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

Proposed changes to hospitality, political work, and relationship rules in the draft update to the Lobbyists’ Code of Conduct provoked strong reactions from some stakeholders during the Office of the Commissioner of Lobbying’s consultation period. Organizations such as the Government Relations Institute of Canada, Public Affairs Association of Canada, Canadian Labour Congress, and Canadian Society of Association Executives, expressed concerns regarding, or recommended changes, to several parts of the proposed code. The Lobby Monitor has summarized some of the key submission recommendations for each section of the proposed code of conduct. This week’s article covers the responses to rules 4, 5, 6, and 7.

Devon Cuddihey has joined Impact Public Affairs as a government relations associate, bringing experience in issues management, public policy, and stakeholder relations. He held multiple roles between July 2018, and April 2021, while working for Merrilee Fullerton, who was Ontario’s colleges and universities minister, and then long-term care minister. He has also worked as a parliamentary assistant on the Hill, and formerly an employee of the City of Ottawa. “I always wanted to be in the government relations field… and [working in politics] made me want to do it even more, being able to make win-win situations for everyone,” he told The Lobby Monitor. “Stakeholders help form your ideas and policy. We would take meetings from people with differing opinions, and finding that middle ground was fascinating.”

The issue of vaping flavours, as well as which ones should be allowed, continues to be a central focus for organizations interested in Health Canada’s review of 2018 vaping legislation. Health Canada launched its call for submissions on March 16 for the mandated review of the Tobacco and Vaping Products Act (TVPA). The Canadian Vaping Association argues that flavours are “core” to having combustible tobacco smokers turn to vaping as an alternative. Rob Cunningham, senior policy analyst at the Canadian Cancer Society, meanwhile, said “flavour is a major reason why youth vape. There are several thousand flavours. Some of them are even [named] ‘love pink’ or ‘savage rocket,’ which are not even real flavours, those are names, and they’re attractive to kids.”

The Canadian Nurses Association (CNA) submitted 60 of the 2,295 communication reports posted to the registry last week. The association communicated with Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos on Feb. 2; Greg Fergus, parliamentary secretary to the Prime Minister and to the Treasury Board president, on Feb. 28; Élisabeth Brière, parliamentary secretary to Minister of Mental Health and Addictions Carolyn Bennett, on March 16; and Rebecca Caldwell, senior policy adviser to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, on March 10. The CNA held virtual lobby days between Feb. 28 and March 11, discussing nursing shortages and other health human resources issues.

In new registrations, Co-operative Education and Work-Integrated Learning Canada (CEWIL) started its first file on March 15 with consultant Meredith Logan of Summa Strategies. The organization provides resources and promotes work-integrated learning, a method of education that combines academic studies with experiences within a workplace or practice. CEWIL will be “educating decision makers on their success with work-integrated learning and skills training,” states its registry file. Logan plans to communicate with the departments of Innovation, Immigration, Employment, and Women and Gender Equality.

Also new to the registry is Skills Canada, which started its first file on March 22 with consultant Kristina Martin of Kit Public Relations. The not-for-profit organization works with employers, schools, labour groups, and governments to promote skilled trade and technology careers through competitions and awareness programs. According to its registry file, Skills Canada will request meetings to discuss “continued investments from the Government of Canada to support skills development and employment opportunities in skilled trades.” In addition to Employment, Martin plans to communicate with the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), Environment, Immigration, Innovation, Global Affairs, Women and Gender Equality, the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, and the Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario.

Software company Xero Canada started its first file on Feb. 1 with Faye Pang, the company’s Canada country manager. Headquartered in Wellington, New Zealand, Xero is a cloud-based accounting software platform for small- and medium-sized businesses. According to its registry file, Xero is interested in discussing proposed updates to the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act, the implementation of an open banking system in Canada, and advocating for programs that will support small business growth and talent development. Pang plans to communicate with 17 government institutions, including the PMO, Finance, Innovation, and the Bank of Canada.

New registry files

Based on a search of the federal lobbyists' registry on March 25 at 9:01 a.m. ET

New registrations

Reactivations