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Lobbying the Federal Government – What Exactly Are the Rules?
FederalEven for seasoned veteran lobbyists, reviewing the rules around lobbying federal officials is a good idea from time-to-time. Basically, if you are what’s called a consultant lobbyist (hired by an organization) you must register within 10 days of your engagement with that organization. If you are an in-house lobbyist working on government relations within your organization, you only need to register your activity if collectively your organization spends 20% of time meeting with government officials to seek funding or policy changes (see diagram below).
Lobbying does NOT include verbal or written submissions to parliamentary committees or proceedings that are a matter of public record, exchanges about the enforcement, interpretation or application of a law or regulation by the responsible public office holder, or requests for information to government or parliamentarians.
Consultant lobbyists:
In-house lobbyists:
When meeting with federal government officials, you do not need to register all meetings, only the ones with “designated public office holders”. These include:
Monthly communication reports
Lobbyists must report their verbal and written communications with designated public office holders if they address registrable subject matters (e.g., legislative proposals, legislation, regulations, policies, or programs, awarding of grants, contributions, or other financial benefits, etc.). Consultant lobbyists must also report any communication relating to the awarding of any federal contract.
Monthly communication reports must be disclosed by the 15th of the following month.
The federal Lobbying Act aims to prevent unethical lobbying by requiring paid lobbyists to register their activity and by imposing a five-year cooling-off period on former public officeholders whom they wish to lobby. However, unpaid lobbyists have no obligation to report their activity and are not bound by the Lobbyists Code of Conduct — a set of rules around political activity and gift-giving. All 10 provinces and the Yukon have lobbyist registries. Some municipalities not captured by provincial lobbying legislation have enacted their own.
Moving forward
Recently, the Commissioner of Lobbying wrapped up a consultation on the Lobbyist Code of Conduct – a document that sets out guidelines for anyone who lobbies. It’s a good thing that this is reviewed periodically and updated. In 2021, the Commissioner of lobbying produced a report that compiled several recommendations that may be considered in updates to the legislation, which is due to be reviewed very soon.
Grassroots Public Affairs can aid you and your organization to ensure that you are keeping track of your meetings with government officials and discuss when you need to register and upload your meetings. If you are interested in learning more about the federal lobbyist registry, or have questions about lobbying in general, please reach out and we would be happy to set up a meeting with you.
Sources: Office of the Commissioner of Lobbying of Canada
Natasha Bulowski, Canada’s National Observer
Chris Gray
Associate Sr. Consultant – Ottawa
Recognized by The Hill Times as one of the top 100 lobbyists in Canada, Chris has worked in government and public affairs for 20 years. His career started on Parliament Hill working for MPs and a Cabinet Minister, before moving to the private sector with organizations including The Greater Toronto Airports Authority, The Canadian Chamber of Commerce and The Heart & Stroke Foundation. Chris has a proven track record of successfully advocating for changes to legislation and policy, and securing funding for organizations. Chris is a native of Prince Edward Island and a graduate of Mount Allison University in Sackville, New Brunswick. Chris currently serves on the board of the Vimy Foundation.
2022 Ontario Budget: Ontario’s Plan to Build
Provincial, NewsOntario Finance Minister Peter Bethlenfalvy rose in the Ontario legislature yesterday afternoon and tabled the Ford government’s long awaited provincial budget. A month later than usual, the budget nicely coincides with the imminent writ drop for the upcoming June 2nd Ontario vote. Given the fact the government has no plans to pass the budget before Election Day, this is for all intents and purposes the PC Party’s campaign platform. For all the budget commitments to come to fruition, Ontarians will have to re-elect the Ford government for another 4-year majority term. You can read the full budget here.
