Zoe Romeo

Seeking support for the use of volumetric steel modular buildings as a solution for general housing supply, and affordable housing supply, needs. This includes seeking policy support for as-of-right designs, building code support, and programs that would support new economic investments in expanded manufacturing capacity in Ontario.

Monitor development of artificial intelligence legislation (AI), the Artificial Intelligence and Data Act under Bill C-27. Discuss Workday’s knowledge and experience in operating under artificial intelligence (AI) legislation in other states and provide insight towards Canadian legislation. Discuss objectives of artificial intelligence (AI) regulations in Canada.

Monitor development of artificial intelligence legislation, the Artificial Intelligence and Data Act under Bill C-27 Discuss Workday’s knowledge and experience in operating under AI legislation in other states and provide insight towards Canadian legislation. Discuss objectives of AI regulations in Canada

Introduction to the Canadian Civil Liberties Association Meet with new senior officials to provide an introduction to CCLA staff, activities and priorites Bill C-36, An Act to enact the Protecting Privacy and Consumer Data Act, respecting the need to include robust restrictions on private-sector handling of personal data and on the adoption and use of artificial intelligence tools to ensure protection of privacy and human rights. Bill C-34, An Act to enact the Digital Safety Act and the Digital Safety Commission of Canada Act, with respect to state-compelled limitations on free speech on social media, generative AI, and other online services, imposition of age verification requirements onto various online services, and compliance of the proposal with freedom of expression and privacy rights. 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, with respect to legal standards for peace officers/CSIS to obtain information, a proposed regime to require surveillance-enabled digital services, cross-border information sharing (which are also replicated in Bill C-22, An Act respecting lawful access), and amendments to IRPA that would impact refugee protection and permit categorical cancellation of documents, and which are also replicated in Bill C-12, An Act respecting certain measures relating to the security of Canada’s borders and the integrity of the Canadian immigration system and respecting other related security measures. The federal government's adoption of a public registry for its use of artificial intelligence tools, and how to improve the utility of this registry as a government accountability tool. Bill C-4, An Act respecting certain affordability measures for Canadians and another measure, and Bill C-25, An Act respecting the Canada Elections Act and to enact An Act to change the names of certain electoral districts, 2026 with respect to the information privacy framework applicable to federal political parties. Bill C-8, An Act respecting cybersecurity, amending the Telecommunications Act and making consequential amendments to other Acts. Lobbying around telecommunications and cybersecurity, with an intention of making proposed legislation more respecting of privacy and human rights. Bill C-15, An Act to implement certain provisions of the budget tabled in Parliament on November 4, 2025, and concerns regarding Part 5, Division 5, of that Bill and its proposed introduction of a "Henry the VIII" clause that would empower the government to exempt private and public entities from the application of federal laws. Bill C-16, Protecting Victims Act. Charter and civil liberties concerns about the legislation, particularly in relation to impact on s. 11(b) of the Charter. Bill C-9, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (hate propaganda, hate crime and access to religious or cultural places), and specifically that its new anti-protests provisions risk criminalizing peaceful protestors; its problematic removal of Attorney General consent requirement for hate propaganda charges; that its new standalone hate crime offence is unduly stigmatizing and paves the way to excessive sentences; that its proposed definition of hatred does not align with Supreme Court of Canada precedents; and concerns regarding the addition of a "promotion of terrorism" offence. The civil liberties implications of forced detox under the Protective Detention and Care of Intoxicated Persons Act, SM 2025, c 49. Consultation on prospective amendments to the Criminal Code related to offences against children. Prospective amendments to the Criminal Code related to mandatory minimum sentences and remedies for violations of s. 11(b) of the Charter. Bill S-209, An Act to restrict young persons’ online access to pornographic material, regarding the privacy implications of a proposed age verification requirement that would be imposed by the Bill on online enti

