Here’s the news we covered this week:

The Lobby Monitor recently interviewed Interim Ethics Commissioner Konrad von Finckenstein in his downtown Ottawa office. The commissioner discussed the work that the office has undertaken to increase efficiency in his office, and to improve clarity around federal conflict of interest rules. Von Finckenstein also shared his thoughts on how to restore public trust in the government. “I can't think of anybody who deliberately doesn't want to comply with [the Conflict of Interest Act and Conflict of Interest Code for Members of the House of Commons],” he said. “Usually, it's either because of ignorance or tardiness or sloppiness, but not because ‘oh, there's that rule [and] I want to break it.’ If that rule is clear [and] if it's conveyed in a language that you can easily follow, it's most likely that you will comply with it.”

Dr. Sylvain Brousseau, president of the Canadian Nurses Association, and Angela Wignall, a board director for the organization, sat down with The Lobby Monitor after their Ottawa lobby day where they told MPs that “major health reforms” are needed across the country. “We are the largest health workforce as nurses to remain restricted by different technical and administrative barriers, as well, that need to be fixed …  because the old-school reform and even old solutions don't work anymore,” said Brousseau.

In weekly communications reports, YWCA Canada submitted the highest number of communication reports — 53 out of a total of 342 — during the week of Oct. 30. The organization is represented by its CEO Aline Nizigama. The YWCA will seek discussions on several issues including women’s housing and homelessness, investments in gender-based violence programs, and funding to support the mental health of frontline community service workers. 

In this week’s registrations, the Eleanor Crook Foundation is joining the registry for the first time to raise awareness about the significance of high-impact nutrition interventions in low- and middle-income countries. The U.S.-based organization hired Luwam Ghebre and Idee Inyangudor of Wellington Advocacy to represent it on the federal lobbyists’ registry. The foundation was established with the goal of tackling global malnutrition through advocacy and investment in research.

FusionBites is also joining the registry for the first time, and will be represented by Rick Hayward, president and founder of Brendain Incorporated. Hayward will engage the federal government to explore possible options to support FusionBites’ business expansion activities. FusionBites, based in Mississauga, Ont., is a company which provides food manufacturing and restaurant consulting services.

Cameron Doherty of Crestview Strategy has joined his colleagues Kema Joseph, Gerassimos Pepelassis, and Alexander Byrne-Krzycki in representing Bombardier Inc. on the federal lobbyists’ registry. The consultant will engage the government regarding the Department of National Defence’s “Canada’s Multi-Mission Aircraft” (CMMA) program, and to ensure that there is “a fair and open competition.” Doherty will look to communicate with the Prime Minister’s Office, Finance, National Defence, Transport, Global Affairs, Public Services, Employment, Environment, MPs, and senators.

New Registry

Based on a search of the federal lobbyists' registry on Nov. 10 at 9:06 a.m. ET.

New Registration

Reactivation