Here’s the news we covered this week:

The Canadian Cancer Society’s April lobby day led the organization to be the most active advocacy group last month. The organization’s CEO Andrea Seale submitted 51 communication reports. The group discussed multiple topics during the lobby day including barriers to accessing cancer care, making the Caregiver Tax Credit refundable, and reducing the cost of cancer drugs, according to Helena Sonea, the organization’s director of advocacy. A total of 3,261 reports were filed to the federal lobbyists’ registry in April

In this week’s On Queen Street, Robyn Gray told The Lobby Monitor that she returned to Sussex Strategy (she had previously worked at the consulting firm between 2012 and 2023) to work on projects that “are huge opportunities to reduce emissions.” Gray, who is now vice-president of clean infrastructure, said she likes “working on projects and seeing the physical development of the things that are really going to make a difference in the fight against climate change.”

The Lobby Monitor spoke with Marc Johnson, board chair at Support our Science (SOS), and Sarah Laframboise, SOS’ former executive director, about the grassroots advocacy efforts that played a role in convincing the federal government to increase federal research funding in Budget 2024. Johnson said that a walkout of research students and faculty across the country last May was “a very important turning point … As soon as we announced [the walkout], I got a call from [Finance] Minister [Chrystia] Freeland's office asking for a meeting. When people unite in such a way, it speaks volumes.”

In this week’s communication reports, World Energy GH2 submitted the highest number of communications to the federal lobbyists’ registry during the week of May 6. The company is represented by independent consultant Richard Florizone, who filed 36 communications dated between Feb. 10, 2023, and March 7, 2024. Florizone’s registry file states one reason for lobbying, which is to discuss the federal government’s green hydrogen policies, with a focus on export markets.

In this week’s registrations, U.K.-based tech company Zelim has joined the registry for the first time. The company is represented on the federal registry by Tom Dunne of CFN Consultants Inc. Zelim is seeking government procurement opportunities for its unmanned maritime rescue vessel, called the “Guardian,” that is capable of autonomously rescuing a person out at sea.

Also joining the registry for the first time is Grid United Canada Ltd., which is represented by independent consultant Ed Whittingham. Grid United wants to build awareness of the benefits of interregional electrical infrastructure, according to the consultant’s file. The company develops electric transmission projects that aim to improve cost-effectiveness and transition existing systems to net-zero emissions.

National Allied Golf Associations, whose members work in the golf industry, returns to the federal registry after a six-year break. The association is represented by four Impact Public Affairs consultants: Barbara Barrett, Brett Hartley, Anastasios Housakos, and Dylan Hellwig. Communications will seek to raise awareness of the sport’s economic impact and how it contributes to Canadians’ health, according to the consultants’ registry files.

New Registry

Based on a search of the federal lobbyists' registry on May 17, at 8:53 a.m. E.T.

New Registration

Reactivation