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

The Canadian Association for Long Term Care (CALTC) is advocating for an expansion of federal infrastructure funding to include long-term care homes, according to its 2021 pre-budget submission. Another advocacy group for seniors, CARP, is also pushing for infrastructure spending as an important step in addressing the challenges facing long-term care facilities. The Liberals’ throne speech on Sept. 23 did not make any promises related to infrastructure spending for long-term care, but did promise amendments to the Criminal Code to “explicitly” penalize anyone endangering seniors under their care through neglect.

Jason Kerr, a senior director of government relations for the Canadian Automobile Association, was announced as the new president of the Government Relations Institute of Canada (GRIC) in a Twitter post on Sept. 28. During the COVID-19 pandemic, GRIC cancelled many in-person events it had planned for the spring and fall in favour of virtual events, according to Kerr. GRIC’s annual mentorship program will begin this month, and this year will be conducted entirely through phone calls or virtual platforms. Kerr formerly served as GRIC’s vice-president, and has taken over his current role from Alayne Crawford, who has stepped down.

Crestview Strategy launched a web portal on Sept. 24 containing resources to help those in the public affairs space adjust to working from home during the COVID-19 pandemic. The web portal includes a media kit, tips related to virtual advocacy, and advice on how to get messages in front of decision makers in the government. Crestview isn’t the only government relations firm to expand its operations as a reaction to COVID-19. Global Public Affairs developed a sports and tourism practice in July in response to the economic impacts the pandemic is having on those sectors.

Pharmaceutical giant Sanofi Pasteur Limited posted seven communication reports last week on the federal lobbyists’ registry. The company contacted Arianne Reza, the assistant deputy minister of Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC), on four occasions between Aug. 5 and Aug. 14, and Joelle Paquette, the director general of PSPC, on Aug. 26, Aug. 27 and Aug. 31. Sanofi announced in a press release on Sept. 22 it signed an agreement with the federal government to supply up to 72 million doses of a COVID-19 vaccine, beginning in 2021. The company is active on the registry with Fabien Marino, the company’s vice-president of industrial affairs, and consultant David Angus of Capital Hill Group.

In new registrations, Canada Clean Energy Corp. started its first file on Sept. 21 with consultants Ramina Ghassemi, Mark Resnick and Timothy Murphy of McMillan Vantage Policy Group. The organization is interested in federal government support in order to build zero-carbon power plants across Canada, with the first to be completed in 2024. The consultants will communicate with the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), Environment, Finance, Infrastructure, Natural Resources Canada and the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat.

Lyft Canada, the Canadian branch of ridesharing company Lyft, started its first file on Aug. 26, which was posted on Oct. 2. Aaron Zifkin, the managing director for Canada, is the senior officer on the file. Lyft Canada is interested in speaking to the federal government about the company’s commitment to move towards electric-only vehicles, the registry shows. Zifkin will communicate with the PMO, Innovation, Environment, Transport, and Employment and Social Development Canada. 

Trebor RX, a company that produces personal protective equipment (PPE), started its first file on Sept. 21 with consultant Matthew Henley of Wellington Dupont. The company is seeking approval from Health Canada for distribution of its PPE in Canada, according to the file. Henley will communicate with the PMO, Health and with MPs.

New registry files

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

New registrations

Reactivations