Here’s a look back at the news we covered this week:

Advocates are calling for support from the federal government for targeted initiatives with the goal of reducing the disparities in the health outcomes of Black individuals as compared to other populations. Toronto’s Black Health Alliance would like to see federal support for the creation of a community-led national strategy to improve Black health outcomes, according to Paul Bailey, the organization’s executive director. (This story was also published in Hill Times Research, a sister publication to The Lobby Monitor which exclusively covers federal health policy.)

Santis Health has expanded its team in recent months as demand for the health consulting firm’s services grows. Caroline Pitfield joined the firm as a senior associate earlier this month after 17 years in senior federal public service and political staffer roles. Other new hires include policy coordinator Foram Patel, who previously worked as a legislative assistant to Transport Minister Omar Alghabra, and consultant Johnathan Rix, a former director of government and stakeholder relations at the Canadian Alliance of Student Associations. “We're constantly trying to stay ahead of the need for capacity,” said Peter Cleary, a Santis principal. “But we're also going to make sure that we hire good quality people when they're available to us, because people want to work for an all-star team.”

The environment was the most popular lobbying topic in October, according to the federal lobbyists’ registry. Of the 956 communications reported for October, 160 listed the environment as a subject. That was ahead of economic development (158), industry (116), and science and technology (102). The Chartered Professional Accountants of Canada (CPA Canada) posted the highest number of communication reports of any organization in October, with 15 reports.

In more recent communications, Fertilizer Canada submitted 20 of the 221 reports posted last week. Represented on the registry in-house by president and CEO Karen Proud, the association represents manufacturers, wholesale and retail distributors of nitrogen, phosphate, potash, and sulphur fertilizers. The association communicated between Oct. 12 and Nov. 8, with Liberal MP Kody Blois, and Conservative MPs Cathay Wagantall, Corey Tochor, Dan Mazier, Dane Lloyd, Dave Epp, Gary Vidal, Jeremy Patzer, Kevin Waugh, Michael Kram, Randy Hoback, Robert Kitchen, Rosemarie Falk, and Warren Steinley. Fertilizer Canada also communicated with Senator Robert Black (Canadian Senators Group) on Oct. 20, Independent Senator Colin Deacon on Oct. 21, and Conservative Senator Denise Batters on Nov. 8.

In new registrations, Dataminr started its first file on Oct. 4 with Pierre-Yves Bourduas of P-Y Public Safety Management. The New York, N.Y.-based company uses machine learning algorithms to generate real-time alerts about breaking events for clients. Bourduas, a former RCMP deputy commissioner, will lobby the Mounties to adopt Dataminr’s First Alert product “as their primary early warning platform,” according to its file.

Also new to the registry is Generation Squeeze, which started its first file on Nov. 9 with Brianna Workman of Impact Public Affairs. Workman’s colleagues Amelia Chant and Nicholas Schiavo also joined the file on Nov. 18. According to its file, Generation Squeeze will advocate for the appointment of a “point-person for intergenerational fairness in budgeting processes,” that climate change be limited to a rise of 1.5 degrees Celsius, and for policies promoting housing affordability, and improved paid parental leave. Workman, Chant, and Schiavo will communicate with Finance, Innovation, Health, Environment, Infrastructure, Employment, and the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, as well as with MPs.

Returning to the registry recently is American Airlines, represented by Bruce Hartley of Prospectus Associates in Corporate Development. Hartley previously represented the airline, but that file closed on Feb. 16, 2021. According to its file, American Airlines is interested in discussing Transport Canada’s Air Passenger Protection Regulations “and their impacts on consumers and industry.” Hartley will communicate with the PMO, Privy Council Office, Transport, Global Affairs, and Innovation, as well as with MPs and senators.

New registry files

Based on a search of the federal lobbyists' registry on Nov. 19 at 9:04 a.m. ET

New registrations

Reactivations