THE PRIMARY COMMITMENTS
The budget details were broken down into 5 different sections; here are some notable commitments:
Rebuilding Ontario’s Economy
· Building a permanent highway to the Ring of Fire for mineral extraction
· Investing in critical minerals innovation
· Investing in transformative hybrid and electric vehicle production
· Investing in a Food Security and Supply Chain Fund
· Natural gas expansion and building out Ontario’s nuclear advantage
Working for Workers
· Investing more in the Skilled Trades Strategy
· Expanding college degree granting to increase job-ready graduates
· Investing more in employment and training programs
· Increasing minimum wage
Building Highways & Critical Infrastructure
· Investing in major highway expansion throughout Ontario
· Investing $61B over 10 years in public transit
· Supporting municipalities for vital municipal public services
· Investing over $1B for new schools for the coming year
Keeping Costs Down
· New legislation to speed up more housing development
· Increasing land capacity at the Ontario Land Tribunal & Landlord Tenant Board
· Cutting gas taxes by 5.7 cents per litre starting July 1st
· Eliminating annual license plate stickers
· Announcing a new low-income tax credit
· Highlighting the recently announced childcare deal brought in with the federal government
A Plan to Stay Open
· Introducing incentives to retain and recruit more nurses in Ontario
· Investments to add 8,600 health care workers to the system
· Building Ontario’s domestic capacity to manufacture personal protective equipment
· Additional investments in home care to keep people living at home
· Introducing a new Seniors Care at Home Tax Credit
· Making a multi-year investment to expand hospital capacity
TAXES
While there were no major announcements around general tax cuts or increases (i.e., income taxes, corporate taxes, or sales taxes) there were several commitments to reduce taxes for different groups of Ontarians, including:
· Tax credits for seniors to stay in their homes longer
· Tax cuts for gasoline and fuel
· Enhancing the Low-Income Individuals and Families Tax (LIFT) credit
· Increased tax credit for the television and film industries
There were a few other niche-oriented tax credits and minor cuts for small sections of the economy but nothing significant for the masses. Missing was the long promised 20% cut for middle class income earners.
An excellent and detailed summary of the all the tax implications of this budget was printed online here from PWC.
DEFICIT PROJECTIONS
Like most election year budgets, this one is loaded with spending commitments and promises. It’s a far cry from the fiscally prudent and cost cutting language the PC Party used in the lead up to the 2018 election. Yesterday’s budget projects a $20B deficit next year, up from around $14B deficit incurred from 2021-22. Despite the economy rebounding faster than expected, this anticipated increase in the deficit is a direct consequence of the massive boost in spending initiatives across the board.
Yesterday’s budget is forecasting an annual budget deficit of around $7B by 2024/25.
OPPOSITION PARTY RESPONSE
NDP leader Andrea Horwath was critical of the budget suggesting that the PC government can’t be trusted and that this budget will quickly be replaced with more cost cutting alternatives if the Ford government is re-elected. The Del Duca Liberals slammed the budget for not being creative in commitments around healthcare and education. The reality is both opposition parties will find it difficult to get attention, given the PC party has temporarily abandoned its focus on cutting spending in order to balance the budget. We will have to wait to see what changes may be implemented before this budget gets passed into law.
WHAT’S NEXT
Over the coming 6 weeks provincial candidates from all parties will spread out across the province to lobby for your vote. In yesterday’s budget Finance Minister Bethlenfalvy repeatedly referred to the PC government as the party that “gets it done” in response to various big capital investments and infrastructure projects. It’s clear that the Ford government will use this mantra going forward and into the campaign.
Election campaigns are an excellent time for stakeholders and organizations to lobby for policy commitments. While the budget clearly lays out a plan for the next 2-3 years, there is lots of room for changes should the PC’s win re-election. Simultaneously, getting the opposition parties to raise your issue during an election campaign may generate significant exposure for your advocacy issues.
If the Ford government is successful in winning a second term, then we can expect a brief summer session in the legislature to pass this budget bill into law before they return for the scheduled fall session after Labour Day. There will also be many new cabinet members as several high-profile ministers in the Ford government are not seeking re-election.
