Here’s a rundown of the news we covered this week:

Tactix Government Relations and Public Affairs launched a new life sciences practice in late June. The practice is led by Alain Madgin, managing principal for the Quebec region, and Tara Bingham, managing principal for Western Canada. Madgin’s previous experience includes serving as director of government relations for AstraZeneca and as strategic relations manager for SmithKline Beecham (now GlaxoSmithKline). Bingham also previously worked at AstraZeneca as a member of its federal government affairs team.

At this point, Democracy Watch will not get its day in court after the Federal Court of Appeal (FCA) on July 5 dismissed its application challenging the federal ethics commissioner’s decision on the SNC-Lavalin affair. While Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was found guilty in August 2019 of breaking ethics rules for his role in the situation concerning the engineering company’s legal troubles, Commissioner Mario Dion chose not to investigate the actions of other public office holders on the same matter. Democracy Watch has been trying to argue against the latter finding before a court. The FCA decided that Dion’s report was not judicially reviewable because it does not affect legal rights, impose legal obligations or cause prejudicial effects to the public office holders acting on behalf of Trudeau or other ministers in this matter.

Sam Turgeon-Brabazon, a former project co-ordinator of strategic business development for cannabis company HEXO Corp, has joined Global Public Affairs as a consultant for  the firm’s health and life sciences team in Ottawa. “I find that really, whether it’s public policy, business development, or anything of that nature, they really all focus on the main thing, which is problem solving - finding ways to identify opportunity, and when problems arise, see opportunities in those problems,” said Sam Turgeon-Brabazon to The Lobby Monitor in describing his perspective on his line of work. “To try to find ways to improve people’s lives, I think is one of the great niches that government relations aficionados can do.”

GNL Québec contributed seven out of the 88 communication reports filed last week. Since 2014, the company has been involved in a project to build a liquified natural gas (LNG) facility in Port of Saguenay, Que. GNL is represented on the registry by its president, Tony Leverger, board director Jim Illich, and TACT consultant Yan Plante. Some of those reports show contact with Jean-François Harvey, senior adviser for Quebec to Innovation Minister François-Philippe Champagne, on June 28; and Paul-Christian Nolin, regional affairs director to Government House Leader Pablo Rodriguez, on June 29.

In new registrations, Kampgrounds of America (KOA) started its first file on July 7 with consultant Stefano Hollands of Crestview Strategy. The company, which operates more than 525 campgrounds across North America, is interested in discussing its operations, safe tourism and border reopening with the federal government, the registry shows. Hollands will communicate with the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), Innovation, Global Affairs Canada, and Canadian Heritage.

In sports registrations, Rowing Canada Aviron is new on the registry with a file created on July 1 with consultant Curtis O'Nyon of Global Public Affairs. The organization is pursuing federal financial support in order to build a national training facility for Canada’s women’s, men’s and para national rowing teams, according to the registry. O’Nyon will communicate with the PMO, Western Economic Diversification Canada, Canadian Heritage and with MPs.

U.S. pharmaceutical company Moderna Therapeutics increased its representation on the registry on June 21 by adding consultants Patrick Kennedy and Andre Albinati of Earnscliffe Strategy Group. Also active on the file are eight consultants from PAA Public Affairs Advisors, including Noah Niznick, Paul Monlezun and Julie Groleau. Moderna is interested in speaking with the federal government about its COVID-19 vaccine, as it relates to procurement efforts and delivery, according to the registry. Other advocacy priorities include discussing federal government policies related to innovation, research and development, and biotechnology. The Earnscliffe consultants will communicate with the PMO, Innovation, Finance, Health, and Public Services and Procurement Canada.
 

New registry files

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

New registrations

Reactivations