One of Canada’s most prominent theatre groups is lobbying the federal government.

Cassandra Almeida and Philippe Bolduc, consultants with Wellington Advocacy Inc., registered to lobby on behalf of The Shaw Festival Theatre.

According to their filings with the Office of the Commissioner of Lobbying, the focus of their advocacy ask was centred on “deepening opportunities for cultural tourists to add additional activities and/or extend duration of stay,” as well as the creation of a new Embedded Artists program to train and grow the next generation of Canadian artisans, tradespeople and artists.

The Shaw Festival puts on live theatre performances in historic Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ont.

The festival is also looking to discuss a performing arts tax credit aimed at catalyzing the live performing arts industry in Canada. It would be structured along the lines of one already in place for the film & television sector.

Finally, the group sought to hold meetings to solicit support for arts and culture programming for the benefit of local schools, universities, colleges, and the broader community, as well as the reimagined and expanded Royal George Theatre and Festival Theatre campus, including worker housing, training spaces and community education facilities.

New Registrations

Since Feb. 7, the Home Depot Canada Foundation was the most registered organization, with five unique registrations made on their behalf. 

Over that span, PAA Advisory led all registrant groups with 13 unique registrations each. 

From Feb. 7-13, Emma Jones from Maple Leaf Strategies led all lobbyists with five unique registrations. 

In recent agriculture/trade registrants:

The Canadian Wood Products Alliance was registered by Kevin Paquette, a consultant with Crestview Strategy to facilitate discussions relating to increased imports and request for measures, including orders in council, necessary to protect the viability of Canada’s wood products sector.

Other: Dairy Farmers of Ontario, UP Vertical Farms

In recent arts/culture/copyright registrants:

Other: Canadian Film Centre, Confederation Centre of the Arts, National Ballet of Canada, National Screen Institute 

In recent defence/security registrants:

Juno Industries Inc. was registered by Jessica Cardill and Richard Maksymetz, both consultants with Barrack Hill Public Affairs Inc. to communicate with government officials about procurement opportunities related to defence innovation, AI-enabled autonomous systems, and virtual terrain modelling technologies. The goal of these communications is to secure a contract or contracts with the federal government.

Other: Damera Defence Canada Corporation, General Dynamics Mission Systems – Canada, General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems, MHI RJ Aviation ULC, Strix Aero Inc., Damera Defence Canada Corporation

In recent energy/environment/climate registrants:

Axidyne Ltd. was registered by Phil Von Finckenstein and Gordon Quaiattini, both consultants with Maple Leaf Strategies with their focus being on federal policies and programs as they pertain to the development of sovereign AI infrastructure and data centres.

Other: Clean Grid Atlantic, Global Battery Materials Corp., AltaGas Ltd., AtkinsRéalis, Hydro-Quebec, RS Marine Ltd, Elemental Clean Fuels (Canada), Inc., RS Marine Ltd, Canadian Association of Recycling Industries (CARI)

In recent health registrants:

GlaxoSmithKline Inc. was registered by Danielle Flieler, a consultant with Santis Health for a myriad of lobbying activities. Primarily to engage government officials on domestic manufacturing of seasonal and pandemic flu vaccine, to strengthen the Priority Review of Drug Submissions process, and Self-Care Products Initiative as it pertains to plain language labelling and a risk-based approach to regulatory oversight for non-prescription drugs. The client also sought to provide input on the work of the Advisory Committee on the Implementation of National Pharmacare, specifically as it relates to access to medicines and participate in the consultations regarding the Digital Charter and the federal government’s plans to overhaul Canada’s privacy regime, to enable the use of anonymized health data for new medication research and development. Discussions were also held centered around the reforms to the Patented Medicines Review Board (PMPRB), whose guidelines seek to ensure a balance between the prices set by manufacturers for patented medicines sold in Canada and the maintenance of an attractive environment for pharmaceutical research and development. Specifically with regard to ensuring that any actions and proposed changes by the PMPRB do not negatively impact access to patented medicines in Canada. Finally, based on the Government of Ontario’s recently passed legislation requiring the public disclosure of payments made to Health Care Providers and Health Care Organizations by the broader health care industry, including pharmaceutical companies, generic manufacturers, and medical device companies. The client seeks to advocate for a national approach to disclosure through either the support of similar provincial initiatives, coordinated action through the Federal/Provincial and Territorial meetings of the Ministers of Health, and/or the establishment of national requirements.

