Virtual lobbying during pandemic ‘not the same’ as in-person lobbying, despite major savings, say lobbyists

Lobbying organizations are looking forward to the day they can return to in-person lobbying events on Parliament Hill, despite having saved a bundle on transportation costs and venue rentals while meetings have been conducted virtually during the global pandemic. “It’s not the same. It just is not the same, especially when [meeting] with people you […]
Agriculture, health, and innovation ministers lead in record-breaking June for lobbying activity

Agriculture Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau was the most lobbied federal minister in June, owing to communications with organizations across the agriculture sector during a busy month that set a new record for lobbying activity. Total communication reports filed last month reached 2,408, exceeding the total for any previous June, based on online records dating back to […]
Vaccine distribution and economic recovery projections favour Liberals in August-October election window, say lobbyists

The iron is hot for the Liberals to try to secure a majority government by calling for an election this fall, while the Conservatives would benefit more if Canadians don’t go to the polls until 2023, according to some federal lobbyists. “I think it would be political malpractice if [the Liberals] didn’t go to the […]
Record-breaking lobbying in June as election buzz, end of sitting drive activity

Last month was a record-breaking June for lobbying activity as the historically busy period held the added interest—and pressure—of pre-election rumours and a big budget with programs still being rolled out, say consultants and former strategists. Lobbyists filed 2,398 communication reports in the federal registry in June (as of July 23), up nine per cent […]
OCL staff eye summer reprieve, as lobbying activity continues to reach new heights

Federal Lobbying Commissioner Nancy Bélanger is wondering how much reprieve her staff will get over the summer, considering the precedent set by the record-breaking lobbying activity from that season during the pandemic last year. “The numbers were much higher [in 2020] than when you compare to the previous summers,” said Ms. Bélanger. “In other words, […]
Vaping group tops April outreach in record-breaking month for lobbying

Health Canada’s regulatory plan proposing to restrict flavoured vaping products that appeal to youth, released last month, helped make it the busiest April on record for lobbying. The Canadian Vaping Association (CVA) reached out en masse to MPs, filing 258 communication reports as executive director Darryl Tempest attempted to secure one-on-one meetings with MPs to […]
Democracy Watch says it will launch legal action to force five-year review of Lobbying Act, four years overdue

Democracy Watch says it will file a Federal Court case soon to pressure the Liberal government to move forward with a review of the Lobbying Act, which is now four years overdue. “Reviews every five years are required in several federal laws. It sets a bad precedent to allow Parliament to ignore that law. Parliament doesn’t […]
Liberals’ fiscal blueprint reflects pre-budget lobbying push, but gaps remain, say business groups

Business groups spent the majority of their March advocacy efforts focused on the April budget, lobbying that they say was successful in getting immediate concerns addressed to extend pandemic reliefs, though gaps still remain. The “vast majority” of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce’s 24 meetings were focused on the budget to push for pandemic-relief measures […]
Pre-budget pitches, virtual ‘Hill days’ push February lobbying

The promise of the first federal budget in more than two years, planned legislation to address online hate, and pandemic-related health concerns drove the lobbying efforts in February of some of the busiest groups as Parliament returned for its first sitting of 2021. Last month, lobbyists filed 3,223 communication reports in the federal registry, a […]
January lobbying picks up from holiday slump

Lobbying activity rose slightly in January, with the holiday slump ebbing even as Parliament remained in recess and the usual legislative wrangling was more or less on hold. Last month, lobbyists filed 2,033 communication reports in the federal registry, an uptick of 8.6 per cent from the 1,872 filed in December. Activity was also up […]