A battery manufacturer whose use of temporary foreign workers was first reported on by iPolitics is once again lobbying the federal government.

Nextstar Energy Inc. was registered this past week by Hunseong Lee, the company’s CEO, to lobby decision-makers in Ottawa. Specifically, the company wants to discuss amendments to funding already received from Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) for the establishment of high technology battery manufacturing facilities in Windsor.

The funding received is to support capital expenditures in the development of the facilities and for meeting production and sales milestones from operations.

AS FIRST REPORTED: Union, politicians raising concerns that government-supported Stellantis-LG battery plant will use temporary foreign workers

iPolitics first reported in November 2024 that local politicians and union members were concerned that the Nextstar plant was hiring temporary foreign workers for unspecialized work at the site that could’ve been performed by local tradespeople.

Since then, Nextstar has changed from a corporate collaboration to a subsidiary entirely owned by LG Energy and shifted production away from vehicles to other uses.

New Registrations

Since March 28th, Spuzzum First Nation and Starkey Laboratories, Inc. lead all organizations with 4 unique registrations made on their behalf each. All remaining organizations had no more than 3 registrations made on their behalf. 

Since March 28th, PAA Advisory led all registrant groups with 37 unique registrations. The next most active registrant group was Rubicon Strategy Inc. which had 18 unique registrations. Next was Barrack Hill Public Affairs Inc. which had 17 unique registrations. Crestview Strategy Inc. followed with 9 unique registrations. They were followed by Summa Strategies Canada with 7 unique registrations. StrategyCorp Inc. and Blackbird Strategies were next with 6 unique registrations. All remaining registrant groups made no more than 5 unique registrations.

From March 28th to April 10th, Deborah Owusu-Akyeeah from PAA Advisory was the most active lobbyist with 27 unique registrations. They were followed by Amanda McLaren from Barrack Hill Public Affairs Inc. who had 17 unique registrations. Next were Andy Singh and Matthew Clark, both from Rubicon Strategy, who each had 8 unique registrations. All remaining lobbyists had no more than 5 unique registrations.

In recent agriculture/trade registrants:

ADM Agri-Industries Company was registered by Kevin Wright, their president. The primary focus of their meetings was to discuss current and future policies and programs that affect agricultural trade and economic growth, as well as associated impacts on food security, supply chain logistics, transportation, and employment and labour development, as well as the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement and its impacts on agricultural trade, economic development, and domestic and international supply chains. The client also sought to discuss the review of the Canada Grain Act (RSC, 1985, c. G-10) and work with government officials on its modernization. Meetings were held to identify partnership opportunities and/or support in the form of grants, contributions, or other financial benefits to maintain and/or expand operations in Canada.

Other: Canadian Federation of Agriculture, Chicken Farmers of Canada

In recent arts/culture/copyright registrants:

The Acadia Broadcasting Corporation was registered by John K.F. Irving, the chair of the organization to solicit support for policies to support the financial viability of private radio broadcasting in Canada especially in smaller communities and in light of competition from large foreign sources.

Other: ABC Life Literacy Canada, ACTRA Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists / ACTRA, Arts Umbrella, Association of Canadian Publishers, Black Screen Office, Canadian Arts Coalition, Canadian Film Centre, Canadian Independent Music Association, Canadian Opera Company, Confederation Centre of the Arts, Copibec, Directors Guild of Canada, Fédération culturelle canadienne-française, MacKenzie Art Gallery, National Ballet of Canada, National Ballet School, Performing Arts Consortium of Winnipeg (PAC), Prairies Arts Coalition, Royal Conservatory of Music, Toronto International Film Festival, Toronto Symphony Orchestra, Writers Guild of Canada, Groupe Radio Simard, Directors Guild of Canada, Canada Media Fund, 9004033 Canada Inc. (d/b/a Lecky Media Productions)

In recent defence/security registrants:

RaceRocks was registered by Jennifer Harnden and Kristina Martin, both consultants with Kit Public Affairs Inc. to engage with federal public office holders regarding funding opportunities related to defence procurement, innovation, workforce development, and Indigenous participation, in relation to marine and aerospace training and simulation services.

Other: Juno Industries Inc., 49North, BELL HELICOPTER TEXTRON CANADA LIMITED, GSCI Advanced Photonics, Hensoldt, Draganfly Inc., The Boeing Company, Kelowna Flightcraft Ltd.

