Fizza Kulvi – The Tech Lobby

Who lobbies for IBM in Canada?

IBM has relied on the lobbying expertise of numerous consultants from Crestview Strategy including Alexander Byrne-Krzycki, John O’Leary, Bryan Detchou, and Bridget Howe. All consultants have held public offices ranging from the House of Commons, Employment and Social Development Canada, and the Senate. Another consulting firm associated with IBM Canada is the Capital Hill Group.

Two of IBM Canada’s Government and Regulatory Affairs Executives, Tiéoulé Traoré and Alayne Crawford, have also held public office positions. Traoré served as a Parliamentary Assistant for an MP from Trois-Rivières from 2012 to 2014 while Crawford held multiple positions at the Prime Minister’s Office between 2008 and 2010.

A list of the most recent IBM consultants that have held public office is provided below.

What does IBM lobby about in Canada?

IBM also influences Canadian communication policy through investments in collaborative innovation through its IBM Canada Research and Development Centre (CRDC). One area of focus is promoting “made in Canada” disruptive technologies. This policy objective is carried out through the Southern Ontario Smart Computing and Innovation Platform (SOSCIP) consortium which consists of the CRDC, the Government of Ontario, the Government of Canada, and seven Canadian universities. SOSCIP is credited with implementing Canada’s most powerful advanced computing platforms.

Another example is the IBM Alberta Centre for Advanced Studies (CAS), formed in partnership with the Government of Alberta. CAS engages Alberta university professors and students with IBM research, staff, and technologies to create technological solutions to challenges in environment, healthcare, and natural resource management. IBM also has made investments in Quebec (MiQro Innovation Collaborative Centre) and Atlantic Canada (IBM Services Centre: Nova Scotia, CARET Partnership, CHIA, New Brunswick IT Delivery Center).

What government institutions does IBM lobby in Canada?

IBM has lobbied many government institutions in Canada. A list of the most recent institutions is provided below. This list was created using data from the Lobbying Registry.

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC)

Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA)

Bank of Canada

Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA)

Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions

Canada Revenue Agency (CRA)

Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency (CanNor)

Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC)

Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC)

Export Development Canada (EDC)

Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev)

Finance Canada (FIN)

Global Affairs Canada (GAC)

Health Canada (HC)

House of Commons

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC)

Indigenous Services Canada (ISC)

Infrastructure Canada (INFC)

Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED)

National Defence (DND)

National Research Council (NRC)

Natural Resources Canada (NRCan)

Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC)

Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada (OPC)

Prairies Economic Development Canada (PrairiesCan)

Prime Minister’s Office (PMO)

Privy Council Office (PCO)

Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC)

Public Safety Canada (PS)

Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC)

Senate of Canada

Service Canada (ServCan)

Shared Services Canada (SSC)

Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC)

Transport Canada (TC)

Treasury Board Of Canada Secretariat (TBS)

Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC)

By Fizza Kulvi, Ph.D Candidate (McMaster University)

Uber lobbying in the news

In July 2022, a leaked cache of internal documents exposed how Uber, under the leadership of co-founder Travis Kalanick, recruited politicians to help in its campaign to disrupt taxi industries in cities across the globe. The documents reveal how European officials including French president Emmanuel Macron (economy minister at the time) and former European Union digital commissioner Neelie Kroes, secretly lobbied for the company putting them in potential breach of EU ethics rules. Uber also sought access to officials and diplomats in the US, including David Plouffe and Jim Messina who both worked for the Obama administration.

The documents also reveal how the ride-sharing service sought to influence elected officials and public opinion in Quebec, Ontario, and Alberta. Uber’s policy team solicited support from former Toronto mayor John Tory after the City of Toronto pursued an injunction against the ride-sharing service for allegedly violating its taxi regulations. A few days later, the federal minister of foreign affairs at the time, John Baird, publicly lamented taxi delays in Ottawa and called on the city to allow Uber (which was already operating unlawfully in the capital).

Who lobbies for Uber in Canada?

Adam Blinick is the acting Director of Public Policy and Communications for Uber Canada. Prior to joining Uber, Blinick held many senior positions in the Canadian government, including Director of Policy at Public Safety, Director of Policy and Senior Policy Advisor at Transport Canada, and special advisor to the Prime Minister.

