Technology companies increasingly lobby the Canadian federal government. The Tech Lobby Project regularly submits Access to Information (ATI) requests for records relating to lobbying communications between Canadian federal government departments and companies such as Amazon, Facebook, Google, IBM, Microsoft, Netflix, Twitter, Sidewalk Labs and Uber. Read more about our ATI requests here. Below you can find a list of the documents we’ve received recently in response to our ATI requests.
You can subscribe to receive a list of descriptions of recent ATI responses we have received by monthly email by signing up to our monthly email listserv here. For more information, or to access the documents themselves, please email Sara Bannerman at banners@mcmaster.ca
Tech Lobby News
[LOBBYING] The Hill Times’ Top 100 Lobbyists in 2024: looming federal election and lingering virtual comms contribute to dynamic advocacy (The Hill Times)
[LOBBYING] NDP requests investigation of relationship between lobby firm and Poilievre’s adviser (The Globe and Mail)
[LOBBYING] Pierre Poilievre slams ‘useless’ corporate lobbyists in Ottawa who should expect no favours from him (National Post)
Received in December 2023
Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission ATI Re-Requests
| Document Link | Reference |
| The document includes an exchange between TELUS and Pierre-Louis Pregent (CRTC) regarding the new CMF guidelines and Telus’ desire to discuss community programming opportunities. In addition, some discussing surrounding Telecom and Broadcasting analysis and their performance during the COVID-19 pandemic. | Government of Canada, Access to Information Request A-2020-00028: Provide All Communications Sent to or from Bell Canada, Rogers Communications, Telus and the CRTC Regarding COVID-19. Timeline: May 15, 2020 to Present (August 31, 2020). Re-Requested under Access to Information Request (Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission, 2020), http://open.canada.ca/en/access-to-information. |
| The document includes an application submitted by Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC) regarding pandemic contact-tracing by major Canadian telecommunications service providers and the request to launch a public proceeding. Their application was denied, and the summary of this judgement can be found on pg. 9. | Government of Canada, Access to Information Request A-2020-00049: From May 26, 2020 to Present (November 24, 2020), All Documentation Regarding the Development and Implementation of Smart Phone Contact Tracing as Location Data for Public Health Tracing during the COVID-19 Pandemic Crisis. Re-Requested under Access to Information Request (Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission, 2020), http://open.canada.ca/en/access-to-information. |
| The document includes several requests/tickets, of complaints to the CRTC regarding French music language requirements. There are numerous requests all written in French. | Government of Canada, Access to Information Request A-2020-00063: Obtain Information on Public Complaints Regarding Compliance with the French-Language Content Regulation, Namely the Nature of the Complaint, the Channel Concerned, the Date and the Province, for the Period from Jan. 1, 2000 to December 1, 2020. Re-Requested under Access to Information Request (Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission, 2020), http://open.canada.ca/en/access-to-information. |
Canadian Heritage ATI Re-Requests
| Document Link | Reference |
| The document includes an email exchange between Canadian Heritage employees regarding Canadian Heritage’s position on cultural diversity, early recommendations, and a proposal for measuring cultural diversity in the broadcasting system. The release includes a deck outlining cultural diversity efforts such as a working group, broadcasting policy, current context, and policy issues. | Government of Canada, Access to Information Request A-2020-000280 From January 1, 2019 to June 30, 2019, All Records That Mention “Netflix” (Disclosure for the Month of June). Re-Requested under Access to Information Request (Canadian Heritage, 2019), http://open.canada.ca/en/access-to-information. |
| The document includes an information package for the CAVO information session: how to be Star CPTC Application June 2019. In addition, there are detailed meeting notes and minutes from the Banff World Media Festival. Furthermore, several articles about the APFC, Netflix, Telefilm Canada, regarding the Canada Media Fund launch of a professional development program in Canada. | Government of Canada, Access to Information Request A-2020-000280 From January 1, 2019 to June 30, 2019, All Records That Mention “Netflix” (Disclosure for the Month of June). Re-Requested under Access to Information Request (Canadian Heritage, n.d.), http://open.canada.ca/en/access-to-information. |
| The document includes an instant messenger conversation between Pietro Cimino and a government official about the EU’s approach to media regulation. The chat includes several comments on how to refine their deck for the Canada-EU Digital Dialogue presentation. The package also includes an information note for the Honourable Steven Guilbeault regarding the competition bureau investigations into anti-competitive behaviour on the part of digital platforms. | Government of Canada, Access to Information Request A-2020-00281_pt1.Pdf From October 1, 2019 to October 19, 2020, All Records Regarding Canadian Heritage’s Plans to Impose Fees to Social Media. Re-Requested under Access to Information Request (Canadian Heritage, 2020), http://open.canada.ca/en/access-to-information. |
