By: Helen Beny, Ph.D Candidate (McMaster University)
In this post we review recent news and monthly communication reports from the Office of the Commissioner of Lobbying Canada to update you on the lobbying activities of tech giants in Canada. We have monitored the registered activities of Amazon, Google, Facebook, and IBM from July to September 2022 to provide a general overview of their most recent activities and a table of summary for each company below.
In the news
On September 15, the Globe & Mail published an editorial criticizing Canada’s federal lobbying regulations in light of revelations that the Prime Minister had a call with Eric Schmidt, the chair of Google and Sidewalk Labs, in 2017, prior to the approval of Sidewalk Labs’ bid to develop a smart city in Toronto. The Editorial Board notes that if a communication is initiated by the government, it is not required to be registered as a lobbying communication and can more easily be kept secret. Sidewalk Labs took a step back following criticisms from the public, but it puts into questions whether Canada’s lobby rules are effective.
Amazon
Based on the data we have gathered from the Commissioner, in the past year, Amazon has logged over 90 registered communications with the Canadian government and many of them this past year are regarding industry and government procurement. Between July 16 and July 22, 2022, Amazon Web Services, under AWS Canada head Eric Gales, has lobbied the Canada School of Public Service; Immigration (President Taki Sarantakis; topic: economic development). The school offers a “Digital Academy” to teach public servants about a range of topics, including cloud computing and cybersecurity.
AWS also lobbied Refugees and Citizenship Canada (Kyle Nicholson, Director of Policy; topic: immigration), and the Treasury Board (Shirley Ivan, Senior ADM; topic: infrastructure). The Treasury Board is responsible for policies that apply across the federal government, including those related to cloud computing and artificial intelligence.
Amazon Web Services Lobbying Summary (July – September 2022)
| Communication Date | DPOH, Position Title | Government Institution | Subject Matters | Lobbyist |
| 2022-09-27 | Mollie Royds, Associate Assistant Deputy Minister Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) | Government Procurement | Eric Gales |
| 2022-09-16 | Greg Da Re, Regional Director | Invest in Canada, Global Affairs Canada (GAC) | Economic Development | Eric Gales |
| 2022-09-14 | Rob Jamieson, Senior Advisor Public Safety Canada (PS) | National Security/Security | Eric Gales |
| 2022-09-14 | Stephen Burt, Chief Data Officer Treasury Board Of Canada Secretariat (TBS) | Privacy and Access to Information | Eric Gales |
| 2022-09-08 | Zepporah Toh, Senior Director Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) | Government Procurement | Eric Gales |
| 2022-09-08 | Dan McKinney, Director National Defence (DND) | Defence | Eric Gales |
| 2022-08-16 | Taki Sarantakis, President Canada School of Public Service (CSPS) | Economic Development | Eric Gales |
| 2022-08-10 | Brad Redekopp, Member of Parliament House of Commons | Immigration | Eric Gales |
| 2022-08-04 | Corinne Havard, Policy Advisor National Defence (DND) | National Security/Security, Defence | Eric Gales |
| 2022-07-22 | Shirley Ivan, Senior Assistant Deputy Minister Treasury Board Of Canada Secretariat (TBS) | Infrastructure | Eric Gales |
| 2022-07-22 | Kyle Nicholson, Director of Policy Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) | Immigration | Eric Gales |
| 2022-07-07 | Taki Sarantakis, President Canada School of Public Service (CSPS) | Economic Development | Eric Gales |
Amazon Fulfillment Services (AFS) a subsidiary of Amazon, under Sumegha Kumar (President), lobbied the Members of Parliament Francis Drouin and Marie-France Lalonde on the topic of “employment and training.” AFS has built Amazon warehouses around the country, creating jobs and a physical presence for the company in Canada. They also lobbied Finance Canada (Tyler Meredith, Director of Economic Strategy and Planning: topic: taxation and finance). Amazon has become Canada’s largest online retailer and has found a way to limit the taxation of their profits by using their subsidiary AFS.