In the past, Uber Canada has hired lobbyists through consulting firms including StrategyCorp and NATIONAL Public Relations. Many consultants, including Marc Desmarais, Christopher Froggart, Dan Mader, and John Duffy have extensive experience working for government agencies including Transport Canada, Public Safety, Environment Canada, and Employment and Social Development.

The table below reflects all of Uber Canada’s registered lobbyists that have held public office.

Name	Lobbyist Details	Position	Active/Inactive	Public Offices Held
Adam Blinick	Senior Officer whose lobbying activities represent less than 20% of their duties	Director of Public Policy and Communications, UBER	Active	Director of Policy, Public Safety (2012-2013); Director of Policy, Transport Canada (2010-2012); Senior Policy Advisor, Transport Canada (2009-2010); Special Assistant, Prime Minister’s Office (2008-2009)
Jake Brockman	Senior Officer whose lobbying activities represent 20% or more of their duties	Manager, Public Policy	Inactive	Special Assistant, MP Rob Oliphant, House of Commons (May-August 2010)
Michael van Hemmem	Senior Officer whose lobbying activities represent 20% or more of their duties	Senior Public Policy Manager	Inactive	Director of Policy, Transport Canada (2008-2011)
Jean-Christopher de le Rue	Senior Officer whose lobbying activities represent less than 20% of their duties	Senior Communication Associate	Inactive	Director of Communication, Public Safety (2013-2015); Press Secretary, Veteran Affairs (2011-2013)
Marc Desmarais	Consultant	Consultant, NATIONAL Public Relations	Inactive	Executive Assistant to the Minister, Foreign Affairs (1997-1999); Assistant to the Leader of the Opposition, Senate of Canada (1985-1987); Assistant to MP Alain Tardif, House of Commons (April-December 1984); Assistant to MP Jean-Claude Malépart, House of Commons (April-June 1984)
Christopher Froggatt	Consultant	Consultant, NATIONAL Public Relations	Inactive	Chief of Staff, Transport Canada (2008-2010); Chief of Staff, Environment Canada (2007-2008)
Dan Mader	Consultant	Consultant, NATIONAL Public Relations	Inactive	Chief of Staff, National Defence (2011-2012); Chief of Staff, Employment and Social Development (January-May 2011); Chief of Staff, Environment Canada (2010-2011); Director of Policy, House of Commons (2010-2011); Director of Policy, Transport Canada (2008-2009); Director of Policy, Environment Canada (2007-2008); Executive Assistant, Minister of Finance (January-February 2007); Policy Advisor Treasury Board Secretariat, President’s Office (2006-2007)
John Duffy	Consultant	Consultant, StrategyCorp Inc.	Inactive	Special Assitant, Employment and Immigration (August 1993); Special Assistant, Employment and Immigration (May-August 1984); Special Assistant, Environment Canada (May-August 1983)

What does Uber lobby about in Canada?

From the summer of 2021 up until Bill 88 was passed, Uber lobbied federal and provincial policymakers in an effort to procure a legislative assurance that its drivers and delivery couriers would not classify as employees but as dependent contractors. This would give Uber drivers some employment rights, like termination pay and minimum wage, but they would not be designated as employees under the provincial Employment Standards Act.

Uber’s lobbying tactics proved successful in April when Ontario Premier Doug Ford introduced the new Working for Workers Act 2022 (Bill 88). While Bill 88 did not explicitly form a separate class of dependent contractors, it enhanced some rights for gig workers while maintaining their status as independent contractors. Labor activists criticized the Bill for misclassifying gig workers as independent contractors and undermining their right to the employment protections guaranteed under the Employment Standards Act.

Over the last six months, Uber’s lobbying efforts have centered around employment and, to a lesser extent, climate. The ride-sharing service has attempted to shape legislation regarding taxation, transportation, and safety as well as policies and programs regarding cannabis, employment, and COVID-19 vaccine awareness. The table below reflects the specific topics, legislative proposals, and policies Uber has sought to influence in Canada and was created using information from the Registry of Lobbyists.

Topics	Legislative proposal, bill or resolution	Policies or program
Climate	Changes to Excise Tax Act, relating to ride sharing	Alternative payment options for ground transportation in the National Capital Region
Employment and Training	Motor Vehicle Safety Act (MVSA) with respect to the development and testing of automated vehicle technologies	Compliance with the Cannabis Act
Environment		Discussions regarding independent, flexible work opportunities in Canada
Government Procurement		Support of Canada’s COVID-19 immunization awareness program
Health		Sustainable growth and transition to Electric Vehicles
Justice and Law Enforcement
Labour
Taxation and Finance
Transportation

What government institutions does Uber lobby in Canada?