In recent energy/environment/climate registrants:

Nextstar Energy Inc. was registered by Hunseong Lee, their CEO, to discuss amendments to funding already received from Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) for the establishment of high technology battery manufacturing facilities in Windsor, Ontario. The funding received is to support capital expenditures in the development of the facilities and for meeting production and sales milestones from operations.

Other: S3nergy Inc. / Regeneau, AsiaCan Clean Energy Fund, BC Centre for Innovation and Clean Energy (o/a NorthX Climate Tech), Mytilineos Canada Operations Limited, SSi Canada, Keyera Corp., Fuse Energy, TransAlta Corporation, Canadian Council for Sustainable Aviation Fuels (C-SAF), Ausime Energy. Saskatchewan Environmental Society, Renewable Industries Canada, BluMetric Environmental Ltd.

In recent health registrants:

Moderna Biopharma Canada Corporation was registered by Amanda McLaren, a consultant with Barrack Hill Public Affairs Inc., for a number of discussions with officials. The primary focus of their discussions was on pharmaceutical and biotechnology policies, including those related to innovation, research and development and messenger ribonucleic acid (“mRNA”) biotechnology, pandemic and emergency planning, including the “Pandemic Preparedness Plan” being prepared by the Public Health Agency of Canada (“PHAC”). Additional meetings were held to communicate with officials about procurement policies and procedures (including, but not limited to, those maintained by the Departments of Health and Public Services and Procurement), more specifically policies and procedures pertaining to the development, procurement and distribution of vaccines, including Moderna’s messenger ribonucleic acid (“mRNA”) vaccines.

Other: Applied Pharmaceutical Innovation, Nanaimo Foundation (o/a Fair Care Alliance), Vimy Pharmaceuticals Inc., adMare BioInnovations, Best Medicines Coalition, Medical Council of Canada, Ciena Canada ULC, Resilient Healthcare Coalition, Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories

In recent Indigenous registrants:

The Spuzzum First Nation was registered by Austin Glover, Fadwa Zeletni, Grace Smith, and James Grant Barley, all consultants with Strategies North Advisory Inc. to advocate for increased spending to support on-reserve social services, infrastructure, and economic development opportunities.

Other: James Smith Cree Nation 100, First Nations Wild Salmon Alliance, Gwich’in Tribal Council, Takla First Nation, Inuit Heritage Trust

In recent industry registrants:

Hydro Extrusion Canada, Inc. was registered by Andy Singh, Julie DeWolfe, and Matthew Clark, all consultants with Rubicon Strategy to share information and communicate to government officials the trade concerns facing the client, and request for remission of the Canadian surtaxes imposed on US imports of origin aluminum.

Other: Almag Aluminum Inc., Apex Aluminum Extrusions Ltd, Dajcor Aluminum Ltd., Extrudex Aluminum Corp., Magna Aluminum Profiles, Metra Aluminum, Spectra Aluminum Products Ltd., Moon River Moly Ltd, Réseau de la transformation métallique du Québec (RTMQ), Tempel Steel, PMET RESOURCES INC., Cerrado Gold In.c, Can Art Aluminum Extrusions Canada Inc, Aluminum 3104

Tech/Telecommunications 

Anthropic was registered by Michael Ingoldsby, a consultant with Summa Strategies Canada, to engage with officials and government policymakers on AI policy, including intellectual property policy and online safety policies that impact AI safety and research companies. The client also sought to advocate for policies and programs that will help grow Canada’s digital economy and innovation. 

Other: ECLATIRA INC., Anvil Intelligence Inc., Oceanetic Power Corp., Nokia Canada Inc., Computacenter, Evertz, Amazon Web Services Canada, Inc., QMS Technologies Inc., Q-Block Computing Inc., Kyndryl Canada Limited, Tenstorrent AI ULC dba Tenstorrent, Cogeco inc.

Transportation:

Loomex Group was registered by Adam Yahn and Meghan McCabe, both consultants with Summa Strategies Canada, to engage elected officials and government policymakers on emergency preparedness, emergency management, evacuations, aviation and performance management, aerospace defence, airport management and infrastructure, Indigenous resiliency and community safety, AI, and workforce housing. Additional discussions were held to advocate for policies or programs that will help to grow Canada’s sovereignty in defence procurement, strengthen emergency preparedness and management including climate change mitigation, transportation infrastructure, AI and workforce housing.

