Here’s the news we covered this week:

The Lobby Monitor asked Sheamus Murphy, a partner at Counsel Public Affairs, and Bridget Howe, a senior consultant at Crestview Strategy, to reflect on lobbying in 2023 and provide their insight as to what defined the year for them. “The clean economy was a major topic for 2023 and I think it will continue to be going into 2024,” said Howe. Murphy agreed, noting that many advocacy efforts throughout the year focused on regulatory frameworks related to green initiatives.

Speaking of Counsel Public Affairs, the company recently welcomed its new associate vice-president, Jennifer Henshaw. She spoke with The Lobby Monitor about her decision to join the firm, Counsel’s expansion in Western Canada, and why it is an “interesting time” to lobby in the Prairies. “We've got the [upcoming] provincial election in Saskatchewan, so this will be [the Saskatchewan Party government’s] last budget … whereas in Manitoba, we've got a new [NDP] government, where they are preparing their first budget,” said Henshaw, noting that all three provinces are dealing with issues related to affordability, such as the carbon tax, inflation and housing. “There's a lot of common themes there [and] it's going to be especially interesting to watch given their shifting financial [situations].”

The Lobby Monitor spoke with TACT’s Jeremy Ghio and Temple Scott Associates’ Brian St. Louis about lobbying trends in the fourth quarter of 2023 and what they expect to be the focus of the current parliamentary session. “Last session was a weird session … where the government's problems are dominating the agenda,” said Ghio. “People have difficulty paying rent, people have difficulty paying [for] their groceries, and they're blaming [Prime Minister] Justin Trudeau for that … These are going to be top of mind for the government.”

In weekly communications reports, Heidelberg Materials submitted the highest number of communication reports last week as it focused its communications on Conservative MPs. The organization is represented by Michael McSweeney of Michael McSweeney Consulting, who filed 17 out of a total of 132 communication reports. McSweeney’s registry file indicates that communications would focus on potential funding for the company’s carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) facility from ISED’s Strategic Innovation Fund and CCUS tax investment credits.

In this week’s registrations, Maytree, a charitable foundation which works on the issue of poverty reduction, registered for the first time earlier this month. The organization is represented by its president Elizabeth McIsaac. Topics of discussion listed on McIsaac’s registry file include engaging government officials on policies and programs that will advance the human right to adequate housing and an adequate standard of living.

Also joining the registry for the first time is Fireweed Metals Corp., represented by its CEO and director Brandon Macdonald. The corporation will look to communicate with Natural Resources, Crown-Indigenous Relations, and the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency. Communications with the federal government will centre around Fireweed's Critical Minerals Infrastructure Fund application regarding its project in the Yukon and Northwest Territories.

In new registrations, SheIS Inc. has hired Sonya Moore of Capital Hill Group to represent it in communications with federal officials. Moore will engage the federal government to seek out funding opportunities for SheIs Inc.’s mobile application. The organization focuses on developing sustainable growth of women’s sports globally at all levels.

New Registry 

Based on a search of the federal lobbyists' registry on Feb. 9 at 9:05 a.m. ET.

New Registrations

Reactivations