Here’s a look back at the news we covered this week:

Concerns over the political work, gifts, and hospitality sections of a proposed update to the Lobbyists’ Code of Conduct featured prominently during the final round of consultations on the draft changes. The Office of the Commissioner of Lobbying (OCL) published the submissions it received during the latest round of consultations on July 14. World Wildlife Fund Canada provided a submission, expressing concern with the “political work” provisions, arguing that the rule could “impose an additional chill against participation in our democratic process” and worsen declining rates of civic engagement. The Government Relations Institute of Canada and Public Affairs Association of Canada, meanwhile, said areas of concern remain around proposed sections related to close personal relationships, political work, and hospitality.

Moving from Ottawa to the Rockies, an Alberta parliamentary committee reviewing the province’s lobbying legislation has recommended against lowering the 50-hour threshold that decides whether in-house organization lobbyists are required to register, and has backed existing registration exemptions for non-profit organizations. The economic future committee, which examines policies related to Alberta’s economy and innovation, recommends that any future amendments “take into account the importance of public transparency with respect to the practice of lobbying,” and that the committee clerk provide the Ministry of Justice and Solicitor General with a copy of written stakeholder submissions received by the committee. A dissenting report by committee member and Independent MLA Drew Barnes, meanwhile, calls for reductions to the threshold, which he argued creates loopholes to avoid the reporting of activity.

Justin Bérubé, a former staffer to National Revenue Minister Diane Lebouthillier, has joined Earnscliffe Strategies as a consultant. He worked in Lebouthillier’s office from January 2020 to December 2021 as a regional adviser for Ontario, the West, and the North. Also new to Earnscliffe is Bethlehem Telahun, who joined the firm’s Toronto office as a government relations co-ordinator on June 13. According to her company bio, Telahun will support “government relations strategy and initiatives by establishing and maintaining key relationships with political staff, opinion leaders, and other stakeholder associations.”

The Canadian Dental Association (CDA) filed 38 of the total of 281 communication reports posted to the registry last week. In those communications, the association was represented by president-elect Heather Carr, vice-president Joel Antel, past president Richard Holden, and CDA members Daniel Albert, Christopher Robinson, Debora Matthews, and Nancy Auyeung. All but one of the communications posted last week took place between May 9 and May 13, when the CDA held its “Days on the Hill” advocacy event in Ottawa. The CDA communicated with Northern Affairs Minister Dan Vandal; Seniors Minister Kamal Khera; Darren Fisher, Khera’s parliamentary secretary; Mike Kelloway, parliamentary secretary to Fisheries Minister Joyce Murray; Conservative health critic Michael Barrett; and NDP health critic Don Davies.

In new registrations, United States Enrichment Corporation (USEC) has hired Sandstone Group managing partners Kevin Bosch and Naresh Raghubeer, both of whom registered on July 5, to represent it in discussions with the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), Privy Council Office, Finance, Global Affairs, and Transport, as well as with MPs and senators. USEC, based in Bethesda, Md., supplies enriched uranium to domestic and international nuclear power plants, including through contracts with the U.S. Department of Energy. USEC is interested in developing and delivering on “Canadian government policy, programs and regulations relating to nuclear energy, trade and bilateral relations,” according to its registry file.

Also new to the registry is Gibraltar-based Capital Com Investments S.V., an online investment trading platform. The company started its first file on July 10 with consultant Raj Rasalingam of Protocol Plus Inc. According to its file, Capital Com is interested in establishing a Canadian entity, and discussing the associated regulatory approvals under the Investment Canada Act. Rasalingam plans to communicate with Innovation, Public Safety, and with MPs.

Returning to the registry is Prairieland Park Corporation, owners of an event space in Saskatoon, Sask., that shares the same name. James Miley of Earnscliffe Strategies officially joined the file on July 14, though the registration is backdated to May 25. Craig Robinson previously represented the corporation from June 3, 2017 to Nov. 30, 2017 in his role as a consultant. Robinson is currently CEO at Earnscliffe. According to its registry file, the park corporation is seeking Infrastructure Canada funding for the refurbishment of an existing grandstand for “multi-sports use.”

New registry files

Based on a search of the federal lobbyists' registry on July 15 at 9:06 a.m. ET

New registrations

Reactivations