Vincent Ho

BUDGET: Provide CMA’s perspective on the Government of Canada’s budget, particularly as it relates to modernizing Canada’s health care system by enhancing efficiency, driving innovation, and promoting equitable access to care. HARMFUL ONLINE CONTENT: Advocate to address the escalation of online harassment, intimidation, and threats of violence targeting physicians, other health workers, and anyone seeking health care treatment, including measures to strengthen the Criminal Code of Canada and the Canadian Human Rights Act. TECHNOLOGY AND ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE: provide CMA’s perspective on the impact of technology and artificial intelligence on the health care sector and the means through which advancements can be foreseen and managed. HEALTH DATA INTEROPERBILITY: Provide CMA’s perspective as it relates to health data interoperability that would ensure providers have access to the right information at the right time when providing care, and improve patient outcomes and their health care experience. MEDICAL ASSISTANCE IN DYING: Advancing the medical profession’s perspectives on medical assistance in dying. PAN CANADIAN LICENSURE: Advocate for the ability for physicians with full licences to practise independently without restrictions or for medical resident trainees registered in any Canadian jurisdiction to practise or train in any other Canadian jurisdiction without having to acquire more than one licence or pay additional licensing fees. This includes exploring enabling legislation in the provinces and territories. CANADA HEALTH TRANSFER: Increased federal funding for health care to the provinces and territories to ensure the sustainability of the health care system. AGEING WITH DIGNITY: Advocate for a pan-Canadian plan to improve elder care, including investments in long-term care standards, enhanced home and community-based care, and supports for older persons, an older adults care benefit program to deliver funding to older adults and caregivers to cover out of pocket health care costs, improved national standards and investment in the area of palliative and end of life care, and the development of a United Nations document supporting the rights of older persons. PUBLIC-PRIVATE HEALTHCARE: The CMA is conducting a series of in-person sessions across the country to engage key stakeholders, including the public, physicians, patients/PWLE, policymakers, system leaders and others, in a dialogue on public-private healthcare. What we hear will inform CMA policy moving forward, and our recommendations for action at a national level. PERSONAL INFORMATION PROTECTION AND ELECTRONIC DOCUMENT ACT (PIPEDA) PRIVACY PROTECTION OF HEALTH INFORMATION AND THE REGULATORY REVIEW: Improvement to privacy legislation to protect the privacy of health information. INTEGRATED HEALTH HUMAN RESOURCES: Advocate for an Integrated Health Human Resources Strategy, including creating retention incentives and addressing administrative burden for health care professionals, increasing the number of doctors and nurses and ensuring that every Canadian has access to a family doctor or primary health team, increasing access to virtual care, creating an action plan to get internationally trained health care professionals to work, improving workforce data collection across health systems and investing in a supply needs-based planning tool, and facilitating team-based health care. CANADIAN PHARMACEUTICAL STRATEGY: A national strategy to ensure all Canadian have access to safe, effective and affordable prescription drugs regardless of employment status or geography. ADMINISTRATIVE BURDEN: Advocate for measures to alleviate the administrative burden on physicians and support their professional wellbeing, including investment to facilitate the development of EHRs and EMRs in Canada, improved remuneration for the completion of federal health forms, ensuring that physicians are not captured in the definition of "promoters" in the Disability Tax Credit Promoters Restrict