We at Grassroots will be monitoring the upcoming provincial campaign and profiling several key ridings, including the candidates who may soon be new MPPs at the legislature this fall. At this point, we anticipate the Ford government will be re-elected for another 4-year majority term. Yet it seems election campaigns usually have some unanticipated events that influence the outcome; time will tell.
More insights to come in our weekly election commentaries, starting next week.
Grassroots Public Affairs – Advocacy, Communications, Research
Call 905-716-3000 for more information about our services.
Back to “Normal”
Personal, Grassroots NewsAn opinion piece written by Ray Pons.
There’s something about the human spirit that becomes evident in the most challenging yet uplifting circumstances.
BMO field, Toronto, Sunday, March 27, 2022, 4.00pm EDT, saw Canada’s men’s soccer team [football in the rest of the world except North America] end a drought of 36 years and qualify for the FIFA World Cup Finals to be held in Qatar later this fall, with a 4-0 victory over Jamaica, in front of 29,122 ecstatic fans.
It was an exhilarating experience. To see the diversity of supporters from a wide diversity of cultures, creeds, backgrounds, and ethnicity united in a common adoration of sport and country.
Unique, yet “normal”.
It’s not that many months ago that sporting tussles took place in hockey, football, basketball, baseball, golf tournaments, et al, in front of empty stadiums, no noise, no banners, no nothing. What a difference to hear the experience as well as witness it.
COVID-19 pandemic, war, joblessness, economic stress and anxiety, supply chain concerns, healthcare, and so many other soul-destroying pressures around the entire globe, are capable of being somewhat set aside by humanity, for a few hours of joy or agony, due to victory or defeat – in a sporting spectacle.
I have a yearning that the metaphor of BMO field “back to normal” on that frigid Sunday, could be, might be, replicated in the world at large. In the worlds of business, politics, relationships, economics, and success.
It was visibly obvious in the stadium that very different people, from very different cultures, religions, history, orientation, can indeed be fused, amalgamated, and celebrate as one. Nice normal.
It was clear to see the differences yet hear the commonality. Normal.
Old & Young. Male & Female. Muslim & Christian. Protestant & Catholic. Jew & Gentile. Immigrant & First Nation. Perfectly normal.
In a world environment of divisiveness, rage, “us versus them” where far too many seek not to understand but to force understanding down the throats of “opponents” it was flat-out wonderful, a marvel to behold, to see that it truly can happen, and, exiting the lockdowns, we can get back to normal.
In the words of modern-day philosopher John Lennon: “You may say I’m a dreamer …. but I’m not the only one.”
So what?
What does any of this have to do with Grassroots Public Affairs? What factors, surrounding Government Relations, Public Relations, success in advocacy, achieving business growth, advancements in highly effective leadership, better communication skills, thereby acquiring increased leverage for your cause[s], are being brought into play? What does this have to do with getting support and money from Governments?
Nothing! And yet, everything!
Principles are what make the biggest progress.
The larger the issue, the more pressing the problem, and the greater the importance of attaining success, a positive outcome, the more vital it is to focus on principles.
Not practices. Not “How To’s”. Not the very best of good intentions.
Principles are what make the biggest progress.
Principle: The best people to speak for an industry are the people who everyday work in the industry, depend upon the industry, possess a passion for the industry.
Principles: Trust. Truth. Honesty. Integrity. Fairness. Fun. Purpose [Why]. Mission [How]. Vision [What].
Principles: Clarity. Consistency. Collaboration.
The success of Canada’s men’s soccer team, under the leadership of Head Coach John Herdman, is, and was, achieved on principles.
Former Head Coach of the Canadian Women’s Soccer Team, Coach Herdman took a “struggling squad” and transformed them to become a team that captured the hearts and minds of all Canadians. Under his leadership Canadian women won back-to-back bronze medals at the Olympic Games, then went on to win the gold medal at the Pan Am games, the first in Canadian soccer history.
Known for delivering riveting talks [principle: highly effective communication] John Herdman explains the importance of vision, passion, and discipline, inspiring and transforming for top performance to achieve success [again principles] whether it’s on the field or in the office.
