Sheldon Levy

Discussion on how immigration policy and programs relating to international students can be improved to meet Canada’s economic and foreign policy goals and sharing the impacts of policy and program changes on the education sector in Canada. Advocating for the role of international education in advancing Canada’s international trade, development and diplomatic goals.

Advocating for easier exchange of students between foreign countries and Canada

Advocate for place-based solutions to Canada’s biggest challenges, which support the region-specific mandates of public colleges and ensure local training needs are considered in policy development. Increase support to developing countries and other partner countries to build technical and vocational training capacity, strengthen skills development and education systems, and enhance Canada’s global education brand. Advocate for support for college-led research as a core component of federal research and innovation funding and policy. Discuss how colleges can support immigration programs, such as foreign credential recognition or international students, to meet Canada’s labour market needs, and share with officials impacts of policy changes on the college sector. Share with officials how colleges can support Canada’s training and workforce development needs to meet Canada’s biggest challenges. Share with officials the role of colleges and institutes in delivering high quality education for Canadians, and ensuring access to education for Canadians. Advance reconciliation through partnerships with Canada’s public colleges, institutes, CEGEPs, polytechnics, and Indigenous Institutes of Education. Promote the role and expertise of colleges in deepening Canada’s relationships with other countries. Promote the value of educational fair dealing in supporting colleges and institutes in their mandate to provide advanced skills and to enable them to better respond to the skills shortage. Increase investments and support to address colleges’ infrastructure needs to increase Canada’s training space and access in key high-demand fields that align with federal priority areas. Enable post-secondary institutions to obtain grants and loans to develop student housing projects, with additional supports for housing that supports students from vulnerable populations. Ensure Canada’s colleges and institutes have the necessary federal support to provide high-quality training for future healthcare professionals. Ensure the specific needs of institutions, including French institutions and those in minority linguistic communities, are taken into account when federal policies and programs are designed and delivered.

Working with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada to improve visa processing times, the Study Direct Stream program, and lower refusal rates for international students accepted to Canadian universities Lobbying to maintain fair dealing for education. Lobbying for an explicit exception for charities, not-for-profits and/or educational institutions to Canada’s Anti-Spam Law (CASL). Increased supports for Indigenous students seeking to access post-secondary education. Harmonization of immigration policies with regard to the improvement of study and work permit processing to identify areas where policies and procedures could be strengthened. Engaging with reviews of existing legislation covering charities to clarify how they apply to educational institutions. Engage with Statistics Canada regarding postsecondary education and research data collection and analysis with particular attention to the University and College Academic Staff System survey and labour market information. Engage with Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada regarding the role of universities in supporting innovation through the full suite of innovation initiatives (eg. Superclusters, economic sector tables, Innovation Canada, knowledge mobilization, digital research infrastructure etc.) Engage with Global Affairs Canada, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada and ESDC on the implementation of the government’s International Education Strategy – including the targeting and recruitment of international students and the design of the outbound student mobility program for Canadian students to study abroad. Engage with Department of Status of Women and Statistics Canada regarding data collection and policies/frameworks regarding student safety on campus. Discussions with Employment and Social Development Canada concerning international student mobility and internship programs. Discussions concerning federal budget priorities. Priority topics include: federal government's support for university research through the federal granting agencies and other government programs; support for graduate students and post-doctoral fellows; changes to the Canada Research Chairs program; university infrastructure; international research collaboration; knowledge mobilization; equity diversity and inclusion; cybersecurity; and expanding university education opportunities for Indigenous Canadians. Discuss effective strategies and programs to support student transition to the work place and access to upskilling and reskilling programs for mid-career Canadians with Employment and Social Development Canada, including the Student Work-Integrated Learning Program (SWILP) and the Canada Training Benefit.

Discussions about financial sustainability measures for universities. Discussions about shared priorities related to universities including workforce, talent, and employment. Discussions on the Canada-India Talent and Innovation Strategy. Government of Canada - Universities Working Group roundtable discussion on research security. Discussions about artificial intelligence (AI) funding as it relates to universities. Student housing and community enabling campus infrastructure programs. Working group meeting to discuss academic contributions to the Defence Industrial Strategy. Immigration policies and programs related to international students and affecting universities. Discussions of education and international relations opportunities. Engaging in discussions on research priorities for Canadian universities. Discussions about research policy and programs, Canada-US relations, and their impacts on the post-secondary sector Discussions about international students, the workforce, and the benefits of a university degree. Discussions about the Global Excellence Initiative (GEI) and future funding commitments. Meeting to discuss science policy and programs, impact of Canada-US relations Recent policy changes and development of other policy tools including the Recognized Institutions Framework.

