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

Democracy Watch is seeking the details of the federal lobbying commissioner’s investigation of two lobbyists after the Federal Court ruled that the organization’s legal challenge against the commissioner’s decisions on the matters can proceed. In a June 15 decision, Federal Court Justice Henry S. Brown permitted Democracy Watch to continue two applications filed in August 2020 for a judicial review of the lobbying commissioner’s decisions regarding two former election campaign staffers to Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland. Democracy Watch co-founder Duff Conacher told The Lobby Monitor he is requesting the details of the commissioner’s investigations, as well as the findings that led to the rulings.

A new advocacy group has helped push perinatal mental health onto the national policy agenda. The Canadian Perinatal Mental Health Collaborative has pushed for a national strategy since the advocacy’s group’s founding in 2019, culminating in promises in both the Liberal and NDP platforms during the 2021 federal election. “That's all we need to keep pushing this issue forward. Now, we're hoping to get on the mandate letter for the minister of health,” co-founder Patricia Tomasi told Hill Times Research (a sister publication to The Lobby Monitor which exclusively covers federal health policy.)

September marked the least active month in communication reports in almost six years, with an election campaign dominating two-thirds of the month. Only 381 communication reports were filed for September, the lowest number since the 296 filed in October 2015. September 2020, by comparison, featured 2,495 communications, while there were 457 in September 2019 (which also included an election campaign that ran from Sept. 11 to Oct. 21). 

In more recent communication reports, energy company Enbridge Inc. filed seven of the 349 reports submitted last week. Represented on the registry in-house by president and CEO Al Monaco, Enbridge operates crude oil and natural gas pipelines in the U.S. and Canada. Most of the communications were directed at Natural Resources Minister Seamus O’Regan’s staff, including his chief of staff, Paul Moen, on Sept. 28, and four communications with policy director Matthew Whittington between Sept. 9 and Sept. 30. Enbridge also communicated with Brian Clow, the executive director of Canada-U.S. relations to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, on Sept. 23; and on Sept. 28 with Alexandre Boulé, policy adviser to Foreign Affairs Minister Marc Garneau.

In new registrations, Bluink Ltd. started its first file on Oct. 15 with Lindsay Stevens of Summa Strategies. The Ottawa-based company, which develops digital identity and access management technology, is interested in discussing vaccine passports, especially an “alignment between provincial vaccine certifications and federal standards.” Stevens will communicate with the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), Immigration, Transport, Canada Border Services Agency, Canada Post, and the Treasury Board of Canada.

Also starting its first file with the registry recently is the United Property Resource Corporation (UPRC), a United Church of Canada-affiliated real estate development corporation. UPRC started its first file on Oct. 19, 2021, with Jordan O’Brien of The Porter O’Brien Agency. According to its file, UPRC will seek funding for housing and cultural projects. O’Brien is seeking to  communicate with 22  government bodies, including the PMO, Privy Council Office, Finance, Innovation, and Environment, as well as with MPs and senators.

Returning to the registry after 13 years and under a new name is Canadian Women & Sport, which started a file on Aug. 1 with CEO Allison Sandmeyer-Graves. Known as the Canadian Association for the Advancement of Women and Sport until 2020, the organization is advocating for the renewal of gender equity funding in sport. Sandmeyer-Graves will communicate with Heritage and Women and Gender Equality.

New registry files

Based on a search of the federal lobbyists' registry on Oct. 22 at 9:00 a.m. ET

New registrations

Reactivations