Here’s a rundown of news we covered this week:

Former senator André Pratte has joined Quebec government relations firm Tact Intelligence-conseil as a strategic adviser.

Pratte who served in the Senate from 2016 until he chose to resign on Oct. 21, will assist Tact clients by drawing upon his experience with Canada’s government, and a nearly 40-year career as a journalist.

The Senate has undergone dramatic changes recently, including the formation - and almost immediate collapse - of the Progressive Senators Group in November. Pratte considers the formation of that group, and the recent formation of the Canadian Senators Group, to be positive indicators of a Senate that is becoming less partisan.

Former minister of Foreign Affairs Chrystia Freeland was sworn in as Canada’s deputy prime minister on Wednesday, filling a position that has been vacant since 2006.

Freeland is also now the minister of Intergovernmental Affairs. Her appointment to these positions could indicate that the federal government intends to address division in Western Canada and make national unity a priority, according to Blake Oliver, a consultant at Crestview Strategy.

Three MPs from Quebec also stepped into new roles during the cabinet shuffle. Pablo Rodriguez became the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons, Mélanie Joly is now the minister of Economic Development and Official Languages, and François-Philippe Champagne takes on the role of minister of Foreign Affairs.

Oliver referred to these moves as promotions, possibly issued with the goal of strengthening support for the federal government in Quebec.

A green energy company, Canadian Solar Solutions, was the most active lobby group in October, surpassing competitors in other energy sectors such as oil and natural gas.

Canadian Solar filed 22 communication reports in October, which was a month marked by slow lobbying activity overall. October had the least amount of lobbying activity on the Hill so far in 2019, with a total of 384 communication reports filed.

International trade emerged as the most popular subject discussed on the Hill last month, appearing in 79 communication reports. Economic development was the second most-popular subject at 64, followed by research and development listed in 57 communication reports.

Parliament is set to reconvene on Dec. 5, and lobbyists will be paying attention to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s throne speech to determine how to craft advocacy messages around government priorities, according to Don Moors, senior vice-president of Temple Scott Associates.

However, subjects that aren’t mentioned in the speech won’t necessarily fall by the wayside for the Liberal minority government, according to Moors.

As an example, Moors said Trudeau might not put much focus on the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion project in the speech, out of a desire to gain supportive votes from NDP MPs.

In new registrations, a Saskatchewan-based company that developed an app for the cannabis industry registered for the first time on Nov. 15 to talk to the federal government about advertising regulations.

Weed.App has developed an app that allows licensed producers of the drug to promote their products. The company is concerned current advertising regulations for the cannabis industry are standing in the way of the app reaching potential customers.

Consultant Henry Awere of Strategic Outlook Consulting will communicate with Health Canada, as well as with MPs and senators.

A Vancouver, B.C. construction company, Nexii Building Solutions, started its first file Nov. 18 with consultant Taran Grey, the director of IP Lobby, to pursue federal funding for research and development projects.

The company announced in October it has developed a new building material, which it calls “Nexiite.” The material is a low-carbon product that allows for the construction of buildings using less concrete, according to Nexii.

Grey will communicate with the National Research Council.

Innovative Medicines Canada (IMC) increased its representation on the Hill on Nov. 18 by adding consultant Christopher Cochlin of Cassidy Levy Kent.

The IMC, an advocacy group representing brand-name drug manufacturers, is interested in discussing international treaty obligations related to the export of pharmaceutical products, according to the registry.

Cochlin will communicate with Global Affairs Canada, Innovation, Justice, and Health.

New registry files posted between 2019-11-18 and 2019-11-22

Based on a search of the federal lobbyists' registry on Nov. 22 at 9:00 a.m.

New registrations posted between 2019-11-18 and 2019-11-22

Reactivations posted between 2019-11-11 and 2019-11-15