Here’s the news we covered this week:

The lobbying commissioner’s office published its monthly run-through of the most active lobbyists. The tally for August shows that Air Products Canada Ltd. submitted the highest number of communication reports. Of the 1,605 total communication reports, 26 belonged to Air Products Canada, who reached out to political staffers including Ben Chin (senior policy adviser in the Prime Minister’s Office) and Hannah Wilson (senior policy adviser to Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland).  

Also this past week, MPs returned to the Hill. What’s on the fall agenda? Housing, housing and more housing. That’s according to Ashley Csanady of McMillan Vantage; Bridget How, of Crestview Strategy; and Daniel Perry of Summa Strategies, who spoke to us about the hot topics for fall. The consultants also said that advocates can expect a focus on technology-related policy-making— in particular, Bill C-27, the Digital Charter Implementation Act, 2022. “It's a really extensive piece of legislation that has a lot of far-reaching impacts and we're going to see a lot of conversation on that bill,” said Howe. 

The House ethics committee didn’t waste any time in getting back to business. Members met on Sept. 18—the first day of the fall sitting—to question Konrad von Finckenstein, Canada’s new interim ethics commissioner, about his approach to the job. Von Finckenstein spoke about the importance of public trust in the office, and told members that, to his knowledge, he does not have any high-profile connections to any cabinet minister. The commissioner was questioned on the latter subject in reaction to the resignation in April 2023 of the previous interim ethics commissioner, Martine Richard, whose appointment proved controversial due to the fact that she is Democratic Institutions Minister Dominic LeBlanc’s sister-in-law. 

In weekly communications, Air Products Canada Ltd. submitted the highest number of communication reports — 26 — during the week of Sept. 11. A total of 1,333 reports were submitted to the federal lobbyists’ registry.The corporation is represented by its president, Francesco Maione. Air Products is also represented by consultants Geoff Turner and Stuart McCarthy from Bluesky Strategy Group Inc., and Ian Murray of Ian Murray & Company Ltd.

In new registrations, Dell Technologies has registered for the first time on the federal lobbyists’ registry as Dell Products L.P., to “assist in forming a strategic partnership” with the federal government. The company hired Vanessa Lamarre, Andrew Balfour, and Elizabeth Roscoe, all of Rubicon Strategy. 

Another company registering for the first time, Nuvo Built Inc., is looking for government support in providing a solution to the country’s affordable housing crisis. The Ontario-based company is being represented by Dario Dimitriev and Dan Mader of Loyalist Public Affairs. 

Also looking to discuss the housing crisis is Metro Vancouver, which has hired Amanda Van Baarsen, a consultant with Counsel Public Affairs Inc. Baarsen’s file states that the consultant wants to discuss financial support for “several Metro Vancouver policy priorities,” including affordable housing. She joins six Counsel colleagues in representing the organization. Those include John Delacourt, Brad Lavigne and Elizabeth Campbell. 

New Registry

Based on a search of the federal lobbyists' registry on Sept. 22 at 8:05 a.m. ET.

New Registrations 

Reactivations