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

Staffing changes to the Finance minister’s office haven’t yet been announced since Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland assumed the role. Dan Moulton, a vice-president at Crestview Strategy, expects Freeland will want to hang on to enough of former Finance minister Bill Morneau’s staff to have “stability.” The immediate priority facing Freeland as Finance minister will be the economic update or budget expected in the fall.

The Foundation for Environmental Stewardship (FES) filed 17 communication reports related to economic development since July 1, which is more than any other lobbying organization has filed on that subject in that time frame. Economic development was listed in 356 communication reports posted on the federal lobbyists’ registry since July 1. The most frequently contacted designated public office holder since last month regarding the economy is Minister of Economic Development Mélanie Joly, who is listed in 13 communication reports on that subject.

The federal Conservative Party will likely be interested in hearing from stakeholders in order to build a platform in anticipation of an election within a year, according to Duncan Rayner, the vice-president of Temple Scott Associates. MP and experienced frontbencher Erin O’Toole was announced as the new leader of the Conservatives in the early morning hours of Aug. 24. Besides offering input on a Conservative platform, lobbyists are also anticipating the Liberal government’s throne speech and the return of Parliament on Sept. 23.

Three of the four organizations that posted the most communication reports last week come from the environmental sector. The most active organization was the Ocean Wise Conservation Association, which posted 28 reports. The organization communicated with Minister of Infrastructure Catherine McKenna on March 23 and May 13, according to the reports. Canadians for Clean Prosperity followed, posting 25 communication reports, including a report listing contact with Minister of Canadian Heritage Steven Guilbeault on Aug. 6.

In new registrations, Aéro Montréal, a think tank composed of companies, research institutions and associations related to the province’s aerospace sector, started its first file with its president and CEO, Suzanne Benoît, on Aug. 8. The organization is calling on the federal government to implement a Canada-wide aerospace strategy to help its sector emerge from the COVID-19 crisis. Benoît will communicate with the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), the Privy Council Office, Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions, the Business Development Bank of Canada, and Innovation.

TikTok Canada started its first file on Aug. 24 with consultant Michael von Herff of Public Affairs Advisors. The organization is interested in discussing policies and programs that support Canadians creators, as well as the export of Canadian cultural content online, including Indigenous and French language content, according to the registry. Von Herff will communicate with the PMO, Innovation, Finance, Elections Canada, National Defence, Indigenous Services Canada, and senators.

Selenis Canada, a company that operates a plant in Quebec that produces lightweight plastic, added consultant Philip Baldwin of Tactix to its file on Aug. 20. Baldwin joins colleague Daniel Duguay on the file. The company is reaching out to the federal government to discuss policies and regulations related to the planned ban on single-use plastics in Canada. The ban was originally planned to be fully implemented in 2021, but is delayed because of the pandemic. Baldwin will communicate with Environment, Innovation, Health, and Natural Resources Canada.
 

New registry files

Based on a search of the federal lobbyists' registry on Aug. 28 at 9:00 a.m.

New registrations

Reactivations