Amazon Canada Fulfillment Services Lobbying Summary (July – September 2022)
| Communication Date | DPOH, Position Title | Government Institution | Subject Matters | Lobbyist |
| 2022-09-29 | Anthony Laporte, Director | Strategy and Outreach, Finance Canada (FIN) | Taxation and Finance | Sumegha Kumar |
| 2022-09-28 | Scott Shortliffe, Executive Director | Broadcasting, Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) | Broadcasting | Sumegha Kumar |
| 2022-09-26 | Ron Ahluwalia, Director Of Policy Canadian Heritage (PCH) Matthew Gray, Policy Advisor Canadian Heritage (PCH) | Broadcasting | Sumegha Kumar |
| 2022-09-23 | Samir Kassam, Senior Policy Advisor | Office of the Minister of International Trade, Export Promotion, Small Business and Economic Development, Global Affairs Canada (GAC) | International Trade | Sumegha Kumar |
| 2022-08-25 | Doug Band, Director General | Trade and Anti Dumping Programs, Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) | International Trade | Sumegha Kumar |
| 2022-08-25 | Fred Gaspar, Vice President | Commercial and Trade, Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) | International Trade | Sumegha Kumar |
| 2022-08-09 | Claude DeBellefeuille, Member of Parliament House of Commons | Economic Development | Sumegha Kumar |
| 2022-07-11 | Tyler Meredith, Director of Economic Strategy and Planning Finance Canada (FIN) | Taxation and Finance | Sumegha Kumar |
In August, under Amazon Corporate LLC, Mark Johnson lobbied Member of Parliament (Brad Redekopp; topic: employment and training, immigration, economic development, small business, and consumer issues). Last year, Amazon Canada announced their commitment to hire 15,000 full-time and part-time employees across Canada and the company’s expansion could help explain their immigration, economic development, and employment lobbying efforts.
Amazon Corporate LLC Lobbying Summary (July – September 2022)
| Communication Date | DPOH, Position Title | Government Institution | Subject Matters | Lobbyist |
| 2022-08-24 | Patricia Sibal, Policy Advisor Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) | International Trade | Steve Van Groningen |
| 2022-08-10 | Brad Redekopp, Member of Parliament House of Commons | Consumer Issues, Economic Development, Employment and Training, Immigration, Small Business | Mark Johnson |
Between July to September 2022, Garrick Tiplady, (Managing Director) of Facebook Canada Ltd has lobbied the Deputy Minister of Canadian Heritage (PCH) Isabelle Mondou, the Associate Assistant Deputy Minister of (Cultural Affairs) Canadian Heritage (PCH) Owen Ripley and Senior Assistant Deputy Minister (Cultural Affairs) Canadian Heritage (PCH) Joelle Montminy regarding industry. A month later, Garrick Tiplady lobbied both Isabelle Mondou and Owen Ripley regarding industry. Following this last meeting Garrick Tiplady lobbied Senator Paula Simons of the Senate of Canada regarding industry. Alongside Google’s lobbying efforts, Facebook has attempted to sway the Canadian government to reconfigure Bill C-11 and C-18 to ensure that it does not impede on their business model.
Facebook Canada Ltd. Lobbying Summary (July – September 2022)
| Communication Date | DPOH, Position Title | Government Institution | Subject Matters | Lobbyist |
| 2022-08-30 | Paula Simons, Senator Senate of Canada | Industry | Garrick Tiplady, Managing Director, Canada |
| 2022-08-04 | Isabelle Mondou, Deputy Minister Canadian Heritage (PCH) Owen Ripley, Associate Assistant Deputy Minister (Cultural Affairs) Canadian Heritage (PCH) | Industry | Garrick Tiplady, Managing Director, Canada |
| 2022-07-05 | Isabell Mondou, Deputy Minister Canadian Heritage (PCH) Joelle Montminy, Senior Assistant Deputy Minister (Cultural Affairs) Canadian Heritage (PCH) Owen Ripley, Associate Assistant Deputy Minister (Cultural Affairs) Canadian Heritage (PCH) | Industry | Garrick Tiplady, Managing Director, Canada |
As of July, Google has lobbied the government thirteen times regarding Media and Broadcasting, and they have met with various policy officers and members of Parliament. The uptick in lobbying efforts can be linked to Google’s position on Bill C-11, and in the past week they have launched several campaigns against the bill. Google (Alphabet) and owner of Youtube argues that it will impact their platform’s feeds. Other platforms and organizations such as Meta, movie studios (The Motion Picture Association), and Netflix have also outlined that Bill C-11 would give the broadcast regulator too much power over what content is presented on platforms in Canada. Bill C-11 has passed the House of Commons and is now in the Senate pending approval.
Google is also lobbying against Bill C-18 because it will require Google to share their revenue with news publishers. In Australia, February 25, 2022, a similar bill was also passed titled the News Media and Digital Platforms Mandatory Bargaining Code to protect their local news industry.