His history of success includes New Zealand’s Director of Football Development, where he revolutionized how soccer in that nation is organized and delivered.
In 2017 he won the Jack Donohue “Coach of the Year” Award.
Herdman is a class act. And his success in football [soccer] can be emulated in areas that go far beyond sports.
His story continues today.
Recalling how it felt when the place of my birth, England, won the World Cup way back in 1966, my great anticipation is to replay and experience those same emotions in November of 2022, for my chosen home and citizenship, Canada.
OH CANADA! GO CANADA!
Ray Pons
Sr. Communications Specialist
Ray is an expert on leadership development, impactful communication and strategic coaching. In addition to his years as a serial entrepreneur, Ray’s experience includes life insurance, reinsurance, being a faculty member trainer at Rockhurst University Continuing Education Center, Keynote Speaker and Executive Coach to businesses small and large. He has a straightforward, no-nonsense style heavily influenced by Dr. Stephen Covey’s 7 Habits of Highly Effective People & The 8th Habit. Ray brings an experienced, yet innovative approach to performance improvement, team-building and change management.
The Grassroots Greenhouse 2022
News, Grassroots NewsAn annual snapshot of public opinion about Canadian agriculture and food.
In partnership with clients and agricultural stakeholders, Grassroots’ online survey by way of a representative panel measured the direction and intensity of public opinion across numerous issues affecting Canada’s food space.
Grassroots has incorporated four years of tracking data as well as new and relevant questions each year.
New questions for the 2022 poll gathered public opinion about:
Multiple years of thorough research has reinforced Grassroots’ strong belief in the growth potential in Canada’s domestic food system.
Key findings for this year’s research include:
A word of thanks to our client Food Banks Canada for their longstanding participation.
View the ‘Greenhouse Findings’ below:
Grassroots-Greenhouse-2022-Preliminary-Findings-April-11-2022-12022 FEDERAL GOVERNMENT BUDGET SUMMARY
News, Grassroots NewsFinance Minister Chrystia Freeland delivered the 2022 federal budget yesterday at 4:00 p.m. This year’s budget was titled A Plan to Grow Our Economy and Make Life More Affordable. The delivery of this federal budget marks the first budget announcement since the 2021 federal election.
BUDGET THEMES: THE THREE PILLARS
Freeland announced the Liberal government’s plan to decline the debt-to- GDP ratio and grow the economy. The government proposes to do this with a three pillar approach.
Pillar One: investing in the people to grow our country by investing in housing, immigration and skills, and childcare.
Pillar Two: investing in a green transition through a plan that is driven by our national price on pollution and a new Canada Growth Fund which aims to lure the billions of dollars in private capital needed to strengthen our economy swiftly.
Pillar Three: investing in productivity and innovation by encouraging Canadian companies to get bigger and help Canadians and Canadian companies develop new IP and turn ideas into businesses and create new jobs.
At the last hour and as anticipated, additional investments were made to military spending and plans were announced to initiate a defence policy review to prepare Canada for a more dangerous world due to Putin’s invasion of Ukraine.
SPENDING HIGHLIGHTS
As expected, this budget is funding some significant new programs and increasing spending in areas that the government deems important. All in the government announced over $56 Billion in new spending measures. They include:
Canada Growth Fund
$15 Billion over 5 years to Canada Growth Fund. This will be allocated toward restructuring supply chains, helping to achieve various climate- related goals, and investing in clean technologies.
Housing
$10 Billion over 5 years on various housing programs including $4 Billion over 5 years to launch a Housing Accelerator Fund. Also includes a one-time $500 payment to people struggling with housing affordability.
Defence
$8 Billion in new funding over the next 5 years. $875 Million will be focused on addressing cyber threats over the next 5 years. The government will also initiate a new defence policy review.
Dental Care
$5.3 Billion over 5 years to provide dental care for Canadians.
