Here’s the news we covered this week:

When Kids Brain Health Network (KBHN) ramped up its lobbying efforts late last year in a bid to secure access to a new government funding stream for its research grants, the organization found itself branching out into multiple areas of advocacy. While the funding application remains the KBHN’s priority, the organization has also turned its attention to bills that are likely to affect children with neurodevelopmental disabilities. Bills of particular interest are Bill C-22, Canada Disability Benefit Act; Bill C-35, Canada Early Learning and Child Care Act; and Bill S-235, National Framework on Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Act. “We want to make sure the government doesn’t forget about children with disabilities,” said Nicola Lewis, CEO of the KBHN. 

An organization representing campground owners was in Ottawa this week to renew its six-year push to change small business tax deductions. The Canadian Camping and RV Council warns that the current rules are creating hardship for family-owned properties despite renewed public interest in camping. The organization was in Ottawa for a lobby day on April 26, primarily to request changes to small-business tax-deduction rules to expand eligibility to small, family-owned campgrounds. “We’re currently seeing campground businesses and owners holding back infrastructure investments, improvements, and hiring additional staff because of the uncertainty,” said Ellie Abucay-Giammattolo, chair of the CCRVC.

Harrison Ruess has joined Spark Advocacy as a senior account director. He brings communications and campaign know-how from his years of working on the Hill and for the Canadian Chamber of Commerce. Working from the Ottawa office, Ruess will help clients across multiple industries to develop public campaigns. “Whether it's public relations or government relations, the key is to recognize that they're not separate pieces. You have to be doing the public pieces on top of what's happening behind the scenes,” he said.

The Capilano Students’ Union (CSU) and Breakfast Club of Canada tied for the highest number of communication reports posted to the federal lobbyists’ registry last week, as the two groups submitted lobbying activity from late last month. The two organizations posted 20 reports each between April 17 and April 23. There were 286 reports submitted in total last week. CSU is represented on the registry by executive director Christopher Girodat, president Karandeep Singh Sanghera, and vice-president Aryanna Chartrand. The organization communicated with Green Party leader Elizabeth May on March 23; Jenny Kwan, the NDP’s housing and immigration critic, on March 20, Liberal MPs Taleeb Noormohamed, Randeep Sarai, and Patrick Weiler on March 21; and Conservative MP Ed Fast on March 22.

In new registrations, the Canadian Accounting Software Coalition has hired consultant Regan Watts of Fratton Park, who registered on April 14, to represent it in discussions with the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), Privy Council Office, Finance, Innovation, Canada Revenue Agency, FINTRAC, and MPs. The coalition is comprised of Freshbooks, H&R Block Canada Inc., Intuit Canada, Wave Financial Inc., and Xero Canada. Its file states that the companies want to discuss digital payroll and invoicing, payment system regulation, small business digital innovation, and the government’s digital service delivery. 

The Forging Industry Association (FIA) is also new to the registry. The Independence, Ohio-based association represents both U.S. and Canadian companies. FIA started its first file on April 27 with Global Public Affairs consultant Philip Cartwright. According to its registry file, the association plans to discuss the Canadian forging industry, its economic contribution to the country, and its importance to the country’s defence interests. Cartwright plans to communicate with the PMO, Privy Council Office, Innovation, and National Defence, as well as with MPs and senators.

Marine Renewables Canada started its first file on April 1 with executive director Elisa Obermann. The Halifax-based association represents groups involved in tidal, offshore wind, wave and river energy, including developers, suppliers, utilities, Indigenous organizations, and researchers. Members of the association include EverWind Fuels, Shell Canada Limited, Dalhousie University, and the Newfoundland and Labrador government. According to its file, the organization joined the registry to advocate for the inclusion of marine renewable energy in programs such as the Clean Technology Investment Tax Credit, which was announced in the 2023 budget. Obermann plans to communicate with Finance, Natural Resources, Environment, Fisheries, Innovation, and the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency.

New registry files

Based on a search of the federal lobbyists' registry on April 28 at 9:09 a.m. ET.

New registrations

Reactivations