Other: Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada 

In recent Indigenous registrants:

Ch’íyáqtel Tzeachten First Nation was registered by Abbey Martynes and James Cabangon, both consultants with Sandstone Group to engage with the Government of Canada for the purpose of seeking funding on the development of community housing to address housing shortages and overcrowding.

Other: Metis Nation of Alberta, Conseil de la Première Nation des Innus Essipit 

In recent industry registrants:

Canadian Copper Inc. was registered by Brian St. Louis and Joshua Matthewman, both consultants with Temple Scott Associates Inc. primarily to assist the client in raising awareness among parliamentarians of the Murray Brook Project in New Brunswick. The lobbying effort also involved supporting the client in pursuing investment through Natural Resources Canada critical mineral targeted programs and other government programs.

Other: PMET Resources, Pine Point Mining, Nouveau Monde Graphite Inc., Southwestern Manufacturing Inc., Valory Resources Inc., PTX Metals, Discovery Silver Corporation

Tech/Telecommunications 

Bell Canada was registered by Graham Looney, a consultant with Edelman for discussions concerning the development, deployment, and the funding of a sovereign AI stack.

Other: Microsoft Canada Inc., Nord Quantique, Mila – Institut québécois d’intelligence artificielle

Transportation:

Canada Rocket Company was registered by Tony Battista, a consultant with Sandstone Group. The client sought to contribute to global responsive sovereign missions and open new commercial markets for Canadian tech companies as well as discussions around the Alignment with Talent Retention and Acquisition to leverage experience in the team to create new job opportunities in Canada. The client also sought to discuss launch licences and export controls.

Other: Prince Rupert Port Authority, Porter Airlines, Rocket Science Development 

Of note: Survivor’s Circle for Reproductive Justice, Wee Wild Ones, Home Depot Canada Foundation, Werklund Centre, Nergica, Canadian Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse (CNPEA), Canadian Association of Naturopathic Doctors, Nakisa Inc., Stem Cell Network, National Association of Career Colleges, Canada Packers Inc., Indwell, Armateurs du Saint-Laurent, CBC Pensioners National Association, Black Diamond Group, Canada Goose Inc., International SOS, Snowflake Inc., EllisDon Inc., UPA Développement international, Lucky Iron Life, Community Living Central York, Meridian Credit Union, Les Industries de la Rive-Sud Ltée, Durham Gateway Partners Inc, Northern Ontario Service Deliverers Association (NOSDA), University of Victoria, TIPI Group of Companies, 2B Developments Consultants & Associates Inc., Catalyst Community Development, Jack.org, Rosaline J Hill Architect Inc., Hims & Hers Health, Inc., Tlohmbaa Developments Inc., Association for the Rights of Household and Farm Workers, Invasive Species Centre, Samuel, Son & Co, Namerind Housing Corporation, EQB Inc, Dixon Hall, Equifax Canada Co., Qikiqtaaluk Arctic Economic Development LP, American Chamber of Commerce in Canada, Snowflake, Inuit Development Corporation Association, Tax-Filer Empowerment Canada, Cascade Institute, Canadian Dermatology Association, Cohere

Communications:

There were 552 communication reports filed during the period between Feb. 7-13. 

 Most active client organizations

• Dairy Farmers of Ontario – 80 Communications
• K+S Potash Canada GP – 35 Communications
• Aboriginal Peoples Television Network – 33 Communications
• Alberta Milk – 29 Communications
• University Pension Plan Ontario – 27 Communications

 Most active paid lobbyists

• Sam Farris for 1 Client – 35 Communications
• Monika Ille for 1 Client – 33 Communications
• Barbara Zvan for 1 Client – 27 Communications
• Emily Chung for 1 Client – 24 Communications
• John McCarthy for 1 Client – 21 Communications

Most lobbied public office holders

• Jessica Fullerton – Finance Canada (6)
• Emma Harrison – House of Commons (6)
• Manuela Tomic – Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (6)
• Philip Lawrence – House of Commons (5)
• Fred Davies – House of Commons (5)

Most lobbied government institutions

• House of Commons – 302 Communications
• Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada – 86 Communications
• Canadian Heritage – 59 Communications
• Finance Canada – 58 Communications
• Natural Resources Canada – 48 Communications

Most lobbied subject matters

• Agriculture – 92 Communications
• International Trade – 92 Communications
• Environment – 30 Communications
• Mining – 30 Communications
• Industry – 24 Communications