Happy New Year! Here’s what The Lobby Monitor covered in the first week of 2023…

We started the new year with a spotlight on the Canadian Public Health Association (CPHA) and its new campaign to convince policymakers that federal legislation for public health and funding specifically for these services should be on their agenda. The organization hasn’t been active in the lobbying space in recent years, said Ian Culbert, executive director at the CPHA, but “given the changing context of Canadian politics writ large, we really feel that we needed to get more engaged with decision-makers, especially on the topic of public health system renewal, because there’s a lot of levers related to the recommendations we’re making that are squarely in the hands of our elected officials.” 

Over at the Canadian Medical Association, its president Dr. Alika Lafontaine is aiming to have a new conversation about a different way of doing health care after more than two years of a global pandemic. A national license for physicians, funding for primary care, and supports for health care workers experiencing trauma are all on the organization’s wish list, and form the basis of Lafontaine’s current discussions with politicians. “My approach to [speaking with] politicians is very similar to [speaking with] the public: how do you identify what is important to them, and [explain] how these solutions you’re advocating for can help them with the things that they know are important,” he told The Lobby Monitor in an interview. 

Last year was one of the busiest on record for federal lobbying and advocacy. Helping to signal that increase was a flurry of hiring with lobby shops adding new faces, offices and practices. The Lobby Monitor looked back at some of the industry movements over the past 12 months.

In new registrations, the Canadian RV Coalition started its first file on Dec. 19, 2022, with consultants Claudia Feldkamp and Daniel Brock of Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP, and Jonathan Ip and David Douglas Robertson of EY Law LLP. The coalition, according to its file, consists of the Elkhart, Ind.-based Heartland Recreational Vehicles, LLC, and the Goshen, Ind.-based Keystone RV Company. The file states that the two companies want to discuss the Excise Tax Act as it relates to the application of GST/HST on RV purchases, and the tax treatment of RVs imported into Canada from the U.S. The Fasken and EY consultants plan to communicate with Finance and the Canada Revenue Agency, as well as with MPs and senators.

Also new to the registry is the Less Harmful Coalition (Canada), which has hired Sandstone Group managing partner Kevin Bosch to represent it in discussions with the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), Privy Council Office, Finance, Health, Indigenous Services, and Crown-Indigenous Relations, as well as with MPs and senators. Bosch registered on Dec. 28, 2022, backdated to Dec. 14. According to its website, the Less Harmful Coalition provides “evidence-based policy and regulation for addictive substances that supports integrated reduced harm approaches.” The website states that it is supported by tobacco company Rothmans, Benson & Hedges Inc., and Venture for Canada, a non-profit that educates young people about entrepreneurship. Less Harmful Coalition plans to discuss and advocate for policies that promote smoking cessation and address addictions, according to its registry file.

Boosting its presence on the Hill is Canadian Artists’ Representation (CARFAC), which added consultant Jay McDonald of Global Public Affairs to its file on Jan. 4, backdated to Dec. 5, 2022. McDonald’s colleague, Monique Smith, has represented CARFAC since April 12, 2022. CARFAC is an advocacy group for Canadian visual artists. According to its registry file, the organization will promote the inclusion of an artist’s “resale right” in upcoming amendments to the Copyright Act. McDonald plans to communicate with the PMO, Finance, Heritage, Innovation, and Global Affairs, as well as with MPs and senators.

New registry files

Based on a search of the federal lobbyists' registry on Jan. 6 at 9:11 a.m. ET

New registrations

Reactivations