PolitiKit

Mrs. Cindy Gates-Dee, and the Dee family, seeks to lobby public office holders regarding Health Canada’s Guidance Document for Cell, Tissue, and Organ Establishments, Food and Drugs Act (R.S.C., 1985, c. F-27), and pp. 30-99, men who have sex with men (MSM), “exceptional distribution,” and the donor being flagged as “high risk,” Safety of Human Cells and Tissues and Organs for Transplantation Regulations (SOR/2007-118) and CSA Standards (e.g. Z900 CSA Standards).

Mrs. Cindy Gates-Dee, and the Dee family, seek to lobby public office holders to eliminate the use of ‘men who have sex with men’ and other criterion on the basis of gender or sexual orientation for donor risk assessments. Health Canada has indicated their intention to eliminate the ‘men who have sex with men’ criterion for donor risk assessments and are proposing moving toward gender neutral behavioral screening. A press release regarding this recent policy change was not found online; Public review period for comment was launched for the proposed amendments of CSA Z900.1 (General standard) and Z900.2.3 (Perfusable organs). The comment period will close on May 10th 2025.

Mrs. Cindy Gates-Dee, and the Dee family, seeks to lobby public office holders regarding Health Canada’s latest Guidance on the Safety of Human Cells, Tissues and Organs for Transplantation Regulations; Health Canada’s previous Guidance Document (i.e. the 2018 version in effect at the time) indicated that for deceased donors, the following evidence should be assessed in a physical examination: “for a male donor, physical evidence of anal intercourse including perianal condyloma”; After Mrs. Cindy Gates-Dee, and the Dee family, sought to lobby public office holders to have this removed from the Guidance the statement was subsequently removed by Health Canada. The statement does not exist in the updated version of the Guidance Document (updated 2024).

Mrs. Cindy Gates-Dee, and the Dee family, sought to lobby public office holders regarding Health Canada issuance of a Notice to industry requiring the use of universal Nucleic Acid Testing (NAT) for all donations to reduce the risk of HIV, HBV, and HCV. A Notice was subsequently issued by Health Canada requiring the use of NAT to reduce the risk of HIV, HBV, and HCV on February 25, 2025; In 2013, Health Canada made it mandatory to use HIV-1 NAT and HCV NAT assays to test cord blood donors and deceased tissue donors. At the time, this requirement was not extended to other types of donations, such as organs and fresh lymphohematopoietic cells, due to concerns about the accessibility of NAT assays licensed by Health Canada, as well as concerns about the rates of false positive test results. Over the past decade, the accessibility of licensed donor screening NAT assays for HIV-1, HBV, and HCV has increased substantially and the false positivity rate of the current generation of these tests has dropped considerably.

Mrs. Cindy Gates-Dee, and the Dee family, seeks to lobby public office holders regarding Health Canada’s Guidance Document for Cell, Tissue, and Organ Establishments, Food and Drugs Act (R.S.C., 1985, c. F-27), and pp. 30-99, men who have sex with men (MSM), “exceptional distribution,” and the donor being flagged as “high risk,” Safety of Human Cells and Tissues and Organs for Transplantation Regulations (SOR/2007-118) and CSA Standards (e.g. Z900 CSA Standards).

Mrs. Cindy Gates-Dee, and the Dee family, seek to lobby public office holders to eliminate the use of ‘men who have sex with men’ and other criterion on the basis of gender or sexual orientation for donor risk assessments. Health Canada has indicated their intention to eliminate the ‘men who have sex with men’ criterion for donor risk assessments and are proposing moving toward gender neutral behavioral screening. A press release regarding this recent policy change was not found online; Public review period for comment was launched for the proposed amendments of CSA Z900.1 (General standard) and Z900.2.3 (Perfusable organs). The comment period will close on May 10th 2025.

Mrs. Cindy Gates-Dee, and the Dee family, seeks to lobby public office holders regarding Canadian Blood Services’ 1998, and any subsequent, memorandum of understanding between the federal, provincial and territorial governments, Donor health assessment questionnaire (DHAQ) and Good manufacturing practices (GMP).

Mrs. Cindy Gates-Dee, and the Dee family, seeks to lobby public office holders regarding Health Canada’s latest Guidance on the Safety of Human Cells, Tissues and Organs for Transplantation Regulations; Health Canada’s previous Guidance Document (i.e. the 2018 version in effect at the time) indicated that for deceased donors, the following evidence should be assessed in a physical examination: “for a male donor, physical evidence of anal intercourse including perianal condyloma”; After Mrs. Cindy Gates-Dee, and the Dee family, sought to lobby public office holders to have this removed from the Guidance the statement was subsequently removed by Health Canada. The statement does not exist in the updated version of the Guidance Document (updated 2024).

