A group representing Western Canadian short-line railways wants to talk with Ottawa about funding.

The Western Canadian Short Line Railway Association was registered in-house by Rachel Mackenzie, their director for communications and government relations, primarily to encourage trade-enabling, safety-related, and other infrastructure funding support through existing and/or new programs.

In its mandator filing with the Office of the Lobbying Commissioner, the trade association said it’s looking to discuss policies alongside legislative changes pertaining to the Canada Transportation Act, Railway Safety Act, Transportation of Dangerous Goods Act, and other railway-related proposals, bills, or resolutions. It’s hoping to provide an “essential link between federal regulators and their members, and work collaboratively with departments and agencies to provide the government with input on the feasibility and impact of regulatory policies.”

New Registrations

Since Feb. 21t, Northleaf Capital Partners (Canada) Ltd. was the most registered organization, with five unique registrations made on their behalf. They were followed by Sage Canada with four filings.

Over that span, StrategyCorp Inc. led all registrant groups with 8 unique registrations each. 

From Feb. 21-27, no lobbyists had more than three unique registrations.

In recent arts/culture/copyright registrants:

The Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television was registered by Gordon Quaiattini, a consultant with Maple Leaf Strategies to support the client in securing federal funding for the Canadian Screen Awards and professional development and training initiatives.

Other: Arsenal Média inc, Cable Public Affairs Channel (CPAC), Toronto International Film Festival

In recent defence/security registrants:

Vosker Technologies was registered by Tisha Banerjee and Antoine Tardif, both consultants with Hill & Knowlton Canada. The focus of their lobbying efforts was on engaging with federal departments and agencies regarding innovation funding programs, research and development support, commercialization initiatives, and potential defence and public safety applications of advanced Canadian surveillance and security technologies, including grants, contributions, or other financial instruments. 

Other: General Dynamics Land Systems-Canada, LIG Nex1 Co., Ltd.

In recent energy/environment/climate registrants:

Energy Storage Canada was registered by Dario Dimitriev, a consultant with Sussex Strategy Group primarily to support the client’s efforts concerning its proposed clean technology investment tax credit. Additional engagements were held on climate and energy policy and regulations, including the clean electricity regulation, Regional Resource Tables, and the Pan-Canadian Grid Council.

Other: Canadian Biogas Association, Arctic Carbon Conservation Inc. (ACCI), Bruce Trail Conservancy, Centre for Land Conservation, The Saskatchewan Parks and Recreation Association

In recent health registrants:

Vimy Pharmaceuticals Inc. was registered by Natalie Sutton, Richard Maksymetz, and Jessica Cardill, all consultants with Barrack Hill Public Affairs Inc. to communicate with government officials regarding regulatory requirements for the domestic manufacturing and market entry of generic semaglutide in Canada.

Other: Becton Dickinson Canada Inc., Eli Lilly Canada Inc., Heidi Health Canada

In recent Indigenous registrants:

Kluane First Nation was registered by Arturo Calvo Centeno, a private consultant for a number of lobbying goals. Primarily, to discuss the planned review of northern health delivery announced in Budget 2025, and resulting interdepartmental work led by Indigenous Services Canada, National Defence, and Northern Affairs. The client also sought clarification on First Nations and Inuit Policing Program and related community safety programming, specific to implementation of the client’s policing agreement and long-term funding pathways for Community Safety Officer programming in First Nation communities. Additional discussions were held centered around Federal responsibilities related to the implementation of the client’s Final and Self-Government Agreement, including whole-of-government coordination across housing, policing, infrastructure, and health planning.

In recent industry registrants:

Albany Graphite Corporation was registered by William Darragh, a consultant with PAA Advisory, to engage with the federal government regarding the review and approval process for products falling under the jurisdiction of the Pest Management Regulatory Agency. The client also sought to discuss Zentek’s Albany Graphite project in Northern Ontario and to obtain information and perspective on federal policies, programs, and funding tools related to critical minerals, value-added processing, and project development.

Other: 15 Miles Minerals and Renewables, Climeworks Canada Ltd., Elevra Lithium, Samuel, Son & Co., Torngat Metals Ltd. 

Tech/Telecommunications 

Space Exploration Technologies Company (SpaceX) was registered by Matthew Grainger, a consultant with Navigator Ltd. to review satellite and ground station policies and regulations in relation to an application for a Foreign Satellite Authorization (FSA) and broadband service.

Other: Qorsa Corp., Quantum Valley Ideas Laboratories, Waymo LLC

Transportation:

Other: Mobil Grain Group, Chamber of Marine Commerce, Heli-One Canada ULC, Waymo LLC

Of note: AdvantAge Ontario, Air Products Canada Ltd., AirBoss of America Corporation, Autnhive Corporation, Banyan Communications Inc., Campfire Circle, Canadel Inc., Canadian Institute of Chartered Business Valuators, Canadian Light Source Inc., Canadian Men’s Health Foundation, Canadian Partnership for Women and Children’s Health, Canadians for Safer Products, Covenant House Toronto, CPAR- Canadian Physicians for Aid and Relief, Denturist Association of Canada, DistriQ, Empowered Startups, Equal Voice (Foundation), Fonds de solidarité des travailleurs et des travailleuses du Québec (FTQ), French for the Future, Gartner Canada Co., GoFundMe, Hims Canada, Infosys Public Services Canada Inc., Institute of Canadian Agencies, International Business University (IBU), Kidney Foundation of Canada, KidSport, Langham Developments Limited, MakeWay Foundation, McConnell Foundation, Northleaf Capital Partners (Canada) Ltd., Sage Canada, Saguenay-Le Fjord Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Sarona Asset Management Inc., Slate Asset Management, St. John Ambulance Canada, The Alliance for Visitor’s Tax Refund, Women’s Health Coalition of Canada

Communications:

There were 201 communication reports filed during the period between Feb. 21-27.

 Most active client organizations

• BWXT Canada – 22 Communications
• Canadian Urban Transit Research & Innovation Consortium – 18 Communications
• Mobil Grain Group – 16 Communications
• Carbon Business Development Council Inc. – 15 Communications
• Office Of Religious Congregations For Integral Ecology – 12 Communications

 Most active paid lobbyists

• John MacQuarrie for 1 Client – 22 Communications
• Josipa Petrunic for 1 Client – 18 Communications
• Rachel Mackenzie for 1 Client – 16 Communications
• Ben Rubin for 1 Client – 15 Communications
• Raymond Shelley for 1 Client – 12 Communications

Most lobbied public office holders

• Brian MacKay – Canadian Heritage (4)
• Yash Nanda – Prime Minister’s Office (3)
• Marie-Christine Demers – Natural Resources Canada (3)
• Francis Bilodeau – Canadian Heritage (3)
• Kevin Lamoureux – House of Commons (3)

Most lobbied government institutions

• House of Commons – 99 Communications
• Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada – 32 Communications
• Natural Resources Canada – 26 Communications
• Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada – 21 Communications
• Finance Canada – 21 Communications

Most lobbied subject matters

• Energy – 23 Communications
• Agriculture – 13 Communications
• Environment – 13 Communications
• Health – 12 Communications
• Intellectual Property – 12 Communications