12-Month Lobbying Summary - In-house Organization

Subject Matters

• Aboriginal Affairs
• Agriculture
• Animal Welfare
• Arts and Culture
• Broadcasting
• Budget
• Climate
• Constitutional Issues
• Consumer Issues
• Defence
• Economic Development
• Education
• Elections
• Employment and Training
• Environment
• Government Procurement
• Health
• Housing
• Immigration
• Industry
• Infrastructure
• International Development
• International Relations
• International Trade
• Justice and Law Enforcement
• Municipalities
• National Security/Security
• Regional Development
• Religion
• Research and Development
• Science and Technology
• Sports
• Taxation and Finance
• Telecommunications
• Tourism
• Transportation

Subject Matter Details

Grant, Contribution or Other Financial Benefit

• Digital Citizen Contribution Program (DCCP): The objective of the project is to combat online disinformation and hate, specifically, antisemitism and antisemitic conspiracy theories related to COVID-19 where it is spreading: online via social media. Antisemitism cannot be allowed to permeate civil discourse and become mainstream. Activities include: •Collect examples of how antisemitism presents itself in the context of COVID19 •Create website landing page lor campaign to highlight the campaign's purpose and goals •Prepare social media calendar for the duration of the campaign •Prepare Facebook ads, prepare toolkit to distribute to partner organizations to promote the campaign •Program content for campaign, run Facebook ads, and ensure participation from various cultural groups; and •Report to government and stakeholders on the outcome of the campaign. The Digital Citizen Contribution Program (DCCP) supports the priorities of the Digital Citizen Initiative by providing time-limited financial assistance that will support democracy and social cohesion in Canada in a digital world by enhancing and/or supporting efforts to counter online disinformation and other online harms and threats to our country's democracy and social cohesion.
• 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.
• Public Security threats to the safety and security of the Jewish community of Canada and the extension of funding of capital costs and staff training for security of communities at risk
• The project ‘United Against Online Hate’ aims to develop a national coalition with numerous targeted communities to actively combat online hate, following recommendations from the study conducted by the House of Commons Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights. We have been granted $141,000 for the government’s current fiscal year (ending March 31 2021). We were also awarded $31,800 for the year April 1 2021 to March 31 2022.

Legislative Proposal, Bill or Resolution

• A civil remedy based in human rights law, included in the Canadian Human Rights Act, with respect to combating hate speech, including antisemitism. Training for provincial attorneys general, prosecutors, and police to enforce Criminal Code hate speech provisions. Training and parameters should cite the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance working definition of antisemitism.
• CITIZENSHIP ACT (continued support for the power of the state under the current citizenship act to remove citizenship in cases involving war crimes, crimes against humanity, terrorism and extreme promotion of hate.)
• Civil remedy included in the Canadian Human Rights Act with respect to combating antisemitism.
• Diplomatic relations with Iran should not be renewed until specific conditions are met, including an end to calls for the destruction of Israel, an end to state-sponsored terrorism, and the provision of all evidence related to Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752. The entirety of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps should be banned by the government.
• Equip police departments to counter hate crimes and support targeted communities by providing additional resources to bolster existing police hate crime and community liaison units. Where such units do not exist, funding should be provided to establish them.
• Update the Criminal Code of Canada with respect to combating antisemitism and online hate. Create a national strategy to tackle online hate and radicalization using the 2019 Justice Committee report, "Taking Action to End Online Hate", as a foundation. A strategy should draw upon the Christchurch Call, and use the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance definition of antisemitism.

Legislative Proposal, Bill or Resolution, Policies or Program

• 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.