Other: Volatus Aerospace Corp., Voyageur Aviation Corp., Greater Toronto Airports Authority, TRACCS Rail Transit Association, Trigon Pacific Terminals Limited, Space Exploration Technologies Company (SpaceX)

Of note: Starkey Laboratories, Inc., Wilder Institute, Canadian Beverage Association, 123Dentist Inc., Agilitas Advisory Corp., Colleges and Institutes Canada, Genics Inc, LawZero, Manulife Financial Corporation, MD Charlton Company Limited, British Columbia Maritime Employers Association, Fédération nationale des conseils scolaires francophones, The Canadian Society of Respiratory Therapists, MacEwan University, Arcadis Canada Inc., Parkinson Canada, Spotify Canada Inc., Magnum Integrated Technologies Inc, Green Communities Canada, Bio Town Biogas, Research New Brunswick, NorQuest College, Central Wire Industries Ltd., Memorial University of Newfoundland, Collège Boréal d’arts appliqués et de technologie, Canadian Private Copying Collective, CBC Pensioners National Association, Coalition for the Diversity of Cultural Expressions (CDCE), Imagine Canada, PACT, Professional Association of Canadian Theatres, Canadian Animal Health Institute, Mentor Canada, Patriotic Millionaires, Mennonite Central Committee Saskatchewan, TIPI Group of Companies, GreenShield, TakingITGlobal, Kidde Canada Inc., OnX Enterprise Solutions, Ltd, DEAN CONSTRUCTION, Living with Pride Foundation, Consco Foods Inc., The North West Company, IFRS Foundation (ISSB) Montreal, Spire Global, Inc., Long View Systems, Institute of Canadian Agencies, Central Alberta Realtors Association, SP Canada – Division du Québec, MetaWorldX Inc., Spark Growth Digital Inc., Toboggan Labs Inc., Exodigo Inc., Centre for Land Conservation, Water First Education & Training Inc., Heat & Frost Insulators Local 95, Triple Point, United Way of Calgary and Area, Lawyers Without Borders Canada, Avepoint Inc, Snowflake Inc, HUB Catalyst Inc., RiskThinking.ai, Ontario Brain Institute, J-Squared Technologies Inc., MSSC, Canadian Water Quality Association, Sombrilla International Development Society, British Columbia Coast Pilots Ltd., Capital Sports Development Inc., Second Harvest, Electronic Imaging Systems Inc, DistriQ, Nord Quantique Inc., Peoples Group, Chick-fil-A Canada UCL, University of New Brunswick, Society of Rural Physicians of Canada, MasterCard Canada, ULC, Kingston Innovation Coalition (o/a RXN HUB”), Les Ateliers Antoine Chaloub Architectes, Veterans Transition Network, Canada Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Research Network / Canada FASD, Gamotech Inc., GIV3, National Trust for Canada, The Manitoba Advantage, WSP Canada Inc., International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, Girl Guides of Canada, Shaw’s Enterprises Ltd., The Alliance for Visitor’s Tax Refund, Canadian Institute of Chartered Business Valuators, M1 Composites Technology Inc., EQB, Association des Transporteurs de Valeurs du Québec, Northwest Development Limited, Pacific Press Properties Inc., Block Development Management Limited, BC Northern Real Estate Board, Infosys Public Services Canada Inc.

Communications:

There were 514 communication reports filed during the period between March 28th to April 10th, 2026.

 Most active client organizations

• Western Canadian Shippers Coalition – 22 Communications
• ArcelorMittal Dofasco – 21 Communications
• Energy NL  – 19 Communications
• Dairy Farmers of Nova Scotia – 17 Communications
• McMaster University – 15 Communications

 Most active paid lobbyists

• Jacob Gorenkoff for 6 Clients – 25 Communications
• Tony Valeri for 1 Client – 23 Communications
• David MontPetit for 1 Client – 22 Communications
• Mitchell Gould for 5 Clients – 21 Communications
• Charlene Johnson for 1 Client – 19 Communications

Most lobbied public office holders

• Philip Jennings – Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (7)
• Charles Vincent –  Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (7)
• Paul Moen – Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (6)
• Jed Graham – Transport Canada (6)
• Galen Richardson – Privy Council Office (6)

Most lobbied government institutions

• House of Commons – 158 Communications
• Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada – 109 Communications
• Finance Canada – 51 Communications
• Natural Resources Canada – 47 Communications
• Employment and Social Development Canada – 43 Communications

Most lobbied subject matters

• Infrastructure – 206 Communications
• Economic Development – 148 Communications
• Science and Technology – 137 Communications 
• Aboriginal Affairs – 132 Communications
• Defence – 77 Communications