Lobbying for the preservation of affordable rental housing Lobbying for the development of new affordable housing, including co-operative housing. Lobbying to ensure that low-income households can continue to live affordably in federally-administered housing co-operatives after their operating agreements end with Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC). Lobbying for renewed low-income subsidies for federal indigenous co-operatives. Lobbying for new low-income subsidies for federal co-ops (including Section 95 program co-op housing). Lobbying for government to examine the consequences of the steady erosion of rent-geared-to-income (RGI) capacity for low-income households in existing federally administered housing providers, including co-operatives. Lobbying for energy retrofit programs for co-op housing. Lobbying around the elimination of homelessness 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

Seeking government engagement and alignment on Sustainable Finance and the recommendations found in the Environmental Defence co-authored Report ‘Roadmap to a Sustainable Financial System in Canada: Achieving Alignment through Credible Climate Plans'. Providing input on the design, scope and implementation of the federal government’s public transit fund.

Discussions with government officials concerning carbon emissions from fertilizer as it relates to municipalities and efforts to reduce carbon emissions. Rail, Airports and Ports: Federal policies and programs with regard to access to national and international markets for trade, intra-city movement of people and goods and sustainability of small and rural communities. Municipal role in the G-7 &G-20 and trade negotiations with foreign countries surrounding tarrifs. Support for farmer-centric policies and strategies that improve resiliency in the face of extreme weather, mitigate against rising costs and inflation, support food security, improve access to new markets while partnering to share the costs of reaching Canada's climate targets; Carbon emission-reduction targets related to fertilizer Federal policies and programs with regard to improving accesses to affordable housing, reducing homelessness, increasing social infrastructure required for immigration and refugee settlement and integration support. Homelessness; Encampments; redevelopment of public lands required to support communities that support the Canadian Armed Forces and its members. Affordable housing; Housing supply; Refugee and asylum seeker settlement; Housing Accelerator Fund; Rapid Housing Initiative; Housing-enabling infrastructure; Redevelopment of public lands; Environmental and sustainable development policies and programs with regard to local climate change mitigation and adaptation; Disaster mitigation and adaptation; Capacity building for sustainable community planning; Greenhouse gas (GHG) reductions; Water management, watershed planning, wastewater, and stormwater policy; Urban forest management and stewardship; Brownfield redevelopment; National Adaptation Strategy; Greener Homes Grant; Green Building Strategy; Green Municipal Fund. Community safety and crime prevention. National/contract policing; Community-based mental health and substance use care; Opioids and harm reduction; Auto thefts; Crime prevention through social development; Community corrections; Federal and municipal roles and responsibilities regarding policing duties and funding Telecommunications and Technology: Telecommunications policies with regard to universal broadband access throughout Canadian communities, antenna tower and municipal rights-of-ways. Rural, remote and northern municipal issues: Federal policies and programs with regard to delivering infrastructure funding in rural, remote and northern communities, trade irritants effecting rural, remote and northern communities, the development and implementation of the northern strategy in the three territories and the development of a rural champion at the federal cabinet level. Municipal Finance and Intergovernmental Arrangements Revenue sharing with the federal and provincial governments: Federal policies and programs with regard to the payments in lieu of taxes (PILTs) system, intergovernmental partnerships, recognition of municipal governments contributions to economic growth, the fiscal imbalance between each order of governments revenues options and their responsibilities to provide services and programs to Canadians. Municipal Growth Framework. Municipal-aboriginal relations issues: Federal policies and programs with regard to municipal-aboriginal relations, resources to meet the needs of the aboriginal population living in municipalities, municipal consultation and communication regarding land management and additions to reserve. Urban and Rural Indigenous Housing; Municipal-aboriginal relations International municipal development; Canadian foreign policy with regard to Global Affairs Canada (GAC) funded programs overseas in various countries Guidelines for urban transit, intra and extra urban transit systems: Infrastructure and Transportation policy with regard to the development of guidelines, policy and dedicated funding for urban, intra and extra urban transit systems; Intercommunity bus; Aerodromes and airport

Science & Technology Strategy - promotion of enhanced measures to increase research in science and technology Indirect Costs Program - support for enhanced provisions Increased support for commercialization of university research results Federal Research Granting Councils and agencies funding of research, academic pursuits, and publication or dissemination Centres of Excellence - promotion of increased funding for establishment of Centres of Excellence in research Budget - promotion of increased funding of research and academic pursuites

Advocating for further funding into non-profit housing and the community housing sector, as well as for mechanisms and programs that would allow community housing providers to increase the supply of affordable housing options. Discussions with government officials with regards raising awareness about the need for non-profit housing. Maintain and grow presence as the primary advocate at all levels of government for non-profit housing.

