Here’s the news we covered this week:

The Lobby Monitor sat down with Lobbying Commissioner Nancy Bélanger in the twilight of her first term to look back on her accomplishments. During her term, her office’s website received a facelift, the online lobbyists’ registry was revamped to include more specific information about their reasons for lobbying, and the Lobbyists’ Code of Conduct got an update. One thing that didn’t receive an update during her term is the Lobbying Act which should’ve been updated in 2017 and again in 2022. “[The House ethics committee] is responsible to start reviewing the act, and I have not seen any motion or any discussions about that happening in the fall,” she said.

The Lobby Monitor spoke with Fred DeLorey, a former  Conservative staffer and partner at NorthStar Public Affairs, and George Soule, principal at Syntax Strategic and a former NDP staffer, about what the top priorities for MPs will be as they return to Parliament on Sept. 16. The consultants agreed that the fall session will see uncertainty thanks to the NDP’s decision to break its supply-and-confidence agreement with the Liberals, but there is still room for lobbyists to get results.“There's a lot at stake and a lot is happening, but things are incredibly fluid,” said DeLorey. “If you take your foot off the gas and just see how it unfolds, you are going to be behind the eight ball when things do change.”

Dying With Dignity Canada’s Helen Long foresees a year-long wait for a court date for her organization’s application arguing that it’s discriminatory for the federal government to bar people with mental illnesses from medical assistance in dying (MAID). The Lobby Monitor also spoke with Inclusion Canada’s Krista Carr about her organization’s advocacy efforts against the further expansion of MAID in Canada.

In this week’s communication reports, Eavor Technologies Inc. was the most active lobbying organization for the previous week, according to the federal lobbyists’ registry. The company’s six communications were submitted by Greg D'Avignon and Brian Senio of Canadian Strategy Group. The consultants are looking to engage with the federal government to discuss policy related to geothermal technology; advocate for policies and programs that support the export of geothermal technology; and seek funding from Finance, Innovation, Natural Resources, and other federal departments for the development of geothermal technologies and drilling techniques at the Alberta Drilling Accelerator.

New to the registry this week are 11 organizations including Maclab Development Group and the Canadian Online Gaming Alliance. Maclab will lobby on behalf of Jasper Recovery Owners' Group for funding to rebuild the fire-ravaged town of Jasper, Atla. 

The gaming alliance will lobby about the internet gambling industry and the issue of a  “consistent regulatory environment” across Canada. 

There were 42 new registrations this week including Tom Mavin, the regional Ontario director for Canada's National Firearms Association, who registered to lobby on the association’s behalf about repealing and replacing the Firearms Act., Two new registrations also belong to Tuti Sundara and Stefania Valente Gaudrault, consultants at PAA Advisory, who will  lobby on behalf of  the Black Screen Office about opportunities for federal government funding.

The following are new registry files, registrations and reactivated files posted on the federal lobbyists' registry between Sept. 9, 2024, and Sept. 13, 2024. The information is based on a search of the registry on Sept. 13, at 9:05 a.m. ET.

NEW REGISTRY FILES

NEW REGISTRATIONS

REACTIVATIONS