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

With two bills before Parliament, a court challenge, and a number of youth movements speaking out on the issue, advocates calling for a lower voting age believe the timing is right for policymakers to seriously consider the reform. Thirteen individuals between the ages of 12 and 18 filed a court challenge in the Ontario Superior Court against the Canada Elections Act last year, while unaffiliated Senator Marilou McPhedran and NDP MP Taylor Bachrach have introduced bills to their respective chambers during this session of Parliament. “It's quite exciting to see the momentum building; there's growing support from across party lines to really increase the political engagement of children and youth and ensure that their voices are heard,” said Sara Austin, founder and CEO of Children First Canada, which advocates on a range of policies that impact children.

Speaking of proposed legislation, The Lobby Monitor has created a policy map for Bill C-18, the federal government’s attempt to require that large online platforms share revenue with news outlets. The map includes the details of the bill, its history, and which advocates have spoken on the issue.

Former Liberal staffer and campaign manager Dan Lovell has joined Sussex Strategy Group as a senior associate. Lovell joined Sussex’s federal government relations practice on May 2, and is currently registered to represent Berkshire Hathaway Energy Canada, Welded Tube of Canada Corp., and the Independent First Nations Alliance. Lovell told The Lobby Monitor that building relationships is a constant in his work, whether inside or outside government. “I think it's a very similar line of work that allows me to do all the things which I’m passionate about and care about, which is advocating on behalf of a group, whether it’s a client, a member of Parliament or a candidate,” he said.

Pulse Canada and Federated Co-operatives Limited (FCL) submitted 16 reports each last week of the 198 total communications submitted to the registry during that period. Pulse Canada communicated with Transport Minister Omar Alghabra on March 28; Arif Virani, parliamentary secretary to International Trade Minister Mary Ng, on March 3; Transport Canada deputy minister Michael Keenan on Feb. 8; and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada deputy minister Chris Forbes on March 3. FCL, meanwhile, posted reports that date back to communications in 2021. The organization connected with Francis Drouin, parliamentary secretary to Agriculture Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau, on Nov. 18, 2021; and on Nov. 8, 2021, with members of the Conservative Party’s Saskatchewan caucus, including international trade critic Randy Hoback, infrastructure critic Andrew Scheer, and Crown-Indigenous relations critic Gary Vidal.

In new registrations, DHL Express (Canada) has hired StrategyCorp consultants Garry Keller, Frédérik Larouche, Andrew Steele, and Brian Teefy, all of whom registered on May 4, to represent the company in discussions with Public Safety, the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), and MPs. DHL Express provides international shipping and courier delivery services to more than 220 countries and territories. According to its file, DHL is interested in discussing “policies around import and export of goods into Canada and the speed of their clearance by CBSA.”

The Alberta Hotel and Lodging Association (AHLA) joined the registry on May 4, represented by president and CEO Dave Kaiser. The association represents approximately 700 members, accounting for 78 per cent of guest rooms in Alberta. The AHLA, according to its registry file, is interested in discussing the temporary foreign worker program (TFW), as well as Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada’s federal tourism growth strategy. Kaiser plans to communicate with the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), Immigration, and the Canadian Tourism Commission, as well as with MPs.

Returning to the registry is Ovarian Cancer Canada, with consultant Dan Boudria of Hill+Knowlton Strategies. Ovarian Cancer Canada was most recently registered with CEO Elisabeth Baugh, but that file closed on Sept. 16, 2021. The charity is interested in discussing the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) funding “with regards to equitable funding in health research,” as well as federal research investment into “smaller, unique cancers” such as ovarian cancer. In addition to CIHR, Boudria plans to communicate with the PMO, Health, Finance, and Innovation, as well as with MPs.

New registry files

Based on a search of the federal lobbyists' registry on May 13 at 9:04 a.m. ET

New registrations

Reactivations