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

Innovative Research Group president Greg Lyle told public affairs and government relations professionals on Oct. 6 that a decline in the strength of the Liberal Party’s brand during the last federal election will have long-term implications on the Hill. During a Public Affairs Association of Canada webinar, Lyle said there were still lessons to be taken from the campaign, even if the seat count in Parliament did not change much. “A lot of people have been talking about this election as a Seinfeld election; an election that wasn’t about anything,” he said. “As we’ve looked at the election polling and a post-election study, it’s pretty clear to me that a couple of important things happened.”

Some health advocacy groups are further equipping themselves to argue why their non-COVID-related asks should be a priority, as the re-elected federal Liberal government prepares for another round at leading Canada through the pandemic. Hill Times Research (a sister publication to The Lobby Monitor which exclusively covers federal health policy) spoke with three organizations who have joined the federal lobbyists’ registry or strengthened their lobbying representation to push their policy priorities forward during Parliament 44.

Janice Nicholson has joined Bluesky Strategy Group as the firm’s first vice-president of digital. Nicholson has spent 20 years in digital communications, including at Toronto’s Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) from 2007 to 2018, and the NHL’s Ottawa Senators from 2018 to 2020. “One of the key points that I always made to [clients and employers] is that the conversations are taking place [online], and so you need to be there, you need to be part of it, because they’re going to take place whether you’re there or not,” she said.

The Canadian Standards Association submitted eight of the 31 communication reports logged last week. Represented on the registry in-house by president and CEO David Weinstein, the association develops public and private sector industry standards, as well as testing, inspection and certification services. The group communicated with Marianne Armstrong, the leader of the National Research Council’s Climate Resilient Built Environment initiative, four times between Aug. 23 and Sept. 20. It also communicated with Chantal Guay, the CEO of the Standards Council of Canada, on Sept. 17, and Stefanie Bowles, Public Services and Procurement Canada’s low carbon procurement project and team manager.

In new registrations, the Canadian arm of publishing company Penguin Random House started its first file on Sept. 28 with consultant D’arci McFadden of McMillan Vantage Policy Group. According to its file, Penguin Random House is interested in working “with policymakers to strengthen Canadian publishing, support local bookstores and booksellers, and advance policies that increase our capacity to share Canadian stories and contribute to the economy.” McFadden will communicate with Finance, Innovation, Heritage, and Women and Gender Equality, as well as with MPs.

In climate-related registrations, Climate Proof Canada started its first file on June 28 with Tracey Bochner of Paradigm Public Relations. The organization is a coalition that includes insurance companies TD Insurance and Desjardins; the Federation of Canadian Municipalities; the Canadian Red Cross; the Canadian Chamber of Commerce; and the Métis National Council. According to its file, Climate Proof Canada wants to discuss the appointment of a national disaster resilience adviser to cabinet, and the creation of a national climate adaptation strategy to protect people and infrastructure from the dangers of increased flooding, wildfire and heat. Bochner will communicate with Environment.

Also appearing on the registry for the first time is Woolly Mammoth Outerwear Inc., which operates under the name Wuxly Movement and opened its first file on Sept. 24 with consultant Julie DeWolfe of GT & Company Executive Advisors. The Toronto-based company, which primarily sells animal-free parkas and other jackets, is interested in discussing the status and implementation of personal protective equipment procurement contracts. DeWolfe will communicate with the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), the Privy Council Office (PCO), Health, Employment, Canada Border Services Agency, and Public Health Agency of Canada, as well as with MPs and senators.

New registry files

Based on a search of the federal lobbyists' registry on Oct. 8 at 9:04 a.m. ET

New registrations

Reactivations

No files were reactivated during this period.

The Lobby Monitor will not publish on Mon. Oct. 11, due to the Thanksgiving holiday, but will return to its regular publishing schedule on Tues. Oct. 12. Have a great and safe weekend!