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

When she leaves office, Infrastructure Minister Catherine McKenna will be remembered for her role in implementing carbon pricing in Canada, according to some lobbyists. McKenna announced on June 28 that she will not seek re-election, but will remain as Infrastructure minister for “as long as needed.” Megan Lockhart, the vice-president of the Government Relations Institute of Canada (GRIC) and the senior director of digital and advocacy strategy with National Public Relations, said that McKenna became the “go-to” minister for lobbyists engaging with Canadian industries impacted by climate change policies. It will be important for lobbyists to begin reaching out to other MPs to keep them updated on industry impacts from climate change policies, according to Lockhart.

Gord Mackintosh, the former Manitoba Justice minister and NDP House leader, has joined the Winnipeg office of Counsel Public Affairs as a principal. Mackintosh’s experience with the Manitoba government includes service as the province’s minister of Family Services and Housing, minister of Family Services and Consumer Affairs, and as minister of Conservation and Water Stewardship. Counsel is Mackintosh’s first leap into work with a government relations firm. He described advocacy work as a “high calling.”

Applied Pharmaceutical Innovation (API) led in communication reports last week by submitting 15 reports out of a total of 98 from all organizations. Most (10) of the communication reports were for communications that took place in 2020. Hana Marinkovic, API’s director of public affairs and strategy, said in an email to The Lobby Monitor that the reports were filed late due to a misunderstanding between API and their consultant lobbyists regarding who should be submitting what to the registry. Marinkovic added that API has now implemented a “robust and thorough internal tracking system” to ensure communication reports are submitted in a timely manner going forward.

In new registrations, Waste Management of Canada Corporation started its first file on June 25 with consultant Fraser Macdonald of Stosic & Associates. The company is interested in discussing Bill C-204, and the bill’s potential impacts on its operations and on Canada’s waste disposal capacity, the registry shows. If the bill receives royal assent, it would ban the export of non-recyclable plastic waste from Canada to foreign countries, with financial penalties for violations. Macdonald will communicate with the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), Environment, Global Affairs Canada, MPs and senators.

The Canadian Internet Registration Authority (CIRA) started its first file on June 30 with consultant James Patrick of Proof Strategies to discuss Bill C-11, the Digital Charter Implementation Act, 2020. The bill would repeal sections of the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act so they can be replaced with a new legislative regime governing the collection, use, and disclosure of online personal information for commercial activity. Patrick will communicate with the PMO, the Privy Council Office, Innovation, Finance, Canadian Heritage, the Bank of Canada, senators and MPs.

Festivals and Major Events (FAME) Canada increased its representation on the Hill by adding consultant Matthew Conway of the Capital Hill Group to its file on June 28. Conway joins colleagues Tara Beauport, Dennis Burnside and David Angus on the file. FAME Canada is interested in engaging the federal government about funding programs to support festivals and other major events, according to the registry. Conway will communicate with the PMO, Innovation, Canadian Heritage, Finance, Public Services and Procurement Canada, and with MPs.
 

New registry files

Based on a search of the federal lobbyists' registry on July 2 at 9:30 a.m. ET

New registrations

Reactivations

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

We profiled Bea Bruske, the new president of the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC), who told us that “time is of the essence” to advocate on issues including pharmacare and child care, with a possible federal election coming later this year. Bruske was elected on June 18, taking over the mantle from retiring CLC president Hassan Yussuff, who was appointed to the Senate by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on June 22. The CLC is a long-time supporter of national pharmacare, which would help manage the cost of prescription drugs. Bruske previously served for 27 years in various roles as an employee of United Food and Commercial Workers Union Local 832 in Manitoba.

The Canadian Vaping Association (CVA), which represents more than 200 retail and online vaping businesses in Canada, led in federal lobbying in May with 126 communication reports filed. The organization also led the pack in April with 258 communication reports. The CVA is focusing their energy on advocating that the federal government not implement a ban on flavoured vaping products. The government published their proposed regulations in the Canada Gazette, Part I, on June 19. Darryl Tempest, the CVA’s executive director, said he expects this heavy lobbying from the organization to continue for as long as the federal government is considering a flavour ban.

The CVA’s high level of engagement with the federal government was also demonstrated by its filing the most communication reports last week as compared to other groups. The organization contributed 68 out of 1,986 total communication reports posted between June 14 and June 20. The CVA’s reports showed communication with 69 MPs on May 21, including communication with Innovation Minister François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Agriculture Marie-Claude Bibeau and Minister of Economic Development Mélanie Joly.

The video game industry was successful in lobbying that it not be subject to Bill C-10, according to an examination of the stakeholders communicating with the federal government about the bill. The bill is the first revision of the Broadcasting Act in three decades. Jayson Hilchie, the president and CEO of the Entertainment Software Association of Canada, said he was surprised to find the video game industry originally listed in the bill, since they are not regulated by the CRTC. Canadian Heritage Minister Steven Guilbeault agreed to remove the video game industry from the legislation, following lobbying efforts by the association. Bill C-10 passed third reading in the House on June 21, and reached second reading in the Senate on June 23.

In new registrations, the Canadian Society of Nutrition Management (CSNM) started its first registry file on June 21 with consultants Donald Gracey, Nancy Coldham and Paola Cetares of CG Group. The organization is advocating that national standards for long-term care homes include a requirement for the employment of nutrition managers, the registry shows. National standards for long-term care are currently being co-developed by the Health Standards Organization, the Standards Council of Canada and the Canadian Standards Association. The CG Group consultants will communicate with Finance, Health and the Intergovernmental Affairs Secretariat.

Sobeys, a food retailer with more than 1,500 stores across Canada, started its first file on the registry on June 22 with consultant Tiéoulé Traoré of National Public Relations. The company is interested in discussing issues pertaining to the retail food sector, including sustainability, and the dynamics between retailers and food producers and processors, the registry shows. Traoré will communicate with the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), the Privy Council Office, Innovation, Environment, Agriculture, and with MPs.

Switch Health Holdings, a health care company based in Toronto, started its first file on June 13 with Andrew House, a partner at law firm Fasken. The company has developed rapid COVID-19 testing kits and established health clinics for COVID-19 lab tests, and is interested in discussing its technology with the federal government, in relation to facilitating cross-border travel, according to the file. House will communicate with Immigration, Health, the Canada Border Services Agency and with the Public Health Agency of Canada.
 

New registry files

Based on a search of the federal lobbyists' registry on June 25 at 10:00 a.m. ET

New registrations

Reactivations