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

Here’s the news we covered this week:

On Queen Street, Kalee Kent made the jump from Alberta’s conservative politics to government relations with a new role at Diplomat Consulting. The Edmonton-based government relations director worked to unify the Alberta Wildrose Party and Alberta Progressive Conservative Party into the United Conservative Party in 2017 and served as executive assistant to the chief of staff in the Office of Alberta Premier Jason Kenney.

The Lobby Monitor spoke with Aly Hader Ali, program director for oil and gas at Environmental Defence Canada, about the group’s advocacy campaign which parodies the messaging of oil and gas companies. “We wanted to grab the attention of people that are walking by and make them think: ‘Why is the font so nice with interesting text, but the messaging is a little ominous? What are they talking about here? What is Pathways Apocalypse?’” said Ali, referring to the made-up name Environmental Defence created for the campaign.

The Western Canadian Shippers’ Coalition was the most active lobbying group during the week of Aug. 26 with 23 reports.The Grain Growers of Canada were in second place with nine reports; and tied for third–with seven reports each–are the YMCA of Greater Toronto and the Canadian Federation of Students. A total of 128 communication reports were submitted to the registry between Aug. 26 and Sept. 1.

In this week’s registrations, St. Barbara Mining has joined the federal lobbyists’ registry for the first time to discuss mining regulations in Nova Scotia with the federal government. The Halifax-based mining company is represented by Sandstone Group consultants Kevin Bosch, Naresh Raghubeer, and Shawn Driscoll. Discussions will focus on engaging with the federal government to discuss regulations concerning oversight of mining responsibilities in Nova Scotia, according to the files.

Also making its first appearance on the federal registry is Quebec-based technology company First Block Inc., which is represented by Necib Safouane of Grantwise Inc. Safouane will engage with Innovation on behalf of First Block, which is seeking federal funding from the department’s Strategic Innovation Fund. The fund supports projects that will help Canada transition to a net-zero economy by 2050.

Another company joining the federal registry for the first time is the Canadian Ethnic Media Association, which is seeking federal support for independent ethnic media producers. The association is represented by independent consultant Isabel Metcalfe.

The following are new registry files, registrations and reactivated files posted on the federal lobbyists' registry between Aug. 26, 2024, and Aug. 30, 2024. The information is based on a search of the registry on Aug. 30, at 10:30 a.m. ET.

NEW REGISTRY FILES

NEW REGISTRATIONS

REACTIVATIONS