Child Care
$625 Million over 4 years for childcare to help provinces and territories build new facilities.
First Nations
$4 Billion in funding for First Nations children over 6 years.
Electric Vehicles
$1.7 Billion to extend incentives for electric vehicle purchases and $400 Million to build out more charging stations.
Support for Ukraine
$1.5 Billion to support Ukraine in its war with Russia including $500 Million in military aid.
TAXES
Additional measures to make the tax system fairer and introducing new taxes for some Canadians.
● Raising taxes on the wealthiest 1% of Canadians and cutting taxes for 20 million low and middle income citizens.
● New tax on vacant or underused housing owned by non-resident, non-Canadians.
● New taxes on luxury goods.
●Reforming the tax treatment of employee stock options to prevent it from disproportionately benefiting the very wealthy.
● Restricting large financial institutions from creating artificial tax deductions.
● Temporary Canada Recovery Dividend – banking and life insurance groups will pay a one-time 15 per cent tax on taxable income above $1 billion for the 2021 tax year.
● Permanently increase the corporate income tax rate by1.5 percentage points on the taxable income of banking and life insurance groups.
● Amendments to the Income Tax Act.
DEFICIT FORCAST
Buoyed by an increase in tax revenue (mostly from the oil sector) and a recovering economy, the government is budgeting for a deficit of $52 Billion – half of what it was last year and significantly lower than the $300+ Billion deficit incurred during the first year of the pandemic. While critics of the Liberal government continue to criticize large deficits the Trudeau Liberals are expecting to reduce the annual budget deficit to $8.4 Billion 2026/27.
OPPOSITION RESPONCE
The Official Opposition Conservatives immediately denounced the budget as “irresponsible”. In her remarks to the media Interim Leader Candice Bergen referred to the budget as a NDP spend and tax budget, highlighting the recent agreement the minority Liberal government made with the NDP to remain in power until 2025. While they welcomed additional spending commitments for Canada’s military, the Conservatives expressed doubt that the Liberal government would follow through with spending given their past track records. Ms. Bergen commented that the Liberal government announcements around housing wouldn’t likely get any houses built and expressed disappointment that there were no tax breaks for Canadians. She indicated that Conservatives would be voting against the budget bill.
NDP leader Jagmeet Singh stated that his party has critiques and criticisms about the federal budget, and that they are deeply concerned about the approach on the environment. None the less they will be voting in favour of it. The Green Party believes that the budget is socially progressive but it is “missing the mark for climate because these investments are based on the wrong targets”.
WHATS NEXT
With a commitment of support from the NDP, the Liberal government will look to govern as if they have a majority over the next 3 years. This budget, while light on specifics and details, continues to highlight the Liberal focus on some consistent themes: Climate Change Initiatives, Affordability for Canadians and First Nations Reconciliation. While not all the Liberal campaign promises were implemented in this budget, Minister Freeland stated that this budget was the first of many that would carry out all their previously made election commitments during their current term.
While the Liberals chose to focus on their core priorities, it’s clear disruptions from the ongoing pandemic as well as the war in Ukraine forced the government to prioritize investments they wouldn’t normally champion; most notably a sizable increase in defence spending. Many of the announcements were vague in specifics and it’s unclear exactly where the money will be spent. This provides an opportunity for stakeholders to actively lobby the government for their priorities.
The coming weeks and months provide an excellent opportunity to engage government officials on the announcements made and highlight how industry can partner with government to address their mutual needs.
Prime Minister Trudeau unveils his new cabinet
Federal, NewsChris is an Associate Senior Consultant at Grassroots Public Affairs and is based in Ottawa. Chris can be contacted at chris@grassrootspa.ca.
After leading the Liberals to a second consecutive minority government, the Prime Minister has unveiled his cabinet for this parliamentary session. This cabinet is very heavy on new ministers from the GTA region with Kamal Khera (Brampton West) Marci Ien (Toronto Centre) and Helena Jaczek (Markham-Stouffville) joining the front benches. Atlantic Canada is also a big winner with a number of new faces coming in, including Sean Fraser (Central Nova) and Gudie Hutchings (Long Range Mountains), as well as former Health Minister Ginette Petitpas-Taylor (Moncton—Riverview—Dieppe).
