Zachariah Downey

To examine new funding opportunities for nuclear energy and its operations in Canada. Request feedback and insight into the government's policy on nuclear energy.

Enabling government communication of Nuclear Energy Policy. Increase government's awareness of business activities' alignment with nuclear energy policy. Request feedback and insight into government's policy on nuclear energy.

Discussion with government officials on trade policy and priorities including items controlled for import and export in Canada

Discussion with government officials on trade policy and priorities including items controlled for import and export in Canada.

Trade and export controls and regulations related to the issuance or issuing of permits and certificates for various products included on Canada's Export Control List. Canada’s Defence Industrial Strategy - advocacy for policies and reforms to institutional practices that will support the Government's enunciated "Build–Partner–Buy" strategic framework to the benefit of Canadian service providers including PAL Aerospace. Canada's Northern Defence Policy, including objectives described in the 2024 Defence Policy Update "Our North Strong and Free" and related to Northern Operational Support Hubs, NORAD capabilities, and increasing the Canadian Armed Forces presence and responsiveness in the North in deterrence, detection and emergency response. Procurement in Canada, including the Directive on the Management of Procurement, international trade agreements, the financial administration act and the Code of Conduct for Procurement. Airline and Transportation Policy in Canada, with respect airline operations, safety management systems, competition, and service to regional, rural, remote and northern communities

Notice of Intent Surtax on China Steel & Aluminum under Section 53 Customs Tariff; International Trade - United States Surtax Orders 2025 under the Customs Tariff Act Communicating with Health Canada and the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) in regard to the 2025 United Nations High-Level Meeting on Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs), to inform discussions and to encourage Government of Canada alignment with the key principles of the World Health Organization (WHO) Global Strategy, WHO Global Alcohol Action Plan 2022-2030, and the UN 2018 Political Declaration on NCDs. Under the Excise Act, seeking the repeal of the automatic annual escalator on the federal excise duty and the introduction of new excise tiers with reduced rates for lower alcohol content beers. Safe Food for Canadians Regulations, pertaining to beer and alcoholic beverages. Importation of Intoxicating Liquors Act as it pertains to internal trade of beverage alcohol. Food & Drugs Act and Safe Food For Canadians Act as they pertain to the regulation of beer and alcoholic beverages. Food & Drug Regulations, pertaining to beer and alcoholic beverages. Federal Budget as it pertains to beverage alcohol taxation or regulation. Communicating on proposed restrictions on the use of certain single-use plastics. Communicating on beverage alcohol drinking guidance and labelling. Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 as it pertains to use of certain single-use plastics.

Ensuring a fair and open competition in defence procurements Contract with the Department of National Defence for Canada's Multi-Mission Aircraft (CMMA)

research into blockchain technology in traceability programs, Business risk management programs, Livestock Tax Deferral, Livestock Price Insurance, Agristability, Animal Health programs. Regulations and legislation related to beef cattle and meat production, exports and imports. Market access for beef and cattle, achieving new and defending existing trade agreements. Farm policy and programs with respect to business risk management, innovation, environment, etc. "Taxation policies and programs related to farm income, capital gains, generational transfer of assets, family income sharing, investment income, and tax deferrals for extraordinary revenue due to inventory liquidation during a declared disaster."

CFIB supports the principle behind the Canada Jobs Grant but encourages flexibility in its implementation and consideration of small and medium-size enterprises (SMEs)' needs. For example, introducing a permanent refundable tax credits for co-op and internship hires and reducing red tape from programs like Canada Summer Jobs to make it easier for small businesses to continue hiring youth. Advocating on behalf of small and medium-sized businesses to facilitate trade between Canada and other countries (CAN-US tariffs, the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement, Chinese tariffs). Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) shares its suggestions for Budget 2026 focusing on: reducing the small business tax rate from 9% to 6% and increasing the small business deduction (SBD) threshold to $700,000 and index it to inflation going forward. Canada is experiencing an “entrepreneurial drought”: a sustained period where business closures consistently outpace new business starts, leading to a shrinking entrepreneurial base and declining confidence in entrepreneurship. CFIB recommends that reversing this trend should be treated as a national economic priority. Sharing small businesses' views on Labour Code changes, impact on small businesses and the need to ensure the fluidity of the supply chain. Sharing survey results on improving CFIA customer service to encourage the review of their operations to better meet the needs of small and medium-size enterprises (SMEs) - reducing red tape and facilitating food mobility within Canada. Sharing data information and recommendations related to the state of small and medium-size enterprises (SMEs) overall and for specific sectors which could also include provincial data. Promoting reforms to the Competition Act that will ensure small businesses have an equitable opportunity to compete in today’s economy, especially as small and medium-size enterprises (SMEs) have noted an increase in large corporate giants within Canada. Shipping costs pose a significant barrier for small business, as such we continue to advocate for favourable shipping rates with carriers (including the cost of shipping along with better service levels and addressing the work stoppage at Canada Post). Presenting the views of small business owners based on our survey data to the Canada Revenue Agency to share ways of improving customer service interactions with small and medium-size enterprises (SMEs) and suggest ways to ease the tax burden on small business owners as well as increase accountability within the agency. CFIB continues to monitor the effects of the Consumer Product Safety Act on small and medium-size enterprises (SMEs) and other issues raised related to the mandate of Health Canada. We also continue to monitor customer service interactions between our members and Health Canada. Any issues are raised with officials. CFIB advocates for simplification to the federal procurement process on behalf of small and medium-size enterprises (SMEs). Lobbying to reduce Red Tape by focusing on removing interprovincial trade barriers, facilitating labour mobility and improving government customer service. This includes providing input for the consultations on the Annual Regulatory Modernization Bill. Goods and Services Tax/ Harmonized Sales Tax Administration with regards to Transitional Rules, Out of Province Sales Rules, Point-of-Sale Rebate, and fillings. Retirement Income Policies, and proposed Canada Pension Plan increases. CFIB is against mandatory increases in Canada Pension Plan, and has provided alternative approaches. CFIB has also shared recommendations to reduce disincentives to work for older workers. Presenting the views of small business owners on infrastructure spending through member survey results, mandate votes and other CFIB research. Offering funding solutions and alternatives to government proposals on transit and infrastructure expansion. Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA)