Uber has lobbied 16 government institutions to date. A complete list of institutions was created using information from the Lobbying Registery and is provided below.

Canada Revenue Agency (CRA)
Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC)
Finance Canada (FIN)
Global Affairs Canada (GAC)
Health Canada (HC)
House of Commons
Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED)
Natural Resources Canada (NRCan)
Prime Minister’s Office (PMO)
Privy Council Office (PCO)
Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC)
Public Safety Canada (PS)
Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC)
Senate of Canada
Transport Canada (TC)
Treasury Board Of Canada Secretariat (TBS)

Name	Lobbyist Details	Position	Public Offices Held
Alexander Byrne-Krzycki	Consultant	Consultant, Crestview	Legislative Assistant, House of Commons, Office of Ali Ehsassi (2021-2022); Legislative Assistant, House of Commons, Office of Sonia Sidhu (2018-2018)
John O’Leary	Consultant	Consultant, Crestview Strategy	Director of Communications Privy Council Office, Office of the Minister of Democratic Institutions (2016-2017); Director of Communications Employment and Social Development Canada, Office of the Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Labour (2016-2016)
Bryan Detchou	Consultant	Consultant, Crestview Strategy	Special Advisor to the Usher of the Black Rod Parliament of Canada, Senate of Canada (2019-2021); Special Assistant to Senator Wanda Thomas Bernard Parliament of Canada, Senate of Canada (2018-2018); Special Assistant to the Usher of the Black Rod Parliament of Canada, Senate of Canada (2015-2017); Administrative Assistant to the Speaker of the House of Commons Parliament of Canada, House of Commons (2014-2015)
Cameron Doherty	Consultant	Consultant, Crestview Strategy	Member’s Assistant House of Commons, Office of the Hon. Diane Finley (2020-2021); Parliamentary Assistant House of Commons, Office of the Hon. Diane Finley (2020-2020)
Bridget Howe	Consultant	Consultant, Crestview Strategy	Special Assistant Liberal Research Bureau, House of Commons (2018-2020); Parliamentary Assistant Member of Parliament, Kirsty Duncan, House of Commons (2017-2018); Constituency Office Caseworker Member of Parliament, Lloyd Longfield, House of Commons (2016-2017)
Tiéoulé Traoré	Senior Officer whose lobbying activities represent 20% or more of their Duties	Government and Regulatory Affairs Executive	Parliamentary Assistant House of Commons, Office of the Member of Parliament for Trois-Rivières (2012-2014)
Alayne Crawford	Senior Officer whose lobbying activities represent 20% or more of their Duties	Government and Regulatory Affairs Executive	Senior Communications Advisor Office of the Minister of State for Seniors, Minister’s Office (2010-2010); Advance to the Prime Minister Prime Minister’s Office, Prime Minister’s Office (2008-2010); Communications Assistant Prime Minister’s Office, Prime Minister’s Office (2008-2008)
Regan Watts	Senior Officer whose lobbying activities represent less than 20% of their Duties	Head: Innovation, Corporate, and Government Affairs	Director – Strategic Planning Finance Canada, Minister’s Office (2010-2012); Senior Policy Advisor Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada, Minister’s Office (2009-2010); Director – Parliamentary Affairs Health Canada, Minister’s Office (2008-2009); Policy Advisor (Infrastructure) Transport, Infrastructure, and Communities, Minister’s Office (2007-2008); National Caucus Liaison and Executive Assistant to the Minister Finance Canada, Minister’s Office (2006-2007)
Jonathan Ballingall	Consultant	Consultant, The Capital Hill Group	Director of Operations Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development of Canada, Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Canada (2014-2015); MANAGER OF OPERATIONS & SENIOR SPECIAL ASSISTANT REGIONAL AFFAIRS, APPOINTMENTS AND NCC Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development of Canada, Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Canada (2013-2014); SPECIAL ASSISTANT TO THE MINISTER Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development of Canada, Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Canada (2011-2013)
David Angus	Consultant	Consultant, The Capital Hill Group	Caucus Liaison House of Commons, Prime Minister’s Office (1985-1987)

Author: Fizza Kulvi

Company Profile: IBM

IBM lobbying in the US