HEALTH DATA INTEROPERBILITY: Provide CMA’s perspective as it relates to health data interoperability that would ensure providers have access to the right information at the right time when providing care, and improve patient outcomes and their health care experience. BUDGET: Provide CMA’s perspective on the Government of Canada’s budget, particularly as it relates to modernizing Canada’s health care system by enhancing efficiency, driving innovation, and promoting equitable access to care. HARMFUL ONLINE CONTENT: Advocate to address the escalation of online harassment, intimidation, and threats of violence targeting physicians, other health workers, and anyone seeking health care treatment, including measures to strengthen the Criminal Code of Canada and the Canadian Human Rights Act. TECHNOLOGY AND ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE: provide CMA’s perspective on the impact of technology and artificial intelligence on the health care sector and the means through which advancements can be foreseen and managed. HEALTH PROMOTION AND DISEASE PREVENTION: Increased investments in health and social-determinants-of-health related programs, including measures to address the opioid crisis, mental health and addictions, and the regulation of natural health products. ADMINISTRATIVE BURDEN: Advocate for measures to alleviate the administrative burden on physicians and support their professional wellbeing, including investment to facilitate the development of EHRs and EMRs in Canada, improved remuneration for the completion of federal health forms, the development of a Federal Disability Benefit, ensuring that physicians are not captured in the definition of "promoters" in the Disability Tax Credit Promoters Restrictions Regulations, providing clarity and guidance on federal forms, and advocacy on discontinuing the requirement that employees present sick notes to their employers. The CMA is advocating that the trade of medical goods and medications be protected to avoid disruptions to patient care. Specifically, that the government: Continue to ensure pharmaceutical products and medical devices are not included in any countermeasures on tariffs. Improve safeguards for Canadian health data. Improve labour mobility so physicians can work across the country. Make it easier for qualified physicians to immigrate and work in Canada, including by fast-tracking immigration steps for US physicians. PAN CANADIAN LICENSURE: Advocate for the ability for physicians with full licences to practise independently without restrictions or for medical resident trainees registered in any Canadian jurisdiction to practise or train in any other Canadian jurisdiction without having to acquire more than one licence or pay additional licensing fees. This includes exploring enabling legislation in the provinces and territories. INTEGRATED HEALTH HUMAN RESOURCES Advocate for an Integrated Health Human Resources Strategy, including creating retention incentives and addressing administrative burden for health care professionals, increasing the number of doctors and nurses and ensuring that every Canadian has access to a family doctor or primary health team, increasing access to virtual care, creating an action plan to get internationally trained health care professionals to work, improving workforce data collection across health systems and investing in a supply needs-based planning tool, and facilitating team-based health care. MEDICAL MIS/DISINFORMATION: Provide CMA’s perspective on the impacts of medical misinformation and disinformation, including on public trust in science, medicine, and public health experts. INDIGENOUS HEALTH: Improvement to the health and health care services provided to Indigenous peoples in Canada including adding inclusive lettering on health cards across Canada. Advocating for the creation of a national Chief Health Accountability Officer. PUBLIC-PRIVATE HEALTHCARE: The CMA is conducting a series of in-person sessions across the country to engage key s

Taxation and Finance: Canada must ensure, fairness, accountability and transparency regarding CRA decisions that impact Jewish charities. Provide economic support for the charitable and not-for-profit sector through a direct granting program. Donations from Canadians should be incentivized through a temporary enhancement of the charitable giving tax credit, or through a donor matching program, whereby the government matches donations from Canadians. Religion: Include a question on religion in every census, instead of every second census. National Security/Security (3): A ministerial directive to the RCMP and CSIS to prioritize and intensify monitoring, intelligence collection, investigations, disruption, and enforcement against antisemitic and Islamist violent extremism, as well as against foreign actors seeking to sponsor or exploit protests in Canada. National Security/Security (2): Continued support for revocation of citizenship in cases involving war crimes, crimes against humanity, terrorism, and extreme promotion of hate; strengthened screening to bar entry and deny citizenship to individuals who pose security threats or have ties to extremist or terrorist organizations; removal of individuals already in Canada who obtained status through false representation; establishment of a fast-track removal stream for high-risk individuals linked to foreign extremist organizations; accelerated removals for individuals convicted of violent crimes; and standalone immigration consequences for expressing support for listed terrorist entities, even in the absence of criminal convictions. National Security (1): Canada Community Security Program (CCSP): Sustained and recurrent funding and program optimization; support for life-saving protective measures for communities at risk, particularly the Jewish community; funding for capital security upgrades and training; and ongoing support for security guards and paid duty officers. Justice and Law Enforcement (2): Conflict of Interests, Foreign Interference, Ethics, Lobbying, Canada Revenue Agency. Ensuring CIJA fully respects all its legal and regulatory obligations while advocating for the current framework to be more efficient and respectful of the needs, objectives and resources of cultural and religious communities. Justice and Law Enforcement: Canada should pursue a comprehensive, accountable approach to combating hate and promoting inclusion by strengthening legal tools, enforcement capacity, and public institutions. This includes modernizing human rights and criminal frameworks to address hate speech and antisemitism, guided by the IHRA definition; investing in anti-racism, tolerance, and genocide education initiatives; and ensuring police are properly resourced to prevent and respond to hate crimes, with clear accountability for results. Bail reform to include a reverse onus on hate related offences. International Trade: Advancing and expanding bilateral trade through the promotion, application, and potential enhancement of the Canada–Israel Free Trade Agreement, as well as fostering increased investment and academic exchanges. International Relations: Canadian diplomatic relations with Israel and the broader Middle East, including Canada’s role in the Israel–Palestinian peace process; Canadian interventions at the UN and other multilateral bodies, including sanctions regimes and related legislation; and policy toward Iran, including maintaining non-renewal of diplomatic relations alongside continued sanctions against the IRGC and senior regime figures. Immigration: Matters related to the Department of Citizenship and Immigration Act, including visa applications and issuance; Immigration and Refugee Board policies, including refugee claims from Israel; broader Canadian immigration policy; integration and settlement of new immigrants, recognition of foreign-trained credentials and language training; and standards and requirements for refugee status, permanent residence, and citizenship

