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A New Democrat MP is asking the federal lobbying commissioner to analyze what he calls “probably inappropriate lobbying actions” by prime Conservative strategist Jenni Byrne.
On Thursday, the Globe and Mail reported {that a} federal lobbying agency is positioned on the identical workplace — and employs lots of the identical employees — as Jenni Byrne & Associates, a provincial lobbying agency. NDP MP Charlie Angus despatched a letter to Commissioner of Lobbying Nancy Bélanger calling for a probe of the connection between the 2 companies.
“We’re writing to you in the present day relating to our considerations about probably inappropriate lobbying actions by Jenni Byrne,” Angus wrote within the letter.
“Given Ms. Byrne’s advisory position and shut relationship to (Conservative Chief Pierre) Poilievre and the Conservative caucus, Canadians deserve readability on her lobbying actions.”
Though Byrne’s actual position with the Conservative Occasion is murky — neither she nor the social gathering will verify how she is concerned — she is seen as probably the most highly effective Conservative strategists in Canada.
She has been seen strolling into caucus conferences — areas sometimes reserved for elected members, Conservative senators and essentially the most senior employees.
Forecheck Methods was included the primary enterprise day after Pierre Poilievre was elected Conservative Occasion chief in September 2023.
Along with using lots of the identical employees as Jenni Byrne + Associates, it’s owned by Andrew Kimber and Simon Jefferies, who’re additionally part-owners of Jenni Byrne + Associates.
Some lobbyists listed as working for Forecheck Methods on the federal lobbying database are listed as workers on the web site of Jenni Byrne + Associates, however not on the web site of Forecheck Methods.
There are different similarities between the 2 companies’ web sites. Forecheck Methods’s web site cited their CEO being “particularly good” at “making messes go away” — seemingly referencing a 2015 Globe and Mail profile of Jenni Byrne.
The reference was faraway from the corporate’s web site after an inquiry from CBC Information. Kimber denies Byrne is concerned within the agency.
“Forecheck Methods is a separate entity which Jenni Byrne has no involvement in. She isn’t and has by no means been an worker, marketing consultant, director or shareholder. She doesn’t, has not, and won’t obtain any compensation from Forecheck,” mentioned Kimber in a press release despatched to CBC Information.
Byrne didn’t reply to a request for remark and the Lobbying Fee’s workplace mentioned it might not touch upon particular circumstances.
“I might counsel that we have now a Battle of Curiosity Act, we have now a lobbying commissioner that units very vigorous guidelines and I anticipate everybody to observe these guidelines,” Dan Albas, a Conservative member of Parliament, mentioned Thursday.
“I am positive Mr. Poilievre could be the primary particular person to say that.”
The Workplace of the Chief of the Official Opposition didn’t reply to a request for remark.
Further questions on provincial lobbying
Byrne additionally confronted questions in February when Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accused the opposition chief of “pretending” to care about excessive grocery costs as a result of Byrne’s agency lobbies on behalf of grocery large Loblaw.
The Ontario lobbyist registry lists six workers of Jenni Byrne + Associates as registered lobbyists for Loblaw Firms Restricted.
“It seems that [Poilievre’s] prime adviser is working as a lobbyist for Loblaws. I feel Mr. Poilievre owes some explanations to Canadians,” mentioned Trudeau at a media look in Waterloo, Ont.
Byrne herself isn’t listed on any public registry as a marketing consultant for Loblaw. She didn’t reply to a request for remark.
“Let’s be clear concerning the information right here, Jenni Byrne isn’t and by no means has been registered to foyer on behalf of Loblaws,” mentioned Jefferies in a written assertion.
Talking to a crowd of Vancouver enterprise professionals on March 8, Poilievre took purpose at lobbyists, saying they do not characterize the pursuits of the working class.
“My expertise with the company lobbyists in Ottawa, the primary teams there, has been they’ve been totally ineffective in advancing any widespread sense pursuits for the folks on the bottom,” he advised the Larger Vancouver Board of Commerce.
“My message to company Canada is that if you need any of your coverage agenda pushed ahead, you are going to must persuade not simply me, however the folks of Canada that it’s good for them.”
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