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

National charitable organization Imagine Canada estimates that the COVID-19 pandemic will result in a loss of $9.5 billion in revenue and 117,000 jobs in the charitable sector in 2020, according to a press release from March 26. To compensate, the organization has approached the federal government requesting development of an $8-billion emergency stabilization fund to support the charitable sector. The health crisis has illuminated a “structural design flaw” in how charities relate to the government, according to Bruce MacDonald, the president and CEO of Imagine Canada. Businesses can approach federal ministries relevant to their sector during the pandemic, but there is no federal department for charities and nonprofits, according to MacDonald.

Canada’s oil and gas industry has been dealt a double blow by the price war between Saudi Arabia and Russia, and the COVID-19 pandemic reducing demand for oil because of restricted air travel, according to Will Stewart, the new senior vice-president and national energy and industrials sector lead at Hill+Knowlton Strategies. Although the health crisis means it’s time to put Canada first, that doesn’t mean the energy sector should be silent in its advocacy, according to Stewart. Prior to his arrival at Hill+Knowlton, Stewart’s background encompassed 13 years at Ensight Canada in roles including consultant and managing principal. He also previously served in Ontario’s Ministry of Energy as chief of staff to former Energy minister John Baird, before Baird made the jump to federal politics.

The Canadian Chamber of Commerce submitted 28 communication reports between March 30 and April 5, making it the most active lobby group from that week. The Chamber contacted Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Minister of Public Safety Bill Blair on March 12. Other ministers contacted include Minister of Labour Filomena Tassi on March 9 and Minister of Procurement Anita Anand on March 27. In partnership with the federal government, the Chamber launched a Canadian Business Resilience Network on April 6 intended to support businesses and mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Canadian economy.

In new registrations, the National Campus and Community Radio Association (NCRA) started its first file on the federal lobbyists’ registry on March 30 with consultants Rob LeForte and Kyle Larkin of Impact Public Affairs. The association is advocating that the federal government provide support to the broadcasting sector. In a press release, the NCRA estimates up to half of campus and community radio stations may close by 2021 due to losses in advertising, fundraising and volunteers because of the COVID-19 pandemic. LeForte and Larkin will communicate with the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), Finance, Innovation, Canadian Heritage, as well as MPs and senators.

Meridian Lightweight Technologies started its first file on April 7 with consultant Ramina Ghassemi of McMillan Vantage Policy Group. The company is interested in talking to federal officials about the manufacturing, production and importation of machinery capable of producing N95 masks as part of COVID-19 relief efforts, the registry shows. Concern was raised last week when U.S. President Donald Trump asked U.S. health care supply company 3M to stop export of the masks to Canada. However, 3M announced on April 6 it had reached a deal with the U.S. government to allow the shipments to continue.

Ghassemi will communicate with Finance, Health, Immigration, Innovation, and Public Services and Procurement Canada.

Motif Labs started its first file on April 1 with consultant Geoff Turner of Bluesky Strategy Group. The company, an extraction and processing facility for the drug, is interested in communicating with Health Canada about the status of the Cannabis Act license application processing system, including “COVID-19 related considerations,” according to the registry. The file does not clarify what considerations the company would like to discuss related to the pandemic.

Editor's note: The Lobby Monitor will be closed on April 10 and on April 13 for the Easter long weekend. Publishing will resume on April 14. We wish a safe and happy long weekend to all our readers!

New registry files

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

New registrations

Reactivations