Engagement with the federal government on the Defence Industrial Strategy, defence-related infrastructure projects and other governemnt priorities related to defence and security, such as the development of a domestic defence industrial base, developing sovereign defence capabilities and defending the Artic. To discuss international project financing opportunities in engineering, construction management, large project delivery and financing, infrastructure and energy Global Affairs Canada (GAC) re engagement and support support of Canadian business abroad by the trade commissioners service. Support broadly for bilateral, regional and multilateral trade and services liberalization agreements as well as nuclear cooperation and other permits. This also includes policy support for Canada Account as well as Export Credit Financing. Federal nuclear policy related to large conventional nuclear reactors as well as small modular reactors. This includes financial and other contribution for the design of nuclear reactor technologies. Transportation -- Existing and future course of action associated with delivery of infrastructure projects. Support the federal government's priorities in the health sector. Recommendations on Federal policy re nuclear power development in Ontario, as well as in other Canadian provinces and territories. Nuclear Cooperation Agreements governing nuclear power services exports/trade to countries, inclusive of small modular reactor and new and existing reactor development globally. Infrastructure funding at the federal level, inclusive of the National Infrastructure Assessment, and new approaches to structure large infrastructure projects. Immigration policy with respect to improved business travel visa services; Foreign policies as they affect trade; maintaining and increasing diplomatic resources in various foreign markets; Federal priorities in the Canadian Mining and Energy sectors. Federal government priorities on transitioning to a lower carbon environment in Canada. Federal Budgets -- support for framework economic policies that support business development, economic growth and job creation, including infrastructure spending and renewal, innovation policy, support for the manufacturing sector, policy changes related to white collar crime, tax policy, regulatory policy, international development and trade, support for the trade commissioner service Efficient approval processes for major resources (energy, mining and metallurgy) projects

International Trade of nuclear technology with respect to nuclear cooperation. Canadian Environmental Assessment Act. with respect to 2010 Legislative review. Canada's Kyoto Protocol commitment with regards to emission trading and implementation. Advocating for federal support (financial, regulatory and policy) to develop and deploy Small Modular Reactors in Canada .

Santé: l'ACUFC par l'entremise du Consortium national de formation en santé (CNFS) qui est sous son égide depuis avril 2015, est un chef de fil dans le domaine de la formation en santé en français. Grâce à l'appui financier du gouvernement fédéral, l'ACUFC/CNFS contribue à accroître l'accès à des services de santé en français de qualité et sécuritaires au sein des communautés francophones en situation minoritaire. Recherche et développement: les collèges et universités de la francophonie canadienne sont des centres d'innovation et de recherche de premier ordre et ont grand besoin de l'appui financier du fédéral pour poursuivre et renforcer leurs initiatives à cet égard. Langues officielles: les initiatives de l'ACUFC sont directement liées aux langues officielles, à leur vitalité et leur pérennité au Canada; les collèges et universités membres de l'ACUFC sont des fervents défenseurs et promoteurs de l'utilisation des langues officielles du Canada et leurs étudiants et diplômés en sont les ambassadeurs. Le rôle du fédéral pour appuyer les efforts de l'ACUFC et autres organismes de la francophonie canadienne est essentiel et toute loi ou politique nous concernent et nous interpellent, ainsi que toute politique ou programme liées aux langues officielles également. Justice: l'appui du fédéral est indispensable pour assurer et augmenter l'accès aux services de justice dans les deux langues officielles au pays; les collèges et universités de la francophonie canadienne sont des alliers du gouvernement pour assurer la formation de professionnels de la justice bilingues. Immigration: les collèges et universités de la francophonie canadienne jouent un rôle de premier ordre pour favoriser et appuyer l'intégration socioprofessionnelle des immigrants au sein des communautés francophones minoritaires au pays en offrant des formations linguistiques, des formations professionnelles et autres. L'éducation et l'immigration sont étroitement liées et l'appui du fédéral est important dans ces domaines pour encourager et faciliter la venue des immigrants au Canada. Emploi et formation: les collèges et universités de la francophonie canadienne forment une main d'oeuvre qualifiée et bilingue pour le marché de l'emploi et favorise le renforcement et l'acquisition des connaissances et compétences requises du marché de l'emploi. Éducation: avoir l'appui du gouvernement fédéral pour renforcer le continuum de l'éducation en français jusqu'au postsecondaire au pays en renforçant la capacité des établissements postsecondaires de la francophonie canadienne qui pourront contribuer à augmenter l'accès à un plus grand choix de programmes d'études de qualité en français. Développement économique: positionner les collèges et universités de la francophonie canadienne comme des moteurs de développement économique, social et culturel des communautés francophones minoritaires qu'ils desservent; avoir l'appui du fédéral pour qu'ils puissent continuer de contribuer au développement économique de ces communautés. Commerce international: appui financier du gouvernement fédéral pour le positionnement à l'international des collèges et universités de la francophonie canadienne afin d'encourager la mobilité étudiante internationale. Budget: s'assurer que le gouvernement fédéral appuie financièrement les objets mentionnés ci-haut tels que: le continuum de l'éducation en français au pays, la mobilité étudiante internationale, l'accès à des services de justice et de santé en français, les langues officielles, le développement économique et la vitalité des communautés francophones minoritaires, la recherche et les sciences aux sein des collèges et universités de la francophonie canadienne, la formation de la main d'oeuvre sur le marché de l'emploi, etc.