Discussions with government officials with regards raising awareness about the need for non-profit housing. Maintain and grow presence as the primary advocate at all levels of government for non-profit housing. Advocating for further funding into non-profit housing and the community housing sector, as well as for mechanisms and programs that would allow community housing providers to increase the supply of affordable housing options.

Apartment Construction Loan Program (ACLP) funding support tied to the construction of new student housing Discussing the development of a recognized institution framework for the post-secondary education sector and international student policies.

Over reliance on Automated Valuation Methodologies (AVMs) poses a significant risk for Canadian consumers, lenders and the financial system. The best option to minimize the lending risk for mortgage properties is to have an on-site appraisal conducted by a third-party appraiser to determine the occupancy, the condition of the property, the neighborhood characteristics, and ultimately, the existence of the property. AIC supports AVM regulation and the role of appraisers being recognized directly in federal legislation through the Bank Act. AIC is supporting OSFI Residential Mortgage Underwriting and Mortgage Insurance Practices and Procedures encouraging Federally Regulated Financial Institutions to employ sound valuation practices to determine the value of collateral used to secure and insure mortgages. Requiring FRFIs to apply proper due diligence by requiring valuation reports based on on-site, in-person inspections performed by qualified appraisers is a sound practice. It enables lenders to confirm the current valuation of the collateral when processing a mortgage loan application and provides the assurance that they are doing so with a valuation carried out in a fair and objective manner. In summary, we recommend that the Government of Canada continue to mandate, enhance, and enforce strong valuation fundamentals within FRFIs. AIC is advocating for OSFI to form a permanent, multi-sector, external stakeholder affairs advisory committee that would advise the regulator on emerging risks. With the government exploring EnerGuide Labeling of homes at the time of sale, the AIC recommends that this information, as well as other climate related risk information, be housed in a central, publicly accessible portal. As prospective homeowners and the mortgage lending industry rely, in part, on information gathered by appraisers to make their buying and lending decisions, accurate and publicly available information ensures that all parties are making informed real estate decisions. AIC Professional Appraisers adhere to strict educational and professional practice guidelines and can partner with appropriate governmental bodies and industry experts to help in the implementation process. The AIC believes a holistic approach to supply needs to be considered, where industry and municipal, provincial and federal governments all work together if there is any possibility for solving the lack of inventory and encouraging affordable housing prices. Some flood maps in Canada have not been updated for a number of years, in some cases for decades. The need for accurate flood information is essential to property purchasers, developers, lenders and to those engaged in municipal or land use planning. AIC is asking the Government of Canada to take on a coordinating role in this area. Downward pressure on appraisal fees and increasing demand for quicker turnaround times, combined with the restrictions on accessing good and reliable data, may ultimately drive professional appraisers away from completing mortgage finance work. This places a much higher risk for lenders and for Canadian consumers. Concerns over money laundering and the use of real estate assets to shield funds from scrutiny have become increasingly more strident in recent months. The AIC is asking the Government of Canada to assume a coordinating role in the development of beneficial ownership registries for real estate assets. Canadian consumers require additional education on the full range of fees associated with mortgage financing and refinancing as well as the role of various professionals involved in the transaction. A disclosure of all fees incurred as part of obtaining a loan should be a mandatory requirement for all lending institutions - federally and non-federally regulated – to ensure that Canadians understand the financial commitment involved in what is often the largest investments in their lifetime. This includes the appraisal management fee and the appraisal fee.