Urging Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, in collaboration with Health Canada, to reconsider introducing copayments for medications and supplemental health services under the Interim Federal Health Program (IFHP) for refugees and asylum seekers. Pandemic Planning: ensure all nurses are properly supported and protected by maintaining appropriate stockpiles of personal protective equipment (PPE), providing mental health supports for those working on the front lines, and ensuring nursing students receive adequate assistance. Increase access to education and training for nurses returning to work or working across various care settings during public health emergencies. Ensure clear guidelines and resources are developed and disseminated, and that senior nurses are included in discussions and advisory boards during emergency planning phases as well as in post-emergency reviews. Discussions aim to ensure that artificial intelligence and emerging health technologies are developed, assessed, and approved in ways that meet the needs of the Canadian population. Communications emphasize the importance of integrating nursing perspectives into governance, regulation, clinical and ethical evaluation, and approval processes for new technologies. Communications relate to ongoing efforts to strengthen the collection, harmonization, and use of nursing workforce data at the pan-Canadian level. Discussions include modelling future health and workforce needs, supporting evidence-based health human resource planning, and investing in robust data systems to inform public policy and decision-making. Discussions include a request for federal funding to support the organization of CNA's 2026 national conference, which will bring together nursing leaders, health system partners, and policy-makers to advance dialogue on workforce priorities, innovation, public health, and health system transformation. Communications address the need for federal investment in strategies to improve retention of nursing professionals, including support for mental health and well-being, improved working conditions, continuing professional development, and initiatives to reduce burnout and strengthen workforce stability across all regions of Canada. Discussions focus on measures to expand the capacity to educate and support Indigenous nurses across Canada, including targeted investments in nursing education programs, partnerships with Indigenous and community-based institutions, and initiatives that improve access, retention, and graduation outcomes for Indigenous nursing students. Support the development of a national licensure framework for nurses. Enhance nursing leadership at the federal level and ensure ongoing support, resources, and sustainability for Chief Nursing Officer roles in all provinces and territories. Communications relate to federal measures aimed at protecting health-care workers, including initiatives to improve workplace safety, prevent harassment and violence, and strengthen legislative and regulatory frameworks that support a safe and respectful environment for health professionals. Bill S-233, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (assault against persons who provide health services and first responders) Harmonize nursing regulatory practices to support a responsive and sustainable nursing workforce Support a Canadian Nurse Practitioner Initiative based on past similar initiatives Allow nurses to certify the Disability Tax Credit form Seek funding for nursing research, including Indigenous nursing Create a pan-Canadian health human resources strategy Urging the federal government to lead the development of and work with the provinces and territories to implement a pan-Canadian digital health strategy. That the federal government lead efforts to educate health-care workers on the importance of medication safety and deprescribing Support for regulated nurses working at full scope of practice Strengthening of programs and supports for vulnerable po

Transportation: Canada's policies with respect to the Transport of Dangerous Goods; Canada's infrastructure strategy as it pertains to public transit infrastructure and green infrastructure. Transportation: Anticipated regulation amendments pertaining to sulphur levels in real, off-road and marine fuels. Taxation and Finance: Policies with respect to fuel taxation; policies with respect to tax measures to generate more clean technology investments. Science and Technology: Canada's policies with respect to innovation and the use of clean technologies in the energy sector. Research & Development: Fuels emissions testing. Infrastructure: Canada's policies witgh respect to investment in green infrastructure. Health: Chemical Management Plan; implementation of the Global Harmonized System with respect ot WHMIS 2015, Confidential Business Information, the Hazardous Materials Information Review Act and the Hazardous Products Regulations. Environment: National Pollutant Release Inventory; air quality standards; policy discussions on mobile emissions. Environment: Multi-Sectoral Air Pollutants regulations; anticipated regulations regarding Petroleum Refinery Gases. Energy: Canada's energy policy with respect to a North American clean energy and environment agreement; policies with respect to fuel supply security; policies with respect to energy efficiency; SmartWay; policies with respect to emissions life cycle analysis; policies with respect to environmental assessment processes. Consumer Issues: Policies with respect to fuel prices Climate: Canada's pan-Canadian climate change framework, including national emissions-reductions targets and, policies/plans to achieve them.

We plan to hold Hill Days and advocacy days where we meet with federal officials to try to influence policy in favour of the isotope industry. Federal officials will be invited to participate in CNIC meetings to raise awareness for the activities of our members and CNIC, and our policy recommendations. We met with representatives of NRCan, Health Canada, ISED, and the NRC to discuss the creation of an interdepartmental roundtable on Isotopes.

bring to light the inaccuracy of the Chicken Farmers of Canada and their campaign of decimating incorrect facts about the importation of chicken from the USA