PolitiKit

Communicating with government officials, in general, about employment in the oil and gas sector, including as it relates to skills training and workforce development.

MODERNIZE PUBLIC PROCUREMENT: The federal government’s procurement strategy is outdated, leaving little room for creative solutions and fair risk sharing. Contactors shouldering the majority of project risk is becoming an untenable model for many smaller companies who already navigate a long list of red tape and challenges. The reluctance to bid on federal projects because of this heightened risk is becoming a real issue and is impacting progress on public projects. With productivity issues on the rise, now is the time to modernize procurement practices. Innovative procurement and delivery methods can improve productivity, enable cost savings, and shorten the timeline for construction projects. To build the infrastructure needed across the country, federal procurement strategies need to adapt to account for long-term value and sustainability, promote the use of alternative delivery models, and support shared risk.

BUILD THE WORKFORCE OF THE FUTURE: The federal government has an ambitious growth plan – one that includes repairing, maintaining and retrofitting aging infrastructure while also building for future climate resilience. Construction now employs more people than ever before, yet our industry will need to fill hundreds of thousands of jobs in the next decade brought on by shifting demographics and a spate of retirements. The situation is even more acute as the construction sector is already dealing with decades of chronic challenges in recruiting qualified workers. Our industry is struggling to fill indispensable jobs nationwide that are essential to build the infrastructure needed to support Canada’s future growth. To achieve Canada’s infrastructure goals, the construction industry requires an equal partner in government to grow the labour force.

Advocate for Labour and skills shortages, support for workforce development training and education

Canada Transportation Act as it relates to shipping of mineral products

Human Resources - Human Resources Development Canada - Mining skills development and training programs for Indigenous and under-represented groups in mining (female, new Canadians), with the Mining Industry Human Resources Council (MIHR)

Canadian Energy Strategy related to national level alignment on energy priorities

Discussions with government officials on policies with respect to mining industry operations, innovation, corporate social responsibility, environmental permitting, sustainability and climate change, and to provide updates on Newmont's Canadian operations and projects.

Canada Transportation Act as it relates to shipping of mineral products

Canadian Navigable Waters Act in respect to compliance for projects in the mineral industry

Air Quality Management System as it affects the mineral industry

Canadian Metals and Minerals Plan as it relates to NRCan's development of the plan and as it relates to the mining industry

Critical Minerals Strategy as it relates to the Government of Canada's policies and/or programs in support of critical mineral development

Doing Business the Canadian Way: A Strategy to Advance Corporate Social Responsibility in Canada's Extractive Sector Abroad in respect to Canadian mining companies operating abroad.

Canadian Environmental Protection Act as it applies to substances produced by or used by the mineral industry

Canadian Environmental Protection Act in respect to: Chemicals Management Plan; implementation of the Minamata Convention on Mercury; and the National Pollutant Release Inventory.

Clean Electricity and Fuel Regulations

Climate Change policies and/or programs as they relate to addressing greenhouse gas emissions and the decarbonization of the mining sector

Contracts for federal infrastructure construction and maintenance contracts ensure hours worked on federal projects are worked by apprentices. Also establish that apprenticeship hours requirement for recipients of grants and contributions for federal housing programs such as the Affordable Housing Fund, Apartment Construction Loan Program, and Federal Lands Initiative.

Temporary Foreign Worker (TFW) program and immigration changes, with respect to effects on construction sector.

Disability Tax Credit with respect to making it refundable and ensuring eligibility for Canadians with episodic disabilities

General review of all forest sector files and update on state of the industry to give public officials a better understanding of recent industry developments and key issues.

Establish a security rebate program for places of worship, schools and community centres. Institutions that pay for security personnel (such as guards from licensed companies or paid duty police officers) could submit those receipts with their annual filing to Canada Revenue Agency and be reimbursed for a portion of the total cost.

Hate speech and internet-based hate: For Canada to adopt policies – either/and through legislation or policies adjustments that will provide measurable standards for internet-based dissemination of hate speech, including explicit provisions within the Crimical Code and/or the Human Rights Act.

Temporary Foreign Worker Program: the Canadian Meat Council is advocating for the continued access for the Temporary Foreign Worker Program for Canada's meat industry. Nevertheless, and notwithstanding extensive efforts to recruit domestically, it is the reality of our industry that the number of workers required exceeds, by far, the number of both “lower-skilled” and “higher-skilled” Canadian candidates who are both willing and able to work in Canada's meat processing industry. There is now an application fee of $1000 per Temporary Foreign Worker- if a form has 1 employee or 100 employees the charge is $1000 per worker applied for. If the request is rejected the fee is not refunded. These fees seem much higher than a reasonable cost to process- especially when the request for multiple employees is rejected.

Harmonizing tax rules and incentives related to Employee-Ownership Trusts, to ensure that business succession (conversions) to employee-owned worker co-operatives are eligible.

Establishing a Canadian Co-operative Capacity Building Program (CCBP) equipped with federal funding to help co-operatives either start up, scale up, gain skills and expertise, and or prepare for their next steps.

The NACC is proposing an expansion to funding for active CAF members and veterans to support skills training and development for military personnel and their families. This includes potential expansions to the Education and Training Benefit for Veterans program.

Requesting equal access to input tax credits (GST/HST rebates) and inclusion in federal student aid, loan forgiveness, and repayment assistance programs, similar to public institutions.

"Restoring Apprenticeship Supports" Seeking training support, as seen through the Apprenticeship Capital Grant, and encouraging the Government to restore and new training investment programs to better support the skilled trades.