Here’s the news we covered this week:

The lack of funding for a mental health transfer in the 2023 budget left the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) disappointed, but not disillusioned, as the organization plans to leverage the connections built over two years of increased lobbying efforts. While the transfer did not materialize in the budget, the CMHA’s Sarah Kennell said those lobbying efforts were not wasted. “I think the lesson learned is the importance of really building trust and relationships with people over time,” she said. We have a new perspective moving forward

The National Council of Canadian Muslims (NCCM) is asking MPs to fast-track debate on a private member’s bill that would increase accountability for Canadian Security Intelligence Service officers, describing the proposal as necessary to ensure civil liberties. Liberal MP Salma Zahid tabled her private member’s bill, C-331, An Act to amend the Canadian Security Intelligence Service Act (duty of candour), on May 2. But Zahid is low on the order of precedence for private member’s business, so the NCCM will focus its lobbying efforts on convincing MPs to move the bill further up the list. “[The] bill deserves immediate attention in Parliament by all the elected officials who want to preserve the civil liberties of Canadians,” said Karine Devost, senior legal counsel at the NCCM.

Amanda Murray has joined Maple Leaf Strategies as a senior consultant, where she’ll assist clients with knowledge gained while advising Conservative MPs, including a minister. One of those lessons came from David Tilson, a former MP and Ontario MPP. Murray worked between April 2016 and November 2017 for the long-time conservative politician who represented Dufferin–Caledon, Ont., in federal Parliament. “[Tilson] was doing this work for over 20 years, and he did it in a way that I think a lot of current MPs and even some government relations firms have lost track of, which is with a personal touch and personal connection,” Murray said. “That's definitely something that I'm bringing to this role when listening to clients and developing strategies for them. The personal touch is really important.”

The Canadian Canola Growers Association (CCGA) posted 11 of the 133 communication reports submitted to the registry last week. It is represented by president and CEO Rick White and nine board members. CCGA communicated with Conservative finance critic Jasraj Singh Hallan, agriculture critic John Barlow, and labour critic Chris Lewis; NDP transport critic Taylor Bachrach; and Independent Senator Paula Simons, who is deputy chair of the Senate agriculture committee. The organization discussed Budget 2023’s proposed changes to rail transport regulations in the Prairies.

In new registrations, bioMérieux Canada, Inc started its first file on May 3, backdated to March 29. It is represented on the registry by Julie Emond, the company’s general manager for Canada. The company specializes in in vitro diagnostics (IVDs), which take samples such as blood or tissue from the body to be analyzed for diseases and infections. According to its French-language registry file, bioMérieux wants to speak with Health Canada about the Compendium of Analytical Methods, which outlines how the department regulates the food industry’s microbiological standards. The compendium also outlines the department’s methods for the investigation of foodborne diseases.

The Canadian Coalition for Healthy Waters started its first file on April 26 with consultant Aaron Freeman of Pivot Strategic Consulting. The coalition is comprised of 57 environmental groups, watershed organizations, and charities. According to its registry file, the organization has three topics of discussion for federal officials: updates to the Canada Water Act; the new Canada Water Agency; and investment in the Environment and Climate Change’s Freshwater Action Plan. Freeman plans to communicate with the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), Privy Council Office, Environment, Natural Resources, MPs and senators.

Returning to the federal lobbyists’ registry is The Body Shop Canada, which has hired Campbell Strategies consultant Natalie Dash to represent it in discussions with Intergovernmental Affairs, Women and Gender Equality, Elections Canada, and MPs. Dash registered on May 1. The bath, body, and skin care retailer was most recently represented on the registry by Dash’s colleague, Christopher Holz, between Dec. 11, 2017, and July 16, 2022. The Body Shop has returned to the registry to discuss electoral reforms, according to its file. The company will lobby to move election days to weekends, the file states.

New registry files

Based on a search of the federal lobbyists' registry on May 5 at 9:03 a.m. ET.

New registrations

Reactivations