025 and the new government's priorities for research and growth. Providing input to the Government of Canada’s Digital Research Infrastructure Strategy, in relation to federal research funding priorities and government prioritization of artificial intelligence and advanced compute capability to support Canadian researchers and institutes.

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.