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

Although the COVID-19 pandemic is placing limitations on the federal government related to issues facing Indigenous peoples and reconciliation, that hasn’t changed the government’s overall priorities, according to an emailed statement from Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs (CIRNA) to The Lobby Monitor. Some Indigenous groups in Canada are in a “wait and see” position with respect to federal government priorities, according to Christian von Donat, the director of government relations and strategy for Impact Public Affairs. 

Ethics Commissioner Mario Dion stated that an MP is able to benefit from a government COVID-19 relief program without worrying about a conflict of interest. Dion explained that the Conflict of Interest Code prohibits members from using their parliamentary duties in a way that would further their private interests. However, the Code excludes an action that has to do with a broad class of individuals, which is the case when millions of Canadians are eligible for federal programs such as Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy.

The Canadian Life and Health Insurance Association (CLHIA) is considering a virtual lobby day for the first time in the fall, to substitute for a cancelled, in-person lobby day on the Hill that was scheduled for April 23. Susan Murray, CLHIA’s vice-president of government relations, currently reaches out to public office holders through phone calls. A virtual lobby day would be more organized, with more CLHIA members contacting legislators through Zoom, Skype or conference calls, according to Kevin Dorse, CLHIA’s assistant vice-president of strategic communications, in an email to The Lobby Monitor.

Cirque du Soleil was in a three-way tie for the posting the highest number of communication reports between April 27 and May 3. The circus company posted six reports, along with the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association (CCA) and HealthCareCan. Cirque du Soleil is interested in obtaining federal support to meet its funding obligations during the pandemic, the registry shows. COVID-19 forced the company to close 44 productions worldwide, and temporarily layoff 95 per cent of its workforce.

In new registrations, Vaxil Biotherapeutics started its first file on May 5 with chairman and CEO David Goren listed as the senior officer. The company would like federal funding to support research and clinical trials for a COVID-19 vaccine, according to the registry. Goren will communicate with the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), Health and Innovation.

Another biotech company, Edesa Biotech Research, started its first file on April 24 with Daniel Brock, a government relations and ethics lawyer from Fasken. Edesa is interested in federal funding to develop a treatment for acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), which has been reported by many COVID-19 patients. Brock will communicate with the PMO, Health and Innovation.

N8 Medical, a developer of medical devices in the U.S., is new on the registry with a file started April 30 with independent lawyer Les Scheininger. The company is reaching out to the government to discuss a medical device for treatment related to COVID-19, although the file does not say specifically what device.N8 has developed the “CeraShield” endotracheal tube for patients using ventilators, which was approved by Health Canada for use in a Kingston, Ont., hospital. The CeraShield tube has a coating intended to prevent bacteria from growing on its surface.

New registry files

Based on a search of the federal lobbyists' registry on May 8 at 9:10 a.m.

New registrations

Reactivations