The Lobby Monitor returned on Jan. 2 after the New Year’s break. Here’s a look back at the news we’ve covered this week:

The cannabis industry may have an opportunity in 2020 to build a sector-specific advocacy strategy, according to Omar Khan, the national cannabis sector lead for Hill+Knowlton Strategies. The first review of the Cannabis Act is expected by October 2021, which Khan thinks gives the industry more than a year to build a unified voice. Cannabis industry lobbying has previously focused on how to expand retail sales in various provinces, but the industry might consider emphasizing its economic benefits as it advocates to government staff this year, according to Khan.

Canada’s cannabis industry contributed more than $8 billion to the country’s GDP in July 2019, according to Statistics Canada.

In new registrations, True Energy Incorporated, an oil and natural gas company based in Kingston, Ont., started its first file on the federal lobbyists’ registry on Dec. 11. The company has engaged consultant Arthur Potts of Municipal Affairs Consulting to speak to the federal government about funding for waste treatment technology that would reduce the demand for fossil fuels, the registry shows.

Potts will communicate with Environment.

Also related to environment, DynaCert, a Toronto, Ont. based company, started its first file on Dec. 9 with consultant Sarbjit Kaur of KPW Comms. The company is seeking federal funding to support the development and expansion of its carbon reduction technology, according to the registry.

Kaur will communicate with the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), Environment, Finance, Innovation, and the Business Development Bank of Canada.

In post-secondary institutions’ registrations, Colleges and Institutes Canada (CICan) increased its representation by adding consultant Alla Drigola of Impact Public Affairs to its file on Dec. 8.

Denise Amyot, CICan’s president, is also active on the file.

CICan advocates on behalf of 135 of Canada’s publicly funded colleges and institutes. Among the topics the organization is interested in discussing with the federal government is the Copyright Act and how it relates to educational materials. CICan is also interested in discussing the possible development of a college and institute internship program to expose more students to private sector research opportunities, and for harmonization and simplification of immigration policies to facilitate work and study permits for students.

Drigola will communicate with the PMO, Innovation, Immigration, Finance, and with senators and MPs.
 

New registry files posted between 2019-12-30 and 2020-01-03

Based on a search of the federal lobbyists' registry on Jan. 03 at 9:00 a.m.
 

New registrations posted between 2019-12-30 and 2020-01-03

Reactivations posted between 2019-12-30 and 2020-01-03