Conversations with Government and elected officials regarding the Nunavut Impact Review Board (NIRB) review of possible expansion and future viability of the Baffinland Mine and the impact these matters have on the workers (our members) at the mine.

Advocating for increased funding to the apprenticeship incentive grant and completion grant and the Union Innovation Training Program (UTIP)

Amendments to the Red Seal Program with respect to criteria of certification

Discussions on the Employment Insurance system and positive changes that can be made to better protect workers.

Communicating with government officials about the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), formerly known as the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), specifically those provisions related to the steel sector.

Advocating that tobacco/nicotine taxation policies and tobacco settlement money in reinvested into respiratory health including lung cancer screening, chronic lung disease screening and treatment, mental health and addiction, tobacco/nicotine prevention and cessation support.

Auto Sector National Strategy - with respect to encouraging investment in the auto assembly and parts industry, including by fiscal and taxation incentives, foreign trade deficits, investment in research and development.

Mrs. Cindy Gates-Dee, and the Dee family, seek to lobby public office holders to eliminate the use of ‘men who have sex with men’ and other criterion on the basis of gender or sexual orientation for donor risk assessments. Health Canada has indicated their intention to eliminate the ‘men who have sex with men’ criterion for donor risk assessments and are proposing moving toward gender neutral behavioral screening. A press release regarding this recent policy change was not found online; Public review period for comment was launched for the proposed amendments of CSA Z900.1 (General standard) and Z900.2.3 (Perfusable organs). The comment period will close on May 10th 2025.

Mrs. Cindy Gates-Dee, and the Dee family, seeks to lobby public office holders regarding Health Canada’s latest Guidance on the Safety of Human Cells, Tissues and Organs for Transplantation Regulations; Health Canada’s previous Guidance Document (i.e. the 2018 version in effect at the time) indicated that for deceased donors, the following evidence should be assessed in a physical examination: “for a male donor, physical evidence of anal intercourse including perianal condyloma”; After Mrs. Cindy Gates-Dee, and the Dee family, sought to lobby public office holders to have this removed from the Guidance the statement was subsequently removed by Health Canada. The statement does not exist in the updated version of the Guidance Document (updated 2024).

Mrs. Cindy Gates-Dee, and the Dee family, seeks to lobby public office holders regarding Canadian Blood Services’ 1998, and any subsequent, memorandum of understanding between the federal, provincial and territorial governments, Donor health assessment questionnaire (DHAQ) and Good manufacturing practices (GMP).

Mrs. Cindy Gates-Dee, and the Dee family, sought to lobby public office holders regarding Health Canada issuance of a Notice to industry requiring the use of universal Nucleic Acid Testing (NAT) for all donations to reduce the risk of HIV, HBV, and HCV. A Notice was subsequently issued by Health Canada requiring the use of NAT to reduce the risk of HIV, HBV, and HCV on February 25, 2025; In 2013, Health Canada made it mandatory to use HIV-1 NAT and HCV NAT assays to test cord blood donors and deceased tissue donors. At the time, this requirement was not extended to other types of donations, such as organs and fresh lymphohematopoietic cells, due to concerns about the accessibility of NAT assays licensed by Health Canada, as well as concerns about the rates of false positive test results. Over the past decade, the accessibility of licensed donor screening NAT assays for HIV-1, HBV, and HCV has increased substantially and the false positivity rate of the current generation of these tests has dropped considerably.

Generals discussions on the energy transition which may include energy priorities, long-term energy security, competitiveness, infrastructure investment (new projects and retrofits on existing projects/sub project) and technology development. Discussions will include hydrogen strategy and other low carbon fuels including regulatory and fiscal frameworks.

Discussions with government on approvals and impact assessments for energy projects.

Raise issues impacting competitiveness and investment in the Canadian oil and gas industry. Desired outcome: leverage Canada’s comparative advantages including industry's investment in technology and innovation to support a transition to a low carbon economy.

Advocate for Canada to move forward with a comprehensive plan to meet or exceed the Paris Accord Climate targets.

Mrs. Cindy Gates-Dee, and the Dee family, seeks to lobby public office holders regarding Canadian Blood Services’ 1998, and any subsequent, memorandum of understanding between the federal, provincial and territorial governments, Donor health assessment questionnaire (DHAQ) and Good manufacturing practices (GMP).

Mrs. Cindy Gates-Dee, and the Dee family, seeks to lobby public office holders regarding Health Canada’s Guidance Document for Cell, Tissue, and Organ Establishments, Food and Drugs Act (R.S.C., 1985, c. F-27), and pp. 30-99, men who have sex with men (MSM), “exceptional distribution,” and the donor being flagged as “high risk,” Safety of Human Cells and Tissues and Organs for Transplantation Regulations (SOR/2007-118) and CSA Standards (e.g. Z900 CSA Standards).