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

Summa Strategies expanded its defence, procurement and security practice with the addition of Michael Day, a retired lieutenant-general with the Canadian Armed Forces, as a senior associate. Day’s military experience spans more than 30 years, including serving as a NATO commander in Afghanistan and as a chief strategic planner overseeing the development of the DND’s cyber and space programs. In addition to Summa, Day is active in similar advisory roles for several organizations connected to the defence and security sectors, including L3 Harris Technologies, a defence contractor in the U.S., and Allen-Vanguard, an Ottawa-based company that provides products and services for countering terrorist and extremist threats.

Fitti Lourenco, a former director of government relations with Air Canada, joined Wellington Dupont Public Affairs as a vice-president of public affairs. Lourenco also has experience with the telecommunications sector as a former director of government relations for Telus. An understanding of “highly regulated” sectors is one of the strengths Lourenco said he brings to Wellington Dupont. He is also a former senior consultant with Hill+Knowlton Strategies, where he represented clients including BHP Billiton, Bell Canada, and Coca-Cola.

Conversations about economic development dominated federal lobbying in September, continuing a trend that began in May. Economic development was listed as a subject for discussion in 412 communication reports in September, and was followed by the subject of health at 353 reports, and environment at 331. Overall lobbying activity last month jumped to 2,380 total communication reports filed, compared to the 1,573 reports filed in August. Lobbying in September related to the federal budget showed one of the highest jumps in activity, reaching 206 reports last month compared to 83 in August.

The National Airlines Council of Canada (NACC) was the most active lobbying organization last week, with 57 communication reports filed. The NACC, represented on the registry by president and CEO Mike McNaney, communicated with 47 different MPs in September to discuss transportation, according to the reports. Prior to September, the NACC organized an email campaign requesting that messages be sent to MPs urging them to prioritize the development of a plan to safely restart the travel and tourism sectors. That campaign resulted in more than 312,000 messages sent by Sept. 14.

In new registrations, COVAXX LLC, a division of pharmaceutical company United Biomedical based in the U.S., started its first file on Oct. 16 with consultant Regan Watts of Fratton Park. The organization is interested in obtaining federal financial support for the development and manufacture of a COVID-19 vaccine, the registry shows. COVAXX has begun phase one clinical trials in Taiwan, and is seeking regulatory approval to conduct phase two trials in the U.S. Watts will communicate with the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), Health, Innovation, Indigenous Services Canada, and the National Research Council.

Cascadia Healthy Apparel, a manufacturer of personal protective equipment (PPE) in B.C., started its first file on Oct. 20 consultant Philip Cartwright of Global Public Affairs. The company is interested in speaking with the federal government about PPE manufacturing, according to the file. Cascadia designs masks with comfort in mind, including a wider nose bridge and softer ear loops. The company’s production facility was licensed by Health for manufacturing and distribution of PPE products in September. Cartwright will communicate with the PMO, Innovation, the Privy Council Office, the Public Health Agency of Canada, Public Services and Procurement Canada, and with MPs.

Davie Canada in Quebec increased its representation on the Hill with four additional consultants added to its file on Oct. 8. The company added Victoria Turnbull, the managing director and co-head of infrastructure finance at RBC Dominion Securities; Mark Johnson and Alexis Levine, both partners at business law firm Blake Cassels & Graydon LLP; and Christopher Bennett, a partner at business law firm Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt. Davie, a builder of polar and ice-capable ships, is interested in speaking to the federal government about the National Shipbuilding Strategy (NSS). Davie was selected under the NSS to construct at least six new icebreakers for the Canadian Coast Guard. The consultants will communicate with Public Services and Procurement Canada.

New registry files

Based on a search of the federal lobbyists' registry on Oct. 23 at 9:30 a.m.
 

New registrations

Reactivations