Policies or Program

• Accountability for Anti-Racism Initiatives: Public accountability measures should be developed and implemented to support and uphold genuine progress in combating hate in all its forms, as outlined in Building a Foundation for Change: Canada’s Anti-Racism Strategy 2019–2022.
• Advocate for restitution for Holocaust Survivors: Canada should continue leveling diplomatic pressure on countries in Eastern Europe that have evaded their responsibility to pass meaningful restitution laws.
• Advocating for the development of a national anti-poverty strategy.
• Agriculture Canada: Assist in securing termination of Israeli ban on Canadian beef imports as a result of BSE (Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy) protocols.
• Anti racism initiatives and expand support by Canadian government of different initiatives to promote tolerance and diversity, including genocide awareness, commemoration and education.
• Assisted living and low-income housing for vulnerable populations. Ensure those with developmental disabilities benefit from the government programs for affordable housing, and that a specific portion of the funds allocated for housing be designated for those with developmental disabilities. The national housing strategy should be implemented, with a portion of the funding earmarked for vulnerable populations, such as those with disabilities, seniors, and those who have escaped domestic violence.
• Canada and Israel relationship with regard to expanding trade between Canada and Israel through the promotion, application and expansion of free trade agreement
• Canada-Israel bilateral relations related to trade, investment and scientific and academic exchanges
• Canadian diplomatic relations related to the trade agreements with Israel and other nations in the Middle East
• Canadian participation in International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA)
• Continuing support of the Government of Canada's policy in maintaining the office of the special advisor on antisemitism of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE).
• Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada: Assisting Aboriginal leaders and Aboriginal women's groups in learning new models of community development through presentations on Israeli development models at MASHAV (Israel's Agency for International Development Cooperation in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Israel's equivalent of CIDA). Canadian participation in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
• Defense: Canadian participation in Operation Proteus; Discussions on Canada-Israel military cooperation, joint training exercises and military staff exchanges.
• End the ban on blood donations from men-who-have-sex-with-men, and implement new policies which ensure Canada's blood supply is safe, without being discriminatory.
• 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.
• Government Procurement: Facilitation of Canada-Israel meetings at ministerial level on issues of budget and procurement "best practices".
• INTERNATIONAL TASK FORCE ON HOLOCAUST EDUCATION, COMMEMORATION AND RESEARCH; ensure that the Government of Canada fulfills its obligations as a full member.
• Immigration: Discussions regarding the Immigration Refugee Board policies regarding refugee claimants from Israel; Discussions regarding overall Canadian immigration policy, integration of new Canadians and Israeli "best practices" regarding new immigrant absorption (e.g., certification of foreign trained medical professionals) and language training.
• Infrastructure and community relations with regard to the expansion of current PSC (Public Safety Canada) security related funding proposals to include broader definitions of participation and extended funding qualification timetables as well as broader range of items to be funded
• International Development: Advice on Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development of Canada (Global Affairs Canada) approach to aid directed at UNRWA (United Nations Relief and Works Agency); Advice on the renewal of the McGill Middle East Program in Civil Society and Peace Building It exists - since renamed International Community Action Network (ICAN).
• International Relations: Discussions on Canadian interventions at the UN regarding economic sanctions approved by the Security Council; Canadian positions on the NPT (Non-proliferation treaty) review conference; Canadian involvement in the Israel-Palestinians peace process.
• Launch a parliamentary inquiry on Canadians and global terrorism: Parliament should launch a study on Canadian victims and perpetrators of foreign terrorism to identify gaps and propose solutions in two areas: federal support for victims, and evidence collection on perpetrators.
• Make the Canada Caregiver Credit a refundable tax credit.
• Make the Disability Tax Credit refundable, and increase its accessibility by making it inclusive, especially for those with non-physical and/or episodic disabilities. Reforms should be undertaken in partnership with disability advocates, to ensure the application process is simpler, less subjective, and more accessible for individuals and medical professionals alike.
• Myanmar/Burma/Uighurs: Rohinga refugees and displaced persons: For Canada to augment humanitarian allocations to assist the Rohinga refugees in Burma and Bangladesh and implement elements of the recommendations submitted by The Hon. Bob Rae regarding the Rohinga refugee population.
• National Holocaust Memorial: To ensure that the Government of Canada provide resources for year-round access to the memorial as well as educations supports for visitors to the Holocaust Memorial
• Qualifications for refugee status claimants and citizenship and immigration requirements for new immigrants related to standards for qualification for entry
• Raoul Wallenberg "Park of the Righteous": For the Government to establish a national park in honour of Raoul Wallenberg paying tribute to individual Canadians who have made a significant contribution to humanitarian causes.
• Taxation and Finance: Discussions regarding CRA tax policies with respect to charitable organizations, and general policies.
• Transportation: Assisting in the development of briefings on airport security by Israeli officials for Transport Canada - including ministerial staff.
• WAR CRIMES PROSECUTIONS (continuing advocacy to push the denaturalization and deportation of persons found in Canada who lied about their records in the Second World War or more recent conflicts and the prosecution of war criminals when sufficient evidence is adduced.)

Regulation

• Agriculture: Canadian Food Inspection Agency regulations regarding ritual slaughter (Chapter 12) and labeling.
• Animal Welfare - Aligning shechita process (kosher slaughter) and compliance with updated CFIA regulations regarding animal welfare
• Broadcasting: Discussions regarding the award of new broadcast licenses by the CRTC
• Conflict of Interests, 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.
• Dairy Board: tariff exemptions for kosher cheese products: To ensure that kosher cheese products not produced domestically be designated as tariff-exempt dairy products.
• Department of Citizenship and Immigration Act, related to the application of and the issuance of visas.
• Include a question on religion in every census, instead of every second census.
• PSC (Public Safety Canada) and Infrastructure Canada seeking program applicability to full range of Jewish communal institutions with respect to the timing of the program and the scope and determination of reimbursements
• Tax credit for volunteerism: proposing that a process be added to provide tax credits for individuals who contribute time to charitable activities on a sustained basis.