Canada is also getting a new environment and climate change minister as environmental activist Steven Guilbeault (Laurier—Saint-Marie) is taking on the role following his previous posting as heritage minister. The Quebec MP, who has worked with groups such as Equiterre and Greenpeace, will have a prominent role in cabinet as the Liberals attempt to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 40 to 45 per cent below 2005 levels by 2030. Jonathan Wilkinson, who has held the environment portfolio, will take over natural resources.
Quebec MP Jean Yves Duclos becomes the new health minister. Patty Hajdu, who took on the health ministry just months before the pandemic hit, becomes minister of Indigenous Services and minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario. And after holding various Indigenous files, Carolyn Bennett moves to a new position as minister of Mental Health and Addictions and associate minister of Health.
New Minister Profiles
Total: 8 new ministers
Served as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Canadian Heritage from 2015 to 2017.
Became Canada’s Special Advisor to the Prime Minister on LGBTQ2 issues in 2016.
Rhodes Scholar and former business consulting company owner.
Served as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Finance and to the Minister of Middle Class Prosperity and Associate Minister of Finance from 2019 to 2021, and as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change from 2018 to 2019.
In 2021, he also served as Parliamentary Secretary to the Deputy Prime Minister.
Practised commercial litigation and international dispute resolution with one of Canada’s top-ranked law firms.
Elected as a Durham Regional Councillor, and served from 1997 to 2004. He also served as Acting Mayor of Pickering.
Served as Chief Government Whip, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Democratic Institutions.
Served as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Rural Economic Development and Parliamentary Secretary for Small Business and Tourism. She was also one of the original members of the National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians.
Over 30 years of experience in the tourism industry.
Prior to being elected to the House of Commons, she had an award-winning career in journalism and television that spanned three decades. She has travelled internationally with Journalists for Human Rights and World Vision.
Prior to her work representing Oak Ridges—Markham, Minister Jaczek practised medicine at the Women’s College Hospital in Toronto. She was also the Medical Officer of Health and Commissioner of Health Services for the Regional Municipality of York, where she was responsible for public health, land ambulance, and long-term care for 18 years.
Served as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of International Development, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Revenue, and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Health.
Prior to entering politics, Minister Khera worked as a registered nurse in the oncology unit at St. Joseph’s Health Centre in Toronto.
Over the past decade, she served as Secretary General then President of the Fédération nationale des communications et de la culture.
Promotions
Mélanie Joly received a major promotion, moving up from minister of Economic Development and Official Languages to a much higher profile as foreign affairs minister. Oakville MP Anita Anand becomes only the second woman in Canadian history to take on the role of defence minister, after former prime minister Kim Campbell in the 1990s.
Demotions
Along with astronaut Marc Garneau, who was minister of Foreign Affairs, Waterloo MP Bardish Chagger and Winnipeg MP Jim Carr were dropped from cabinet. It’s rumoured that Garneau may be headed to France as the Ambassador.
Other key changes:
Official Languages and minister responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency.
Breakdown
Total: 39 Ministers (including PM Trudeau)
Provincial Representation
New Faces
31 experience vs. 8 new to Cabinet
Gender
19 women vs. 20 men
What we expect next
Ministers will be huddling with their Deputy Ministers in the days and weeks to come as they start to pore over extensive briefing binders on the issues they will need to stickhandle. Ministerial mandate letters are being prepared and are usually made public (expected later this fall). Ministers will also be reviewing their political staff appointments so we can expect some significant changes to Chiefs of Staff and other staffers in the weeks ahead.
Parliament is set to resume regular sittings on November 22nd.
For the full list of cabinet, refer to the Prime Minister of Canada’s website.