Science-based food regulations: Working with the Government of Canada on a variety of regulations to promote safety, efficiency, and competitiveness. Trade diversification: Working with the government to seek out and sign new free trade agreements with markets that have a potential for increased Canadian meat exports. Canada-U.S. relations: Ensuring that the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) continues in its entirety. Labour: Advocating for a permanent food processing immigration stream, stemming from the success of the Agri-Food Pilot. International Barriers to Trade: Seeking to eliminate or prevent out-dated, overly burdensome, discriminatory or otherwise inappropriate technical requirements in other countries that can create unnecessary obstacles to trade, reduce competition and prevent Canadian exporters from participating in global supply under the WTO SPS and TBT Agreements. The Canadian Meat Council is advocating for strengthened regulatory cooperation initiatives in regional, plurilateral and multilateral trade agreements to further facilitate trade. Accelerated Capital Cost Allowance: Encouraging the adoption of an increased and permanent accelerated capital cost allowance to match the tax benefits available to the American meat processing sector. Canadian Food Inspection Agency and User Fee Act: Advocating for a review of the CFIA fee structure and establishment of service standards as required by the User Fee Act. Interprovincial trade of meat: Advocating for all meat that is processed in Canada and that crosses provincial borders to be inspected by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency under the Safe Food for Canadians Act and Regulations. Canada-U.S. Regulatory Cooperation: Seeking greater regulatory alignment between American and Canadian food inspection systems to ensure that Canada remains regulatory competitive. Canada-EU: Promoting commercially viable access to Europe for Canadian beef and pork under the provisions of the Canada Europe Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA). Canada-China: Advocating for tariff-free access to the Chinese market for Canadian beef and pork exports. Domestic processing: Advocating for a targeted federal support program to assist small and medium-sized beef processors who are experiencing severe financial stress due to limited cattle supply and rising input costs. The program would aim to stabilize operations, preserve regional processing capacity, and sustain employment through short-term financial relief and resilience measures developed in collaboration with the Government of Canada Terrestrial animal diseases: Ensuring the Government of Canada is adequately prepared to respond to foreign animal diseases, including funding support for processors and zoning agreements with key trading partners.

Engagement with Shared Services Canada as it relates to its mandate to provide secure, reliable networks, modern tools and client-centric digital services for Canadians, including: networks and network security, data centres and Cloud offerings, digital communications and IT tools, AI and security, Buy Canada, new procurement models and enterprise efficiencies. Cisco is seeking opportunities to engage with the Government of Canada on programs and policies related to digital readiness, innovation, technology, digital transformation and acceleration, digital skills & education, cyber security, AI, data, privacy, defense, Buy Canada and the broad adoption of information and communication technologies. Cisco will seek opportunities to engage with elected and non-elected members of the Government of Canada regarding Canada-US relations, the CUSMA six-year review, Canada-US tariffs as well as international trade generally. Cisco will seek opportunities to engage with elected and non-elected members of the Government of Canada regarding artificial intelligence policy, legislation, regulations, funding programs, skills, public and private sector adoption, etc. Cisco will seek opportunities to engage with elected and non-elected members of the Government of Canada regarding Bill C-8, An Act Respecting Cyber Security Cisco will seek opportunities to engage with elected and non-elected members of the Government of Canada regarding issues related to Right To Repair. Discussions regarding grants and contributions for programming in the not-for-profit / charity sector regarding skills and education. Discussions regarding funding opportunities to expand Cisco's R&D footprint, talent & presence in Canada. Cisco is seeking opportunities to engage with the Government of Canada on the Industrial and Technological Benefits Policy related to economic development and investment in Canada.