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

A review of the Conflict of Interest Act may not be likely any time soon, according to Duff Conacher, the co-founder of Democracy Watch. Conservative Leader Erin O’Toole proposed strengthening the act as part of his party’s five-point recovery plan released in March, but Conacher said that the Conservatives should put “their money where their mouth is” by pushing for a committee review of the act. Daniel Perry, a consultant for Summa Strategies agreed that opposition parties often talk about introducing reviews intended to strengthen transparency and accountability, but when they get to office “their tone usually changes a little bit.” The federal ethics office confirmed in an email to The Lobby Monitor on May 31 that Ethics Commissioner Mario Dion is not aware of any plans for a review to be conducted of the Conflict of Interest Act.

Former political reporter for the Toronto Star, Richard “The Badger” Brennan, has joined Enterprise Canada as the firm’s senior media adviser. Enterprise welcomed Brennan in a short video posted on the firm’s Twitter account on May 11, where Enterprise’s president Jason Lietaer and vice-president of marketing Dennis Matthews discuss the need to find a “real son of a bitch” to toughen the firm’s media practice. When dispensing media communications advice, Brennan stresses the importance of total honesty, because politicians or CEOs will “inevitably be called out on it at some point” if they lie.

Jean-Marc Prevost is the new associate vice-president of Western Canada at Counsel Public Affairs. He previously served in communications roles with the governments of British Columbia, Alberta and Manitoba, including as communications director for the B.C. Health ministry. His communications experience in Western Canada also includes serving as a staffer during the NDP government of former Alberta premier Rachel Notley (he was a press secretary for Minister of Economic Development Deron Bilous, Energy Minister Margaret McCuaig-Boyd, and Justice Minister Kathleen Ganley).

Five organizations tied last week by each filing three communication reports on the federal lobbyists’ registry. Those organizations were the Canadian Coalition for Firearm Rights (CCFR), Friends of Canadian Broadcasting (FRIENDS), World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA), Renaissance Capital inc., and Université du Québec en Abitibi-Témiscamingue. The CCFR communicated with Michelle Rempel Garner, the Conservative shadow cabinet minister for health, on May 3, to discuss an e-petition that opposes a Liberal government ban on assault-style firearms, according to Tracey Wilson, the CCFR’s vice-president in an email to The Lobby Monitor.

In new registrations, the David Suzuki Institute started its first file on May 19 with Seth Klein, the team lead and director of strategy for the institute’s Climate Emergency Unit (CEU). The organization is advocating for measures intended to address climate change, including increased federal spending on climate action and infrastructure, regulations to expedite greenhouse gas reductions, and a ban on fossil fuel advertising. Klein will communicate with Environment, Finance, Infrastructure, Canadian Heritage, and the Canada Council for the Arts.

The Rural Municipalities of Alberta (RMA) started its first file on May 25 with consultants Brian Klunder, Joshua Matthewman, Caitlin Drouillard and Duncan Rayner of Temple Scott Associates. The organization, composed of 69 of the province’s counties and municipal districts, is interested in discussing federal funding for the development and expansion of broadband services in rural Alberta, according to the registry. The Temple Scott Associates consultants will communicate with the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), Innovation, Infrastructure, Finance, and with MPs and senators.

Increasing its representation on the registry recently is BCE Inc. (formerly known as Bell Canada Enterprises), which added Earnscliffe Strategy Group consultants Charles Bird, Andre Albinati, Elly Alboim and Shakir Chambers on May 5. Also active on the file are TACT consultants Mikaël Guillemette and Yan Plante, and Ensight Canada consultants Jason Lietaer and Nivitha Jeyakumar. BCE is also represented in-house by its president and CEO Mirko Bibic. The organization BCE is reaching out to the federal government to discuss the possible return of cross-border play for professional sports franchises, with respect to COVID-19 protocols, according to the registry. The Earnscliffe consultants will communicate with the PMO, Transport, Health, Finance, Innovation, Global Affairs Canada, and with senators and MPs.

New registry files

Based on a search of the federal lobbyists' registry on June 4 at 9:30 a.m. ET

New registrations

Reactivations