Here’s the news we covered this week:

Following the passage of Bill C-11, the Canadian Media Producers Association (CMPA) is taking a dual lobbying approach in targeting both the government and the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC), which will oversee the federal Liberals’ changes to broadcasting and streaming laws. “We’re on parallel tracks from this point forward,” said Reynolds Mastin, president and CEO of CMPA. “The government still has to draft the policy direction, and at the same time, of course, the CRTC is moving forward with its own process.”

In this week's On Queen Street, The Lobby Monitor interviewed Neil Brodie about his new role at Hill+Knowlton Strategies Inc., where he hopes to further expand the company’s reach and his own skills and knowledge. “Hill+Knowlton has a well-known name in the procurement sector and there's an opportunity to lead it, maintain the client base we currently have and to expand it across Canada and across sectors,” Brodie said.

The Grain Farmers of Ontario (GFO) was the most active organization on the federal lobbyists’ registry in April, holding a week-long blitz to build support for a bill that will carve out a carbon tax exemption for some on-farm activities. GFO was on the Hill between April 17 and April 20 to discuss “how grain farmers can feed the world, the need for a reliable fertilizer supply, and the importance of Bill C-234 to grain farmers in Canada,” states a tweet posted on April 19.

In our weekly lobbying wrap-up, the University of Victoria (UVic) filed the highest number of communications (23 reports) for the week of May 8, with most reports citing “Indigenous affairs” as the subject. The University of Victoria is represented by Kevin Hall, the school's president and vice-chancellor. The communications took place between April 20 and April 26. UVic communicated with Ben Chin, senior advisor in the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO); Housing Minister Ahmed Hussen; Chris Bittle, parliamentary secretary to the Heritage Minister Pablo Rodriguez; Jenica Atwin, Liberal MP and chair of the committee on Indigenous and northern affairs; and Danielle White, assistant deputy minister at Indigenous Services Canada.

In new registrations, the Canadian Blockchain Consortium has joined the registry to advocate for the “the fair treatment of crypto assets,” according to the file in question. The organization has hired Cameron Doherty, a consultant at Crestview Strategy, to discuss that issue and to also educate the government on blockchain technology and the blockchain industry within Canada. Doherty’s file is dated May 15, but is backdated to May 4.

FPX Nickel, a Vancouver-based nickel mining company, joined the lobbyists’ registry on May 15 to advocate for funding for its process of concentrating and refining nickel production. The company extracts awaruite, a form of nickel-iron alloy dubbed as a “naturally occurring stainless steel.” The company owns four nickel-iron alloy properties throughout British Columbia and one in Yukon.

Boosting its representation on the registry is Flair Airlines, which has hired Nasha Brownridge of StrategyCorp and Braedan de Bakker of Rubicon Strategy. The consultants will discuss the airline’s “positive impact to Canada’s economy.” De Bakker will also speak with officials to build support for airline competition by supporting ultra low-cost carriers through “financial assistance and other contributions.” The company now has a total of five consultants representing it on the Hill.

Dear reader, The Lobby Monitor will not publish on Mon. May 22, in recognition of Victoria Day. We return with daily stories on Tues. May 23. Have a great weekend!

New registry files

Based on a search of the federal lobbyists' registry on May 19 at 9:11 a.m. ET.

New registrations

Reactivations