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

The easing of travel restrictions this week for fully vaccinated Americans entering Canada is a welcome development to the tourism, hotel and air transportation sectors, but lobby groups are urging the government to provide more detail about what comes next. Tourism Industry Association of Canada president and CEO Beth Potter said pandemic subsidies are still required for many tourism operators facing a difficult fall and winter. Hotels, which would ordinarily benefit from conventions and festivals in those seasons, expect pandemic hardships to continue until next spring. “Our downtown cores are virtually sitting empty,” said Alana Baker, vice-president of policy and public affairs at the Hotel Association of Canada.

Enterprise Canada’s in-house advertising and creative teams have been spun off into an external sister agency. Creative Currency is led by Dennis Matthews, a former advertising manager to then-Conservative prime minister Stephen Harper. Matthews says the 15-member team will combine the consulting firm’s public affairs experience with traditional marketing methods. “Some of the lessons that I took from my time in politics, the way we persuade or the way we handle a crisis or how we go and reach audiences, can be really beneficial to the corporate world,” he said. “Having people working on your marketing and advertising [team] that get that world is really valuable, whether you’re selling a product or service, or trying to change people’s minds.”

Misty Meeks has joined National Public Relations as a vice-president. A former Rogers Sports and Media marketing director, Meeks will build National’s strategy, insights, and digital practice. “I’m a builder by nature,” she said. “I didn’t want to join somewhere that had it all figured out, and I think the foundation here was excellent, but the potential to grow and do really interesting things is here.” Prior to working at Rogers, Meeks led Argyle PR’s digital practice, working with clients such as Red Bull, Nestle, and President’s Choice Financial on social media and digital strategy.

Canadian Geographic Enterprises Inc. filed 12 of the 121 communication reports logged last week. Represented on the registry by its president, Gilles Gagnier, the publisher of bi-monthly magazine Canadian Geographic was interested in discussing an education and awareness program on the subject of residential schools. The reports show communications with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Environment Minister Jonathan Wilkinson, Heritage Minister Steven Guilbeault, and Andy Fillmore, parliamentary secretary to Infrastructure Minister Catherine McKenna, on July 23. The organization also communicated with McKenna and Guilbeault on July 28.

In new registrations, Canada Fortescue Future Industries Ltd. (FFI) started its first file on Aug. 6 with Fernando Melo of Global Public Affairs. A renewable energy subsidiary to iron ore company Fortescue Metals Group, FFI is interested in discussing programs that could assist with hydrogen projects in Canada, including the Clean Fuel Fund, Strategic Innovation Fund and Net Zero Accelerator. Melo will communicate with the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), the Privy Council Office, Global Affairs, Finance, Environment, Natural Resources, Innovation, Crown-Indigenous Relations, and the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, as well as MPs and Senators.

Another company interested in discussing natural resources is Gensource Potash Corporation, which opened its first file on Aug. 9, with its president and CEO, Mike Ferguson. A Saskatoon, Sask.-based potash mining company, Gensource is seeking funding under the Strategic Innovation Fund to assist with practices that “will dramatically reduce the overall environmental footprint” of its operations. Ferguson will communicate with the PMO, Natural Resources, Innovation, Environment, Rural Economic Development, Export Development Canada, the Canadian Foundation for Innovation, and Western Economic Diversification Canada.

The Canadian Audit and Accountability Foundation (CAAF) started its first file on Aug. 11. Represented in-house by its president and CEO, Carol Bellringer, the organization conducts training for, and research into, auditors and elected officials to improve oversight and accountability in Canadian and international public sectors. CAAF is seeking funding for additional international programs. Bellringer will communicate with Global Affairs, Indigenous Services, Crown-Indigenous Relations, Women and Gender Equality, the Public Service Commission, the Canada School of Public Service, International Development Research Centre, and the Office of the Auditor General, as well as MPs.

New registry files

Based on a search of the federal lobbyists' registry on Aug. 13 at 9:00 a.m. ET

New registrations

Reactivations