Here’s the news we covered this week:

The Lobby Monitor’s review of Q1 communication reports indicated that advocacy efforts were motivated by the federal budget and election uncertainty. Niipaawi Strategies’ Cam Holmstrom and Temple Scott Associates’ Brian St. Louis shared their insights on lobbying trends in Q1 and their predictions of what is dictating lobbying in the second quarter of 2024. “For a lot of people, [Q1]was kind of the last opportunity to get your kicks in with this government, because yes, you can lobby and talk about Budget 2025, but how much of Budget 2025 is actually going to get implemented? If it even passes at all,” said Holmstrom, referring to the fact that 2025 is an election year.

And speaking of Budget 2024, Paul-Émile Cloutier, president and CEO at HealthCareCAN, and Alison Evans, president of Research Canada, discussed their successful lobbying efforts focused on advocating that the federal government increase research spending. The result was $1.8 billion for Canada’s federal research funding agencies, in addition to other measures. “I think when we started reading the budget, we were pleasantly surprised by the outcome of this budget,” said Cloutier. “We weren't expecting that because everybody was telling us that fiscally, it was very difficult, and that there were other political pressures and economic pressures that the government was facing.”

Paul Fogolin spoke with The Lobby Monitor about his new role as president and CEO of the Canadian Association of Recycled Industries, where he is tasked with raising the public profile of the organization in Ottawa. The group represents companies in the industrial recycling sector, which is an important component in a sustainable economy, according to Fogolin. “We have over 200 members across the country making significant contributions both to the economy and the environment,” said Fogolin. “But we need to tell our story better and get in front of decision-makers and forge more partnerships, so that the recycling industry gets the sort of recognition and attention that it deserves.”

In this week’s communication reports, Universities Canada submitted the highest number of communication reports to the federal lobbyists’ registry during the week of April 22. The organization is represented by its president and CEO Gabriel Miller. Universities Canada filed 11 reports out of a total of 100 communications submitted in the past week. The organization’s registry file states that the group is looking to discuss a number of topics with government officials such as funding for post-secondary programs and campus infrastructure, and issues concerning international students.

In this week’s registrations, Fox River Resources Corp. has joined the federal lobbyists’ registry for the first time in search of federal funds for its “Martison Phosphate Project” and to advocate that the government designate phosphorus as a critical mineral. The corporation is represented by Dan Lovell of Sussex Strategy. Fox River’s Martison Phosphate Project, located near Hearst, Ont. (which is approximately 260 km northwest of Timmins, Ont.), produces phosphate fertilizer products.

Also joining the registry for the first time is the National Farmers Union , which is represented by its executive director Mara Shaw. Discussion topics listed on the group’s registry file focus on policies, programs, federal funding and regulations related to agriculture. The grassroots organization represents farm families across Canada.

In new registrations, Northrop Grumman International returns to the registry as it seeks munition procurement contracts with the federal government. The American aerospace and defence company is represented by Bruce Hartley and Robert Evershed of Prospectus Associates. Northrop Grumman designs and manufactures defence products for the U.S. military and its allies.

New Registry

Based on a search of the federal lobbyists' registry on May 3, at 9:08 a.m. E.T.

New Registration

Reactivation