Here’s the news we covered this week:

Sarah Laframboise, the executive director of Support Our Science and a Phd student at the University of Ottawa, told the Lobby Monitor about the group’s advocacy efforts to highlight the need for the federal government to increase funding for student researchers.“We have a filter that is excluding people based on financial ability, and not on actual ability and desire to pursue science and research,” said Laframboise. “I think it's a detriment to Canadian innovation. Every single student lost is a lost [intellectual property], is a lost discovery, is a lost health care product.“

The Lobby Monitor had a sit-down with Fred DeLorey, Adam Taylor, and Greg MacNeil, to discuss their new advocacy firm, NorthStar Public Affairs, and their partnership with Spark Advocacy and its president and CEO Perry Tsergas. According to DeLorey, a long-time Conservative insider, the launch of NorthStar is a “better opportunity to serve” clients as the company’s founders “have a great understanding of all of the political dynamics and what people think on both sides of the aisle.”

In weekly communications reports, Alstom Transport Canada Inc. submitted the highest number of communication reports this week—24 out of a total of 234—as it engaged in conversations with government officials about funding, infrastructure projects, and regulations related to public transportation. Alstom Transport is represented on the registry by its president Michael Keroullé. The company develops and markets transportation solutions such as high-speed trains, metros, monorail and trams.

In this week’s registrations, Filament Health is joining the federal lobbyists’ registry for the first time to discuss its investments in the development and manufacturing of psychedelic drugs and to educate officials about the medical benefits of psilocybin. The company is represented by Bill Anderson of Crestview Strategy.

Another company joining the registry for the first time is Outward Bound Canada, which is being represented by Jason Evans of Sussex Strategy. The consultant will engage government officials to “establish a partnership” with the federal government to help fund nature education and preservation initiatives. Outward Bound sponsors activities for Canadian students (between the ages of nine and 17) with the goal of encouraging and increasing time spent outdoors.

In new registrations, Insilico Medicine Canada has hired Simon Leblanc of National Public Relations to represent it on the federal registry. Leblanc will arrange meetings with government officials to discuss the company’s “inauguration of its Artificial Intelligence Research and Development Center in Montreal.” The company uses artificial intelligence to accelerate drug discovery and development through its “Pharma.AI” platform.

New Registry

Based on a search of the federal lobbyists' registry on Oct. 9 at 8:54 a.m. ET.

New Registration

Reactivation