Here’s the news we covered this week:

The Lobby Monitor spoke with Isaiah Robinson, spokesperson for the First Nations for Finfish Stewardship, and Brian Kingzett, president of the B.C. Salmon Farmers Association, about their advocacy efforts on the federal government’s open-net salmon farming transition plan. “We're here to educate and provide clarity on this industry,” said Robinson, whose group held lobby days during the week of Nov. 27. “Our mandate is to keep the sector within our territory, but work in tandem with the Government of Canada and the province to help transition this industry.”

Canadian Fire Chiefs Association’s president, Ken McMullen, discussed the group’s lobby days earlier this month which were used to advocate for increased federal funding for fire departments to be better prepared for next year’s fire season. ​​“We may have been caught off guard or unprepared for the 2023 fire season, [but] that won't be an excuse for 2024,” said McMullen. “The weather is indicating that we will have a similar fire season in 2024, and quite frankly… we are ill-prepared for the 2024 fire season.”

Heather MacGregor joined McMillan Vantage as vice-president after leading communication teams at organizations such as Dairy Farmers of Ontario and Aurora Cannabis Inc. “Strategic communications is my first love,” MacGregor told The Lobby Monitor. “I really like the work of supporting an organization in defining, telling and using its story to achieve its goals.”

In weekly communications reports, Innovative Medicines Canada submitted 30 communication reports to the federal lobbyists’ registry, making it the most active group during the week of Dec. 4. The organization is represented by its interim president David Renwick.The organization’s registry file lists many discussion topics related to the pharmaceutical industry including regulations and the protection of intellectual property. Innovative Medicines represents companies within the pharmaceutical industry, according to its registry file.

In this week’s registrations, Lab 4 Inc. joined the federal lobbyists’ registry for the first time to discuss funding opportunities for the development of technology to help with the recycling of expired electric vehicle batteries. The company is represented by Patrick Gagnon of the Parliamentary Group. Lab 4 Inc., based in Dartmouth, N.S., is a mineral processing and engineering company which focuses on clean mineral extraction and battery recycling.

Also joining the registry for the first time is Giishkaandago’Ikwe Health Services as it seeks federal funding to expand infrastructure and address growing demands for its services. The organization is represented on the registry by Ron Gersh of TheCCSGroup. Giishkaandago’Ikwe Health Services, based in Fort Frances, Ont., oversees health care services for ten Anishinaabe communities.

In new registrations, Fintechs Canada has hired Rhys Dumond of Summa Strategies Canada to represent it on the registry. The consultant will engage government officials about the implementation of an open banking system, and advocate for the improvement of Canada’s payments system. Fintechs Canada is a not-for-profit organization representing Canadian financial technology companies

New Registry

Based on a search of the federal lobbyists' registry on Dec. 15 at 9:05 a.m. ET.

New Registration

Reactivation