In Lobby Monitor news this week …

Crestview Strategy’s summer hiring streak has most recently resulted in the announcement that Bernie Morton has joined the company as a vice-president. Morton is known in Conservative circles as a former campaign chair to (now-Toronto mayor) John Tory’s bid to become Ontario’s premier during the 2007 election campaign. Tory was the leader of the Progressive Conservatives at the time. Morton also worked with the federal Conservative Party between 2005 and 2008. Recent Crestview hires also include Supreena Sekhon, a former Alberta bureaucrat, who will work from Calgary, Alta., and former B.C. NDP staffer Dario Garousian, who joins the lobbying firm’s Vancouver, B.C. office.  

Joining the registry recently is Defeat Duchenne Canada. The grassroots organization is focused on finding a cure for Duchenne, a form of muscular dystrophy that mainly affects boys. After going through a rebranding process that was completed this year, CEO Perry Esler told The Lobby Monitor that the organization is ready to advocate on behalf of those with Duchenne and their families at the federal level. Among the organization’s lobbying priorities is to advocate for faster approvals for medicines that can treat Duchenne.  

Summer months means less active lobbying, but The Lobby Monitor continues to keep an eye on groups’ efforts to get their message across as parliamentarians stay close to home. With eight reports, Ducks Unlimited Canada found itself with the highest number of communication reports for the week of July 25. The organization, which focuses on preserving Canada’s wetlands, told The Lobby Monitor that its lobbying is related to its participation in a “Green Budget” coalition which is advocating on common interests related to environmental conservation. Duck Unlimited Canada’s eight reports come from a total of 119 reports that were filed last week. 

Joining the registry for the first time is Whistleblower Security, which wants to talk to officials about its services and technology designed to protect the privacy of those who report ethical issues to government. Aurora Strategy Group’s Hasneet Punia registered on July 29 to talk to officials from Transport Canada about a possible procurement contract. 

Also new to the registry is Dapper Labs, a digital gaming company that designs its products for bitcoin technology. Susie Heath and Cameron Doherty, both of Crestview Strategy, registered on July 19, to represent the company in conversations on the Hill. The consultants are expected to reach out to officials in the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), the Bank of Canada, Finance Canada, as well as MPs and senators. 

Among the new registrations is Hill + Knowlton’s Don Boudria who registered to represent CSA Group on July 21 to “promote the benefit” of the organization’s standards related to policy areas that include long-term care in Canada, climate change adaptation, and disability and inclusion. Lobbying targets include the PMO, Treasury Board, Employment and Social Development Canada, and Finance Canada.

New registry files

New registrations

Reactivations

New registrations are based on a search of the federal lobbyists' registry at 9:25 a.m.