CCSA leads March lobbying pack

The Canadian Cable Systems Alliance (CCSA) led the telecom field for lobbying the federal government in March, logging 15 communication reports for the month, according to the federal lobbyists’ registry. Those reports were split between organization president and CEO Jay Thomson and long-time consultant Harris Boyd, as they communicated with a variety of MPs, such as Opposition heritage critic Peter Van Loan, Liberal finance committee chair Wayne Easter and an Innovation Canada policy advisor. Boyd, who has been registered to lobby for CCSA for more than a decade, communicates with the government about CRTC broadcasting distribution regulations, namely “to ensure proposed changes do not increase license fees or financial contributions to Canadian programming or impose new obligations to carry programming services,” as well as telecom regulations with an aim “to reduce obligations for Competitive Local Exchange Carriers with respect to interconnection, contribution payments, membership in the Canadian Numbering Consortium and tariffs,” according to his registration. Close behind CCSA was Xplornet Communications Inc., which filed 13 communication reports in March. Of those, five were with Liberal MP Mike Bossio, who was until recently chair of the party’s national rural caucus. According to the Hill Times, an election last week named New Brunswick MP T.J. Harvey as Bossio’s successor in the position. Ericsson AB’s Canadian arm recorded eight communication reports for March between Prospectus Associates consultants William Pristanski and Bruce Hartley, who connected with senior Innovation Canada officials such as deputy minister John Knubley, senior assistant deputy minister Corinne Charette and Global Affairs Canada’s chief negotiator on European Union trade agreements. According to the lobbyists’ registry, the consultants are both focusing on the company’s offer “to work with government to discuss global trends in the development of wireless technology and applications. Informing government about the scarcity of spectrum due to the increased usage of broadband and video applications and the need for spectrum auctions and assignments in Canada.” Pristanski’s registration also notes he’s discussing Ericsson’s “proposal to build and operate a 5G test bed from Quebec to London for businesses, governments, SMEs and universities and colleges,” as well as another proposal “related to the Public Safety spectrum allocation and potential for Public-Private-Partnership implementation.” Telus Corp. also filed eight communications reports last month, seven under the corporate registration and one under McMillan Vantage Policy Group consultant Mark Resnick, who communicated with Infrastructure Canada’s director of policy Mathieu Belanger about security. On the company side, Telus also communicated with Heritage Canada chief of staff Leslie Church, CRTC executive director Chris Seidl and senior ISED officials. Shaw Communications Inc., Alphabet Inc.’s Google Canada and Rogers Communications Inc. — with six, five and two reports, respectively — all communicated in March with higher ups such as Heritage Minister Mélanie Joly, Innovation Minister Navdeep Bains and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s principal secretary Gerald Butts. BCE Inc.’s three communication reports singled out policy officials in the PMO and ISED as well as Charette. Meanwhile, the Canadian Wireless Telecommunications Association used its singular report to communicate with CRTC chairman Jean-Pierre Blais. Overall, telecommunications was the subject of 61 reports in March, putting it at 23rd on the list of lobbied topics, up 60.5 per cent from February’s stats (51 reports, 28th most-lobbied). Broadcasting was raised in 38 communication reports, down 25.5 per cent from February. — With reporting by Charelle Evelyn at cevelyn@thewirereport.ca and editing by Anja Karadeglija at akarad@thewirereport.ca

CCSA leads March lobbying pack

Broadcast | April 21, 2017

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CCSA leads March lobbying pack

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