Here’s the news we covered this week:

The Government Relations Institute of Canada’s Hunter Doubt and Public Affairs Association of Canada’ Kyle Larkin shared their concerns about a change that will see lobbyists having to be more specific about what they’re discussing with parliamentarians when they register their communications. Lobbying Commissioner Nancy Bélanger said the change enhances transparency but GRIC and Larkin said it could reveal strategic information to a lobbyist’s competitor.

In this week’s On Queen Street, Zachary Authier spoke to The Lobby Monitor about his time working for the Indigenous Resource Network–and managing a major policy win for the non-profit in 2023–and how those skills will transfer over to his new role as a consultant at Global Public Affairs. “I spent two years at the Indigenous Resource Network and [working] in a non-profit [where] you wear a lot of hats,” said Authier. “Now, I have opportunities to bring those perspectives and experiences to [Global Public Affairs’] clients.”

Summertime lobbying – it’s not all work and no play. The Lobby Monitor spoke to a handful of Ottawa lobbyists about the work they do while MPs are back home in their ridings. Brainstorming more effective advocacy strategies, meeting staffers, and drafting pre-budget submissions are some of the activities that keep consultants busy. The lobbyists who spoke to The Lobby Monitor also noted that they still make time for vacations and travel.

In this week’s communication reports, TECHNATION Canada is the organization with the highest number of communications registered with the federal lobbying office for the week of April 5. Angela Mondou, the organization’s president and CEO, filed 50 communications over the past week for conversations that took place between Jan. 30, 2023, and July 16, 2024. Mondou’s registry file cites 11 reasons for lobbying including advocating for the development of a pan-Canadian strategy for digital health and a national strategy to grow Canada’s digital economy.

In this week’s registrations, Alberta-based Indigenous Bridges Fire Safe Homes Ltd. registered to lobby for the first time as it seeks funding to rebuild after wildfires. Homeward Public Affairs’ Jacob Gorenkoff registered to lobby on the company’s behalf.

Out of the 12 new registry files this week, 11 come from Îles-de-la-Madeleine, Que.-based independent lobbyist Line Bouffard. She registered to represent Café de la Grave, Vent'iles Inc., and Carrefour jeunesse emploi des Îles, in addition to eight other companies to advocate for government funding to renovate buildings for increased  accessibility.

In new registrations, Compass Rose consultant Kyra Mullen signed up to lobby on behalf of STEM Camp. She seeks to arrange meetings with officials to increase awareness of the youth camp program’s operations, and secure funding to support regional development by increasing youth’s access to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education.

Arthritis Society Canada hired Stephanie Levee, senior policy analyst for 3SSixty Public Affairs, to lobby about increasing government funding for arthritis research, policy and regulation concerning medical cannabis, pharmacare, timely access to treatment for people living with arthritis, and the application of sales tax on medical cannabis in the Excise Tax Act.

The following are new registry files, registrations and reactivated files posted on the federal lobbyists' registry between Aug. 12, 2024, and Aug. 16, 2024. The information is based on a search of the registry on Aug. 16, at 9:08 a.m. ET.

NEW REGISTRY FILES

NEW REGISTRATIONS

REACTIVATIONS