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

The Canadian Alliance of Student Associations (CASA) plans to use the momentum from a “big win” on the elimination of interest from federal student loans to advocate for more cost-of-living relief. “We felt there was an opportunity right now with how the government was talking about inflationary relief earlier in the year, and really adjusted our strategy for the removal of interest on loans to get this done,” said Mackenzy Metcalfe, CASA’s executive director. The Lobby Monitor spoke with Metcalfe about the tactics the student association took to make sure their message was heard.

BioCanRx, which funds clinical trials for new cancer therapies, took to the Hill recently with a simple message: “Don’t let this go away.” The organization faces the possibility of being forced to stop its activities due to a lack of government funding. Dr. Stéphanie Michaud, BioCanRx’s president and CEO, said individuals supporting the cause targeted parliamentarians and bureaucrats with connections to health and science to make their case for  further funding. “When we tell our story, it just makes sense. This is an issue that we've been talking about for decades [about how] we're unable to advance our technologies here and we see them leave the country,” she said.

Blackbird Strategies is capping off three years of business with multiple reasons to celebrate: the addition of two new faces to the executive team, the move to a larger office space in Ottawa, and plans to expand the company to Saskatchewan. In October, the firm welcomed Bonnie Leask and Dan Pujdak. Leask is the firm’s vice-president, while Pujdak is the chief strategy officer. “I was lucky enough to add to our executive team two good friends who not only bring years of experience to their roles, but our combined skill sets fully round out the leadership team, greatly benefiting our clients,” said Lisa Kirbie, Blackbird’s founder and CEO.

The Canadian Dental Association posted 22 of the 252 communication reports submitted to the federal lobbyists’ registry last week. The conversations were logged under the lobbying registry files of president Lynn Tomkins and CEO Aaron Burry. The association communicated with Conservative health critic Stephen Ellis; Lindsay Hunter, chief of staff to Seniors Minister Kamal Khera; Nadia Kadri, director of policy to Associate Minister of Finance Randy Boissonnault; and Kevin Murphy, director of disability inclusion to Employment Minister Carla Qualtrough. Those communications all took place between Oct. 18 and Oct. 19. 

In new registrations, the Lions Club of Canada has hired PAA Advisory consultants Sean Casey and Elizabeth Seip, both of whom registered on Nov. 1, to represent it in communications with MPs, senators, and the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO). Lions represents 1,390 local clubs and more than 33,000 members across Canada. According to its registry file, the organization is interested in demonstrating member clubs’ “impact on their communities across Canada,” and raising awareness of the Lions more generally.

Christian child development charity Compassion Canada is also new to the registry. The London, Ont.-based group started its first file on Nov. 1, with consultant Stephanie Mitton of Beacon North Strategies. Compassion Canada joined the registry to discuss international development and humanitarian issues with Global Affairs. The organization is one of 14 “global partnership offices” of the Colorado Springs, Colo.-based Compassion International. The charity partners with local churches in 27 countries through child sponsorship, youth development, and critical needs donations.

Returning to the registry after two years is Vancouver Island University (VIU). President and vice-chancellor Deborah Saucier registered to represent the Nanaimo, B.C.-based post-secondary institution on Nov. 8, backdated to Sept. 19. Saucier previously represented the school between July 1, 2019, and Oct. 16, 2020.  According to its registry file, VIU is interested in meeting with federal officials to collaborate on research, reconciliation, climate change, and public service equity, diversity and inclusion projects. Saucier plans to communicate with the Privy Council Office, Employment, and Global Affairs.

New registry files

Based on a search of the federal lobbyists' registry on Nov. 11 at 9:12 a.m. ET

New registrations

Reactivations