Google’s president of Global Affairs Kent Walker traveled to Ottawa on October 4th to lobby against both Bill C-11 and C-18. Heritage Minister Pablo Rodriguez finds that Google is attempting to intimidate Canadians with their campaign.
However, not all of Google’s lobbying strategies are recorded in Canada’s registry. Most recently, the Globe and Mail has reported that Chris Bittle, the Parliamentary Secretary to the Heritage Minister, has asked the Lobbying Commissioner to investigate the Digital First group for failing to disclose to the committee that they received a $100,000 fund from YouTube and TikTok. This is concerning because Mr. Benzie the founder of Digital First Canada group is huge critic of Bill C-11. In addition, Google has also offered to fund a lobbyist to represent independent news publishers to voice their concerns around the Online News Act. Thus far, the coalition of small publishers consists of more than 100 independent news outlets.
Google Canada Corporation Lobbying Summary (July – September 2022)
| Communication Date | DPOH, Position Title | Government Institution | Subject Matters | Lobbyist |
| 2022-09-23 | Lionel Fritz Adimi, Policy Advisor Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) | Broadcasting, Media | Sabrina Geremia, Managing Director |
| 2022-09-16 | Mike Morrice, Member of Parliament for Kitchener Centre House of Commons | Broadcasting, Media | Sabrina Geremia, Managing Director |
| 2022-09-13 | Bernadette Clement, Senator for Ontario Senate of Canada | Broadcasting, Media | Sabrina Geremia, Managing Director |
| 2022-09-13 | Marty Klyne, Senator for Saskatchewan Senate of Canada | Broadcasting, Media | Sabrina Geremia, Managing Director |
| 2022-09-08 | Thomas Owen Ripley, Associate Assistant Deputy Minister, Cultural Affairs Canadian Heritage (PCH) | Broadcasting, Media | Sabrina Geremia, Managing Director |
| 2022-09-07 | Donna Dasko, Senator for Ontario Senate of Canada | Broadcasting, Media | Sabrina Geremia, Managing Director |
| 2022-09-01 | Ian Foucher, Chief of Staff | Office of the Minister, Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) | Science and Technology, Broadcasting, Privacy and Access to Information, Economic Development, Media | Sabrina Geremia, Managing Director |
| 2022-08-30 | Karen Sorensen, Senator for Alberta Senate of Canada | Broadcasting, Media | Sabrina Geremia, Managing Director |
| 2022-08-23 | Nadia Kadri, Director of Policy | Office of the Minister of Tourism and Associate Minister of Finance, Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) | Broadcasting, Taxation and Finance, Media | Sabrina Geremia, Managing Director |
| 2022-08-08 | Paula Simons, Senator for Alberta Senate of Canada | Broadcasting, Media | Sabrina Geremia, Managing Director |
| 2022-07-22 | Tyler Meredith, Director of Economic Strategy and Planning | Office of the Minister, Finance Canada (FIN) | Broadcasting, Media | Sabrina Geremia, Managing Director |
| 2022-07-18 | Lionel Fritz Adimi, Policy Advisor Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) | Broadcasting, Media | Sabrina Geremia, Managing Director |
| 2022-07-15 | Samir Kassam, Policy Advisor | Office of the Minister of International Trade, Global Affairs Canada (GAC) | Broadcasting, Media | Sabrina Geremia, Managing Director |
| 2022-07-15 | Jaxson Khan , Policy Advisor | Office of the Minister, Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) Peter Opdam , Policy Advisor | Office of the Minister, Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) | Broadcasting, Media | Sabrina Geremia, Managing Director |
| 2022-07-12 | Lionel Fritz Adimi, Policy Advisor Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) | Broadcasting, Media | Sabrina Geremia, Managing Director |
| 2022-07-11 | Vance Badawey, Member of Parliament for Niagara Centre House of Commons | Broadcasting, Media | Sabrina Geremia, Managing Director |
| 2022-07-06 | Philip Lawrence, Member of Parliament for Northumberland—Peterborough South House of Commons | Broadcasting, Media | Josie Sabatino, Consultant |
| 2022-07-05 | Ron Ahluwalia , Director of Policy | Office of the Minister , Canadian Heritage (PCH) | Broadcasting, Media | Sabrina Geremia, Managing Director |
IBM
Over the past century, IBM Canada has invested in Canada’s research and development. In the past three months, IBM has lobbied the government ten times regarding science and technology. IBM has invested in Canada’s research and development and in February 2022, IBM and the Government of Quebec launched a partnership to accelerate research in new energy solutions, life sciences, quantum computing, AI, and high-performance computing. In May, IBM partnered with Newfoundland and Labrador and invested $18 million to strengthen research and development. They launched two initiatives –the Centre for Analytics, Informatics and Research (CAIR) and the Accelerated Analytics and Machine Learning (AAML) project. IBM’s Dave McCann and Bridget Howe met with members of the Office of the Minister Innovation Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED). In the past three months six out of the ten communications have been with the ISED office. IBM is actively engaged with the Canadian government to discuss Canada’s copyright framework for Artificial Intelligence and the Internet of Things.
