Lobby Wrap: Defence giant wants to lobby on shipbuilding plans

Abbey Martynes, Dev Singh, Hugues Théorêt, and Naresh Raghubeer, consultants with Sandstone Group, registered this past week to lobby on behalf of Thales Canada Inc., a local branch of the French company.

A multinational aerospace and defence giant is lobbying the federal government on its defence industrialization plans.

Abbey Martynes, Dev Singh, Hugues Théorêt, and Naresh Raghubeer, consultants with Sandstone Group, registered this past week to lobby on behalf of Thales Canada Inc., a local branch of the French company.

According to their filings with the Office of the Commissioner of Lobbying, Thales wants to discuss policies related to defence industrialization in Canada. In particular, the company wants to discuss “Canada’s capabilities regarding shipbuilding and acquisition of new capabilities by DND and the Canadian Coast Guard for in-service support, continuous capability sustainment, C4ISR and networking programs, ground vehicles, optronics, military avionics and related equipment, identity and access management solutions, and cybersecurity and AI solutions and technologies.”

New Registrations

Since March 7, the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police led all organizations with five unique registrations made on their behalf. They were followed by Thales Canada Inc. with four.

Over that span, Sandstone Group led all registrant groups with nine unique registrations.

From March 7-13, no lobbyists had more than three unique filings.

In recent agriculture/trade registrants:

Cermaq Canada Ltd. was registered by Don Boudria and Naresh Raghubeer, both consultants with Sandstone Group. The focus of their lobbying efforts was to obtain clarity and provide input on the Government of Canada’s announced transition from open-net salmon aquaculture in British Columbia, as Fisheries and Oceans prepared the draft framework for that transition. The client also sought clarification on what Transport Canada determines and defines as ‘vessels’.

Other: Wood Preservation Canada

In recent arts/culture/copyright registrants:

The Prairies Arts Coalition was registered by Emily Scott, a consultant with PAA Advisory, to assist the client in their efforts to receive funding from Canadian Heritage, PrairiesCan and the Canada Council for the Arts for operations of prairie art organisations.

In recent defence/security registrants:

Other: De Havilland Aircraft of Canada Limited, Petorius Ltd., IDS North America Ltd., Petorius Ltd.

In recent energy/environment/climate registrants:

Tidewater Renewables Ltd. was registered by Emily Gilroy, a consultant with Crestview Strategy to facilitate meetings with government officials to discuss addressing the looming economic crisis being driven by large volumes of subsidized US renewable diesel imports into the Canadian market. The client also held meetings to monitor government policy and program initiatives with regards to Canada’s energy sector, as well as to seek relief for Canadian renewable diesel producers similar to the Contribution Agreements offered through the Clean Fuels Fund.

Other: Electra Battery Materials Corporation, Nuclea Energy Inc, Oceanetic Power Corp., Pegasus Aeronautics Corp., Alberta Ecotrust Foundation on behalf of Trottier Family Foundation

In recent health registrants:

Moderna Biopharma Canada Corporation was registered by Jessica Cardill, Natalie Sutton, and Richard Maksymetz, all consultants with Barrack Hill Public Affairs Inc., for a number of discussions with government officials, generally about pharmaceutical and biotechnology policies, including those related to innovation, research and development and messenger ribonucleic acid (“mRNA”) biotechnology. More specifically, pharmaceutical and biotechnology policies, including those related to innovation, research and development and messenger ribonucleic acid (“mRNA”) biotechnology, as well as pandemic and emergency planning, including the “Pandemic Preparedness Plan” being prepared by the Public Health Agency of Canada (“PHAC”). Additional conversations were centered around 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 the client’s messenger ribonucleic acid (“mRNA”) vaccines.

Other: St. John Ambulance Canada, Canadian Medical Association, Active Abilities Canada, CANTRAIN, Medical Council of Canada

In recent Indigenous registrants:

Miawpukek Mi’kamawey Mawi’om Nation was registered by Mark Quinn, a consultant with Quinn Public Affairs Inc. to secure a quota for northern cod, as well as to acquire inshore fishing licenses outside of the 3PS area consistent with rights afforded to other provinces, including the removal of the homeport and residency requirements that do not apply in other DFO regions or to non-Indigenous fishers.

Other: Indigenous Innovation Initiative (I3)

In recent industry registrants:

Osisko Metals Incorporated was registered in-house by Robert Wares, their director general, to facilitate discussions with government officials regarding the Murdochville copper mine reopening project, particularly with regard to financing and regulatory requirements applicable to the project.

Other: Magnum Integrated Technologies Inc., M1 Composites Technology Inc., Alliance de l’écosystème industriel forestier du Québec (AEIFQ), Canadian Steel Racks Coalition c/o Conlin Bedard LLP, Anglo American plc, Vanguard Steel, Kal Tire.

Tech/Telecommunications

Bell Canada was registered by Samuel Ritter, a consultant with Edelman Canada, to coordinate meetings with government officials regarding the development, deployment, and funding of a sovereign A.I. stack.

Other: JML Systems and Solutions Inc., Gordian, BeamLive Technology

Transportation:

Niagara District Airport was registered by Alex Kuziw, a consultant with StrategyCorp Inc. to discuss securing federal regulatory approvals and capital funding for the Niagara District Airport’s redevelopment plan.

Other: Edmonton Regional Airports Authority, Trigon Pacific Terminals Limited, CISN Shipping Group (2019) Inc., Camino LVS Inc, Greater Toronto Airports Authority

Of note: TJP Labs INC., Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police, Valid8 Financial, Algonquin College, The Travel Agent Next Door Inc., Value Village Stores, Canadian Senior Living Association (CSLA), H55 Canada, Easter Seals Alberta, Northfire Inc., Ministry of Business, Mineral Resources, Energy & Gender Equality, Government of Greenland, Greentank Technologies Corp, Canadian Automobile Dealers Association (CADA), Centre Inicio, Seven Generations Education Institute, Services UTILE, 9446-3239 Québec Inc., THE GROWCER INC., Montrose Industries Ltd., Mennonite Central Committee Ontario, LaunchLife International Inc., RUNWITHIT Synthetics Inc., The Women’s Enterprise Organizations of Canada, Lucky Iron Life, Mitchel Lincoln Packaging, Alliance des femmes de la francophonie canadiennes, Disability Without Poverty, Global X Investments Canada Inc., Catalyst Community Developments Society, Family Service Ontario, Right Foot Adventures, Ringball Corporation, Yokohama TWS Canada Inc., Concussion Legacy Foundation (Canada) Inc., BGY Services financiers intégrés inc.

Communications:

There were 651 communication reports filed during the period between March 7-13.

Most active client organizations