Species at Risk Act: With respect to possible legislative and regulatory changes to SARA Small Modular Reactors: Advocate for government support for the development of SMRs to support government energy and climate change policies Science and Technology: Advocate for continued support for nuclear research and development, including our production and development of life-saving medical isotopes with industry and Indigenous partners. Nuclear Waste Management: Advocate policies with respect to long-term nuclear waste storage. Nuclear Liability Act: Lobby government with respect to upcoming changes to the regulations around the NLA Nuclear Energy: Advocate for greater recognition of nuclear energy and its role in fighting climate change and supporting CANDU technology development and innovation. International Trade: Advocate for policies or programs that assist the Canadian nuclear industry in developing/increasing foreign trade. Fisheries Act: With respect to possible changes to the Fisheries Act involving destruction of fish and/or fish habitat including Bill C68 and ensuing regulations Department of Finance: With respect to possible changes to regulations around private corporate pension plans and various proposed tax measures Climate: Inclusion of nuclear energy in the program as a means of maximizing emissions-free nuclear power generation to assist Canada is achieving its emissions reduction objectives. Canadian Nuclear Safety Control Act: Regulatory documents pertaining to the design,construction and operation of new nuclear power plants and continued safe operation of existing plants. Canadian Nuclear Labs - Outline areas of possible co-operation with respect to the future activities of CNL including, medical isotopes, R&D, refurbishment of operating reactors and development of new reactors. Canadian Environmental Assessment Act and the Impact Assessment Act. Bruce Power will be lobbying the government with respect to the Impact Assessment Act and the regulation. Bruce Power is interested in discussing policies and programs that support the increased use of electrical vehicles

•Improve timeliness and predictability of Canada's export control regime and improve coordination with and implementation of defence trade promotion measures. •Raise awareness of the economic and national security contributions by the Canadian defence and innovative industry, including dual use, and the national security and economic value of having a robust, sustainable Canadian domestic defence industrial base. •Modernize Canada's procurement process for defence, security, cyber, ICT, and related emerging technologies with the goal of streamlining and increasing effectiveness for Canadian companies and enabling sovereign defence, cyber and digital capabilities. •Encourage the government to implement of the priorities, policies and programs laid out in the Defence Industrial Strategy, including the proper functioning of enabling programs and policies like industrial security, Industrial and Technological Benefits, financing, and innovation/R&D.

Discussions regarding digital policy and legislation, including as it relates to artificial intelligence (AI) and data protection, privacy and reduction of online harms. AI adoption including updating procurement policies. Discuss issues related to international competitiveness of the domestic AI industry. Provide subject matter (AI) expertise to the Canadian AI Safety Institute team where it might be helpful across a number of areas including opportunities for research and safety practices. Discussions with officials regarding the Canada-US bilateral relationship.

Efforts to modernize federal privacy legislation and regulate artificial intelligence. An Act respecting cyber security, amending the Telecommunications Act and making consequential amendments to other Acts and its application to the insurance industry (C-8) Issues relating to emergency preparedness, response and recovery including a National Recovery Strategy, and the creation of a National Emergency Management Agency Expansion of the trade credit insurance market in Canada Proposed public-private partnership with the insurance industry to better protect Canadians in the event of a major earthquake. Issues relating to flooding including the creation of a low-cost high-risk National Flood Insurance program in partnership with the P&C insurance industry. Other issues include flood mapping and infrastructure investment. Developing a national approach and vehicle safety standards for the deployment of connected and automated vehicles Implementation of the National Adaptation Strategy and other issues relating to climate adaptation and including modernization of DFAA, DMAF, and infrastructure investments. Changes to the Minimum Capital Test (MCT) and solvency regulations. Changes to the reinsurance framework. Changes to other guidelines (i.e. Guidelines B10, B13, B15; Guidelines E13, E21, E23, etc.). Implementation of the national auto theft strategy and other solutions to combat the theft of vehicles in (and illegal export of vehicles from) Canada. National Coordination of provincial stolen and wrecked vehicle programs. (Transport Canada), with regard to allowing the exchange of information in order to prevent the fraudulent "re-VINing" of vehicles. This refers to the practice of changing the Vehicle Information Number (VIN) on a stolen or wrecked vehicle, thus facilitating its fraudulent re-sale. Financial sector policy and regulatory changes pursuant to the implementation of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), formerly North American Free Trade Agreement.