| The document includes handwritten notes from a call with Kathy regarding EU dialogues for the Oct/Nov delegation in Belgium 2019. | Government of Canada, Access to Information Request A-2020-00281 From October 1, 2019 to October 19, 2020, All Records Regarding Canadian Heritage’s Plans to Impose Fees to Social Media. Re-Requested under Access to Information Request (Canadian Heritage, 2020), http://open.canada.ca/en/access-to-information. |
| The document includes several discussion papers and reports. For instance, there is a discussion paper by Taylor Owen titled Six Observations on Securing the Integrity of the Digital Public Sphere. The paper was prepared for the Department of Canadian Heritage and the Canadian Commission for UNESCO. In addition, there is another report by Philip M. Napoli titled Diversity of Content in the Digital Age: Discoverability of Diverse Local, Regional and National Content. Furthermore, a discussion paper by Dr. Fenwick McKelvey and Robert Hunt titled Algorithmic Accountability and Digital Content Discovery and two more additional papers. | Government of Canada, Access to Information Request A-2020-00294 All Records Regarding the Research Project “5 Thought Leadership Papers on the Subject of Diversity of Content in the Online World”. Re-Requested under Access to Information Request (Canadian Heritage, 2019), http://open.canada.ca/en/access-to-information. |
| The document includes several emails from Kevin Chan (Global Director and Head of Public Policy at Meta) regarding trademark policy and intentions on briefing the music team at Canadian Heritage before their upcoming launch of a music event. In the second half of the report, there is an email from Joanne Pitkin from Meta regarding their 2019 approach to electoral integrity. Attached is their report titled: Facebook Canada Public Policy and Community Engagement Annual Report. In addition, there are notes from a roundtable working group that discussed diversity of content online. | Government of Canada, Access to Information Request A-2020-00297 From January 1, 2020 to October 29, 2020, All Correspondence and Meeting Notes Concerning Facebook or Google. Re-Requested under Access to Information Request (Canadian Heritage, 2019), http://open.canada.ca/en/access-to-information. |
| The document includes an email exchange between Canadian Heritage employees regarding the Competition Bureau and anti-competitive behaviour and the digital economy. In addition, there file includes the draft and final copy of the information note for the Honourable Steven Guilbeault regarding anti-competitive inquiry of digital platforms. There is also an additional information note titled competition bureau investigations into anti-competitive behaviour on the part of digital platforms. | Government of Canada, Access to Information Request A-2020-00297 From January 1, 2020 to October 29, 2020, All Correspondence and Meeting Notes Concerning Facebook or Google. Re-Requested under Access to Information Request (Canadian Heritage, 2020), http://open.canada.ca/en/access-to-information. |
| Document includes a table outlining the number of ATI requests received from April 1, 2020 – November 10, 2020. According to the table, Canadian Heritage has received 295 requests during this period, 186 were responded to within 30 days, 186 were delayed related to covid, and 1 required an extension. | Government of Canada, Access to Information Request A-2020-00298 Briefing Note to the Deputy Minister CH2019-01568: “Briefing Books for Transition”. Re-Requested under Access to Information Request (Canadian Heritage, 2020), http://open.canada.ca/en/access-to-information. |
| The document includes a memorandum to Hélène Laurendeau requiring her decision to join a video conference with Mr. Roberto Viola of the Directorate-General for Communications Networks, Content and Technology of the European Union. It is recommended that Hélène join the conference with the ISED. There is also a summary outlining the progress on the Canada-EU digital dialogues and upcoming commitments. | Government of Canada, Access to Information Request A-2020-00307 Briefing Note to the Deputy Minister CH2020-00271: “Video Conference with Mr. Roberto Viola and Deputy Minister Simon Kennedy to Plan 2020 Canada-EU Digital Dialogues”. Re-Requested under Access to Information Request (Canadian Heritage, 2020), http://open.canada.ca/en/access-to-information. |
| The document is a memorandum to the Honourable Steven Guilbeault regarding a request to attend the Building Today for a Resilient Tomorrow (BTRT) conference. The conference is hosted by the Department of Canadian Heritage’s Digital Citizen Initiative. The file also includes a progress update detailing the projects approved under the Digital Citizen Initiative. Steven Guilbeault signed on March 02, 2020, that he would not be able to attend the event. | Government of Canada, Access to Information Request A-2020-00310 Briefing Note to the Minister CH2019-01535: “Approval of New Digital Citizen Contributions Program Guidelines”. Re-Requested under Access to Information Request (Canadian Heritage, 2020), http://open.canada.ca/en/access-to-information. |