Here’s a rundown of the news we covered this week:

Innovation emerged as the most lobbied government institution of the last six months, according to data from the federal lobbyists’ registry. Parliamentarians from Innovation were contacted 381 times between April and September, with Navdeep Bains, in his role as Innovation minister, listed 16 times in communications reports from that period.

Xplornet Communications, a rural internet service provider, was the most active on the registry during this time and communicated with Innovation 22 times between June 5 and Aug. 30.

Xplornet’s registry file shows the company is interested in discussing federal policies and programs related to rural connectivity, and about possible government funding for the operation of broadband infrastructure.

Representatives from the Canadian Coalition for Firearm Rights (CCFR) were on the Hill Oct. 2 to announce the launch of a cross-country tour in opposition to the Liberal Party’s gun platform. Liberal leader Justin Trudeau announced his party’s gun platform in September, which includes a proposed ban on assault rifles.

Rod Giltaca, CCFR’s CEO and executive director, and Tracey Wilson, CCFR’s vice-president of public relations, announced they would be driving a 30-foot RV from Montreal, Que., to Regina, Sask. to raise awareness of the issue and to show support for gun owners. The RV will make stops along the way, with  CCFR members engaging in conversations with local MPs and members of the public. Those interactions will be  uploaded to the CCFR’s YouTube channel.

In our latest iAsk the Lobby Monitor story , we explored the rules concerning monthly communication reports and how the issue of who initiates contact for a lobbying conversation plays a role in determining when a report needs to be submitted. A communication report may not be required if a designated public office holder is the one who initiated contact with a lobbyist, as long as the conversation was about a topic other than financial benefits, according to François Bertrand, director of client services at the Office of the Commissioner of Lobbying. However, if the topic discussed was money-related, then it must be reported no matter who initiates contact.

Forty-nine communication reports were posted between Sept. 23 and Sept. 30, with Natural Resources Canada emerging as the most targeted government institution.

The Western Canadian Shippers’ Coalition (WCSC) filed 15 communication reports during that period, which was more than any other group.

The WCSC is interested in communicating with the federal government about the Transportation Modernization Act, which became law in May 2018, and the 2015 review of the Canada Transportation Act, and how both laws impact rail and trucking transportation, along with port activities, according to the registry.

In new registrations, Quebec holding company Gestion MTRP started its first file Sept. 20  through a contract with Toronto law firm Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt.

Five consultants from StrategyCorp – John Perenack, Laura Oprea, Andrew Steele, Martin Rust and Lisa Samson –  were added to the file on the same day.

The company is interested in discussing consolidation in the airline industry, and how airline mergers may impact tourism and labour.

The StrategyCorp consultants will communicate with the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), Transport, Finance, Global Affairs, Innovation, MPs and senators.

Coop La Guilde, a cooperative of more than 180 independent Quebec video game studios, started its first file July 30 with its general manager, Jean-Martin Aussant, listed as the senior officer.

The guild would like to discuss the tourism potential of the video game industry with the federal government. It would also like to talk about the possibility of the federal government creating a tax environment that would benefit the industry.

Aussant will communicate with Canadian Heritage and Innovation.

E-commerce company Amazon Corporate increased its representation on the Hill Oct. 1 by adding consultant Michael von Herff of Public Affairs Advisors to its file.

The addition of von Herff brings Amazon’s file to a total of six consultants from the firm, which also includes Noah Niznick and Felix Wong.

Amazon is interested in discussing policies affecting cloud-based services with government officials, according to the registry.

The consultant team will communicate with the PMO, Innovation, Health, Finance, the Business Development Bank of Canada, MPs and senators.

New registry files posted between 2019-09-30 and 2019-10-04

Based on a search of the federal lobbyists' registry on Oct. 04 at 9:20 a.m.
 

New registrations posted between 2019-09-30 and 2019-10-04

 Reactivations posted between 2019-09-30 and 2019-10-04