Here’s the news we covered this week:

The Canadian Cancer Society’s April lobby day led the organization to be the most active advocacy group last month. The organization’s CEO Andrea Seale submitted 51 communication reports. The group discussed multiple topics during the lobby day including barriers to accessing cancer care, making the Caregiver Tax Credit refundable, and reducing the cost of cancer drugs, according to Helena Sonea, the organization’s director of advocacy. A total of 3,261 reports were filed to the federal lobbyists’ registry in April

In this week’s On Queen Street, Robyn Gray told The Lobby Monitor that she returned to Sussex Strategy (she had previously worked at the consulting firm between 2012 and 2023) to work on projects that “are huge opportunities to reduce emissions.” Gray, who is now vice-president of clean infrastructure, said she likes “working on projects and seeing the physical development of the things that are really going to make a difference in the fight against climate change.”

The Lobby Monitor spoke with Marc Johnson, board chair at Support our Science (SOS), and Sarah Laframboise, SOS’ former executive director, about the grassroots advocacy efforts that played a role in convincing the federal government to increase federal research funding in Budget 2024. Johnson said that a walkout of research students and faculty across the country last May was “a very important turning point … As soon as we announced [the walkout], I got a call from [Finance] Minister [Chrystia] Freeland's office asking for a meeting. When people unite in such a way, it speaks volumes.”

In this week’s communication reports, World Energy GH2 submitted the highest number of communications to the federal lobbyists’ registry during the week of May 6. The company is represented by independent consultant Richard Florizone, who filed 36 communications dated between Feb. 10, 2023, and March 7, 2024. Florizone’s registry file states one reason for lobbying, which is to discuss the federal government’s green hydrogen policies, with a focus on export markets.

In this week’s registrations, U.K.-based tech company Zelim has joined the registry for the first time. The company is represented on the federal registry by Tom Dunne of CFN Consultants Inc. Zelim is seeking government procurement opportunities for its unmanned maritime rescue vessel, called the “Guardian,” that is capable of autonomously rescuing a person out at sea.

Also joining the registry for the first time is Grid United Canada Ltd., which is represented by independent consultant Ed Whittingham. Grid United wants to build awareness of the benefits of interregional electrical infrastructure, according to the consultant’s file. The company develops electric transmission projects that aim to improve cost-effectiveness and transition existing systems to net-zero emissions.

National Allied Golf Associations, whose members work in the golf industry, returns to the federal registry after a six-year break. The association is represented by four Impact Public Affairs consultants: Barbara Barrett, Brett Hartley, Anastasios Housakos, and Dylan Hellwig. Communications will seek to raise awareness of the sport’s economic impact and how it contributes to Canadians’ health, according to the consultants’ registry files.

New Registry

Based on a search of the federal lobbyists' registry on May 17, at 8:53 a.m. E.T.

New Registration

Reactivation

Here’s the news we covered this week:

In this week’s On Queen Street, Chris Gray spoke with The Lobby Monitor about joining 3Sixty Public Affairs to focus on health-related lobbying. Gray, who is now a senior associate in the Ottawa practice, chose to join 3Sixty because it “has the capacity … to take a deeper dive on health issues and distill it down so that we can develop solutions that would make sense for the clients and the government.”

Emily Gruenwoldt, CEO of Children’s Healthcare Canada, told The Lobby Monitor about her organization’s plan to motivate federal, provincial, and territorial governments to work with children’s health advocates towards an integrated and properly resourced health care system designed for Canada’s youngest people. A shortage of over-the-counter children’s medication in fall 2022 and winter 2023 brought increased media and political attention, as well as greater public awareness, on the subject of children’s health care. “At that point in time, we saw the moment to bring awareness to how undersized our health care systems were and how we have been underfunded for decades [prior to the issue] really hitting the radar,” said Gruenwoldt. “So, this was a great opportunity for us to say this is what happens when we are underprepared and when we under-invest in children's health systems, and so it was a real call to attention.”

The Lobby Monitor covered a May 7 press conference on Parliament Hill held by advocates of single-payer pharmacare. Speakers called for the quick passage of Bill C-64 in the House of Commons, and pushed against those who advocate that the government should work on a fill-in-the-gaps system. The mixed-payer “approach falls short and misrepresents what kind of gaps currently leaves people without access,” said Frédérique Chabot, acting executive director of Action Canada for Sexual Health and Rights, during the press conference in West Block.

In this week’s communication reports, Rothmans, Benson & Hedges Inc. submitted the highest number of communication reports during the week of April 29. The company is represented by managing director Milena Trentadue, who filed 23 communications reports. A total of 199 communication reports were submitted to the federal lobbyists’ registry between April 29 and May 5. Discussions focused on various topics including the Tobacco and Vaping Products Act, harm reduction policies as they relate to smoke-free tobacco products, and the impact of contraband tobacco in communities.

In this week’s registrations, Climate Smart Buildings Alliance (CSBA) joined the federal lobbyists’ registry for the first time to engage government officials about the low-carbon building sector. The organization is represented by its executive director David Messer. The group’s discussions with the government will focus on sharing information regarding CSBA’s activities and working on aligning their projects with government priorities.

Also joining the registry for the first time is BWXT Medical, a company that produces the technologies connected to nuclear medicine. BWXT Medical is represented by Hendrik Brakel and Vanessa Lamarre of Sussex Strategy. The consultants will seek government funding to assist the company with the production of medical isotopes.

Lucas Borchenko is joining his Crestview Strategy colleagues Bill Anderson and Jon Robinson in representing the Carnival Corporation on the federal registry. The consultant will discuss the impact of the cruise ship industry on Canada’s economy and the company’s efforts to protect the environment and health of its guests. Carnival Corporation owns and operates multiple cruise lines around the world.

New Registry

Based on a search of the federal lobbyists' registry on May 10, at 8:58 a.m. E.T.

New Registration

Reactivation

Based on a search of the federal lobbyists' registry on May 10, at 8:58 a.m. E.T.

New Registration

Reactivation