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

Democracy Watch is awaiting a Federal Court decision on whether it will win its legal challenge against the lobbying commissioner’s 2020 decisions clearing two lobbyists of violating the Lobbyists’ Code of Conduct. A hearing on the matter was held on Dec. 6, during which Democracy Watch argued that Lobbying Commissioner Nancy Bélanger’s March 2020 decisions regarding two former election campaign staffers to Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland should be set aside. Lawyers for the Attorney General of Canada, the respondent in the case, said the judicial review should be dismissed and described the commissioner’s decisions as entirely reasonable, and backed up by thorough and transparent reports.

The Government Relations Institute of Canada (GRIC) will speak with its members ahead of a House ethics committee meeting about proposed changes to the lobbyists’ code of conduct. GRIC president Megan Buttle said that many GRIC members support the committee taking a closer look at the code “before rushing to implement it. The timeline is extremely fast, and we're trying to move quickly, but we are also a volunteer board that needs to be appropriately consulted and part of the process.”

A former director of social media to U.S. President Joe Biden told Canadian politicos earlier this week that digital teams require open-mindedness from leaders to successfully execute public awareness campaigns. Sarah Galvez, who worked for Biden during his 2020 election campaign, said she and other members of the digital team were given the space to try new techniques. That has become an increasingly easier ask for digital staff, she said, because of “how much we’ve been able to show return on investment, how much we’ve been able to show how audiences have been shifting from broadcast to online.”

The Chicken Farmers of Canada posted 42 of the 275 communication reports submitted to the federal lobbyists’ registry last week. The organization of approximately 2,800 chicken farmers is represented on the registry by executive director Michael Laliberte, chair Tim Klompmaker, and nine board members. CFC communicated on Nov. 15 with agriculture critics Yves Perron (Bloc Québécois) and Alistair MacGregor (NDP); Warren Steinley, the Conservative associate critic for agriculture; and Liberal MP Kody Blois, who chairs the House agriculture committee. The organization also communicated with Agriculture Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau on Nov. 18. The lobby day discussions centred on supply management policies, food security, and food safety and animal care standards.

In new registrations, Kids Brain Health Network (KBHN) started its first federal lobbyists’ registry file on Nov. 29 with consultant Laila Hawrylyshyn of Crestview Strategy. The national network is based at Simon Fraser University in Burnaby, B.C., and funds research and training for development neuroscientists. KBHN wants to discuss Bill C-22, Canada Disability Benefit Act, according to its registry file. The bill, which is currently being studied by the House social development committee, proposes to create a monthly payment for working age people with disabilities. The network’s registry file also states that it is interested in discussing Bill S-203, Federal Framework on Autism Spectrum Disorder Act, and Bill S-253, National Framework on Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Act. 

Also interested in discussing health policy is the Alberta Women’s Health Foundation (AWHF), which has hired Global Public Affairs consultant Thanh Ngo to represent it in discussions with Prairies Economic Development Canada. Ngo registered on Dec. 2. AWHF’s registry file states that the organization is looking for opportunities to partner with the federal government on women’s health innovation initiatives, including translational research, enhancing health care, and boosting women’s representation, employment, training, and leadership in the health technology sector. 

Returning to the registry after more than five years is the Canadian Association of Physician Assistants (CAPA), which hired Santis Health consultant Joe Abou-Malhab on Dec. 1 to represent it in discussions with Health Canada, MPs and senators. CAPA was previously represented by Santis consultant Patrick Nelson between Dec. 1, 2016, and June 16, 2017. According to its registry file, CAPA is interested in raising awareness among parliamentarians about the role that physician assistants can play in the Canadian health care system.

New registry files

Based on a search of the federal lobbyists' registry on Dec. 9 at 9:04 a.m. ET

New registrations

Reactivations