Here’s a look back at the news we covered this week:

The Canadian Canola Growers Association (CCGA) was the most active lobbying organization last year in terms of communication reports filed to the registry. The CCGA posted 240 communication reports in 2022, as it pursued discussions beyond its traditional base of agriculture to cover international trade, innovation and environmental issues. The Lobby Monitor spoke to the CCGA about its advocacy efforts over the past 12 months, and collated a list of the 100 organizations that posted the highest number of communication reports in 2022.

Speaking of 2022, the environment was the most popular topic for federal lobbying last year, as major developments in climate change policy and environmental protection regulations drew new organizations in the sector to the registry. “The United Nations, the IPCC [Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change], all these international bodies are telling us this is the critical decade for climate action,” said Keith Brooks, program director at Environmental Defence. “What's happening here in Canada is happening around the world, as climate change, the plastics pollution crisis, other environmental crises and biodiversity crises have really reached a critical point, and it's do or die time right now.” 

Coming back to 2023, Daniele Medlej joined Navigator Ltd. this week as a senior consultant. Previously the director of communications for Housing Minister Ahmed Hussen, Medlej said she will bring her knowledge of working for different ministers and  portfolios to her new role. “There was everything from small business and tourism, to government House leader, to the associate finance minister, [and] then families, children and social development, and eventually housing,” she said of her time on the Hill. “The broad scope of the work that I've done is what I am looking to lean on in my role here.”

The Canadian Mental Health Association submitted 40 of the 1,174 communication reports posted to the registry last week. The association is represented on the registry by CEO Margaret Eaton. Most of the CMHA’s reports were for communications that took place on Nov. 14, when the association held a lobby day in Ottawa. The association communicated on that day with Veterans Affairs Minister Lawrence MacAulay, Official Languages Minister Ginette Petitpas Taylor, Rural Economic Development Minister Gudie Hutchings, Conservative health critic Stephen Ellis and mental health critic Todd Doherty, and NDP mental health critic Gord Johns.

In new registrations, the Community Rail Advocacy Alliance (CRAA) started its first federal registry file on Jan. 17 with consultant Han Danchilla of Canadian Strategy Group. The alliance is made up of 20 Alberta-based organizations, including the City of Grande Prairie; the towns of Edson, High Level, Peace River, Slave Lake, and Whitecourt; seven counties; the Alberta Wheat and Barley Commission; and the Alberta Forest Products Association. According to its registry file, the alliance wants to discuss the importance of railway operators and rail service agreements to the economic development of municipalities, industry, and the provincial and national economies. Those discussions will take place with Transport and Prairies Economic Development Canada.

The Canadian Committee for a Sustainable Eel Fishery (CCSEL) has hired Patrick Dion of Patrick Dion Consulting and independent consultant Jamie Carroll, both of whom registered on Jan. 16, to represent it in discussions with Fisheries, Environment, and with MPs. The Caledonia, N.S.-based association represents commercial fishing licence holders who focus on  juvenile American eels. According to its registry file, CCSEL plans to provide federal officials with “scientific and socio-economic evidence” to support its request that the American eel should not be listed on Canada’s species at risk registry.

The Canadian Recreational Vehicle Association (CRVA) also joined the registry recently. Members include RV manufacturers and suppliers of related goods, components, parts, and services. The CRVA started its first file on Jan. 10 with president Shane Devenish. The registry file states that the association wants to speak with Transport Canada officials to request an exemption to electronic logging device requirements for commercial vehicles in the tow-away industry (companies that deliver motorhomes and towable RVs from manufacturers to retailers). Such an exemption will “serve to maintain a level playing field for the cross-border movement of motorhomes and single recreation vehicle trailers originating in the U.S. and destined to RV dealers and purchasers in Canada,” the registry file said.

New registry files

Based on a search of the federal lobbyists' registry on Jan. 27 at 9:05 a.m. ET

New registrations

Reactivations