IBM Canada Ltd. Lobbying Summary (July – September 2022)
| Communication Date | DPOH, Position Title | Government Institution | Subject Matters | Lobbyist |
| 2022-09-29 | Anson Duran, Senior Policy Advisor | Office of the Minister, Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) Boyan Gerasimov, Director of Policy | Office of the Minister, Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) Jaxson Khan, Policy Advisor | Office of the Minister, Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) | Science and Technology | Dave McCann, President |
| 2022-09-29 | Gérard Deltell, Member of Parliament for Louis-Saint-Laurent House of Commons | Science and Technology | Dave McCann, President |
| 2022-09-21 | Ty Curran, Director, Policy and Issues Management | Office of the Minister, Public Safety Canada (PS) Rob Jamieson, Senior Advisor | Office of the MInister, Public Safety Canada (PS) | Science and Technology | Dave McCann, President |
| 2022-09-21 | Jasraj Singh Hallan, Member of Parliament for Calgary Forest Lawn House of Commons | Science and Technology | Dave McCann, President |
| 2022-09-21 | Marie-France Lalonde, Member of Parliament for Orléans House of Commons | Science and Technology | Dave McCann, President |
| 2022-09-21 | Irek Kusmierczyk, Member of Parliament for Windsor—Tecumseh House of Commons | Science and Technology | Dave McCann, President |
| 2022-09-21 | Corinne Havard, Policy Advisor | Office of the Minister, National Defence (DND) Tristan Laycock, Director of Parliamentary Affairs | Office of the Minister, National Defence (DND) | Science and Technology | Dave McCann, President |
| 2022-09-21 | Corinne Havard, Policy Advisor National Defence (DND) Wilder Walker-Stewart, Special Assistant-Policy National Defence (DND | Economic Development, Employment and Training, Government Procurement, Intellectual Property, Research and Development, Science and Technology | Bridget Howe, Consultant |
| 2022-09-21 | Anson Duran, Senior Policy Director Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) Jaxson Khan, Policy Advisor Innovation, Science and Economic Development (ISED) | Science and Technology | Dave McCann, President |
| 2022-09-21 | Anson Duran, Senior Policy Director Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) Jaxson Khan, Policy Advisor Innovation, Science and Economic Development (ISED) | Economic Development, Industry, Research and Development, Science and Technology | Bridget Howe, Consultant |
| 2022-08-09 | Francis Bilodeau, Associate Deputy Minister Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) | Science and Technology | Dave McCann, President |
| 2022-08-08 | Francis Bilodeau, Associate Deputy Minister Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) | Science and Technology | Dave McCann, President |
| 2022-08-05 | Jenna Sudds, Member of Parliament for Kanata—Carleton House of Commons | Science and Technology | Dave McCann, President |
| 2022-08-02 | Peter Opdam, Policy Advisor | Office of the Minister, Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) | Science and Technology | Dave McCann, President |
| 2022-07-21 | Sylvain Chalut, Managing Director & Chief Information Officer Bank of Canada Filipe Dinis, Chief Operating Officer Bank of Canada Tiff Macklem, Governor Bank of Canada | Science and Technology | Dave McCann, President |
| 2022-07-11 | Jaxson Khan, Policy Advisor | Office of the Minister, Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) | Science and Technology | Dave McCann, President |
| 2022-07-10 | Anson Duran, Senior Policy Advisor | Office of the Minister, Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) | Science and Technology | Dave McCann, President |
| 2022-07-05 | Elisabeth d’Amours, Policy Advisor | Office of the Minister, Transport Canada (TC) | Science and Technology | Dave McCann, President |
What’s Next?
The brief analysis and tables provide a snapshot of the tech lobbying practices of Amazon, Facebook, Google, and IBM. While this summary does not explain all their activities, tech lobbying practices have increased in Canada overtime. In particular, the Trudeau government has encouraged their expansion to promote economic development. However, there needs to be more transparency and scrutiny. Over the course of this project, we will continue to monitor tech lobbying practices over time in attempts to illuminate their influence on existing and/or emerging policies.