Company Profile: Facebook

Facebook in the news:

The company formerly known as Facebook, now Meta, has been a major tech company for nearly two decades and continues to disrupt both the tech sector and policymakers. With the company’s recent focus on the metaverse and the creation of an alternate universe on the blockchain, there is bound to be new legislation and policy created to surround the expanse of Meta’s networks. Meta has already been in conversations with Washington in order to prepare its future, and further lobbying attempts are virtually guaranteed. More recently, however, the company has conflicted with the Canadian government surrounding the Online News Act, Bill C-18. Having just previously battled out the same topic with policymakers in Australia, Meta is lobbying for movement on policies surrounding the proposed news revenue sharing within Canada. This comes on the tail end of years of controversy and scandal following Facebook’s Cambridge Analytica scandal and the revelations shared by Facebook whistleblower Frances Haugen about misinformation and Facebook’s news feed.

Who lobbies for Facebook?

Currently, Gregory Francis, Kevin Chan, Rachel Curran, and finally Garrick Tipaldy (the managing director of Facebook Canada), deal with the lobbying efforts for Facebook Canada. Both Kevin Chan and Rachel Curran have previously held public offices from 2004 to 2013 and 2005 to 2015 respectively. Rachel Curran has previously held the positions, in chronological order, of Director of Parliamentary Affairs at employment and social development Canada, Director of Parliamentary Affairs and Issues Management at the Treasury Board, Policy Advisor at the Prime Minister’s Office, Director of Personnel and Administration at Prime Minister’s Office, and Director of Policy at the Prime Minister’s Office. Kevin Chan previously held the following Senior Analyst at Privy Council Office, Executive Assistant at the Privy Council Office, Director at the Privy Council Office, Special Advisor at the Privy Council Office, Director of Policy Office of the Leader of the Opposition in the House of Commons, and Director of Policy and Research at the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada. This shows the depth in which the lobbyists for Facebook have previously held valuable and influential positions within the government. Facebook is actively employing previous government employees in an effort to benefit from the knowledge, networks, and connections of these former government employees.

What does Facebook lobby about?

Facebook/Meta lobbies on the subjects of infrastructure, science and technology, and telecommunications. More specifically Facebook has registered its interest in lobbying about online digital programs (digital platforms), international telecommunications policy, and global broadband connectivity options. Their registration also notes that they engage with the government on taxation matters, especially with the proposed digital services tax.

What government institutions does Facebook lobby in Canada?

Facebook lobbies with a long list of 13 government entities ranging from:

Canadian Heritage,

Competition Bureau Canada,

Elections Canada,

Finance Canada, Global Affairs Canada,

House of Commons,

Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada,

Leaders’ Debates Commission,

Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada,

Prime Minister’s Office,

Privy Council Office,

Public Health Agency of Canada,

Public Safety Canada, and finally

the Senate of Canada.

November 2, 2022

Company Profile: Sidewalk Labs

By Emmanuel Appiah

Sidewalk Labs Lobbying in the News

The Sidewalk Labs saga, involving the federally-provincially-municipally established corporation Waterfront Toronto, and Google subsidiary Sidewalk Labs, shows how transparency in lobbying communications impacts public trust in government collaborations with digital platforms. In October 2017, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau alongside Alphabet chairman Eric Schmidt announced that Sidewalk Labs would develop a smart city project on a 12-acre waterfront property in Toronto called Quayside.

One thing is clear from the Sidewalk Labs saga in Toronto: it was a highly ambitious and contentious endeavor by both Sidewalk Labs and Waterfront Toronto. The lack of transparency regarding the Prime Minister’s Office communication with Sidewalk Labs, and its perceived influence over the approval process is amongst several concerns raised by civil rights advocates, politicians, community leaders and digital activists.

The Sidewalk Labs project revealed a gap in lobbying communications law. A January 2017 phone call from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to former CEO of Sidewalk Labs subsidiary Google, Eric Schmidt was not disclosed to the public because the PM initiated the call. The revelation raised eyebrows given Trudeau’s statements in 2017 that, he and Schmidt “talked about collaborating on this for a few years now”. Although Schmidt was involved with Sidewalk during the Waterfront RFP process, Eric Schmidt was never a registered lobbyist for Sidewalk Labs according to the Canada Lobby registry.

Who Lobbies for Sidewalk Labs in Canada?

From 2017 to 2021, Sidewalk Labs had 75 communication reports involving a total of 37 senior officers. Lobbying activities represented less than 20% of the duties of each of the 37 senior officers at the company. No consultants were registered in the company’s communications. Sidewalk Labs’ lobbying communications are no longer registered with the Lobby registry.

Founder and CEO of Sidewalk Labs, Dan Doctoroff is the registered officer responsible for lobbying between the company and the Canadian government. Doctoroff worked in city planning, serving as New York City’s deputy mayor for economic development and rebuilding for six years under NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg. He also served as CEO and President of Bloomberg LP before starting Sidewalk Labs at Google.

Two senior officers at Sidewalk Labs have previously held public office. As of February 2019, Public Affairs Associate, Ryan Guptill was registered in communications reports. He worked as a principal secretary to an MP in the House of Commons from September 2012 to February 2014. Since 2020, Guptill has served as the Vice President of Strategic Communications with Loyalist Public Affairs. Also, Policy and Program Delivery Associate, Maya Borgenicht, held a federal designated public office. Between September 2017 to July 20, 2018, Borgenicht served as the Senior Policy Advisor with Indigenous Services Canada. She also served as a Policy Advisor with Infrastructure Canada between December 2015 and September 2017. Borgenicht’s Designated Public Office status was not included in her Lobbyist Details until the March 2019 communications report despite her involvement in earlier communications.

What does Sidewalk Labs lobby about in Canada?

Between 2017 to 2019, Sidewalk Labs communicated and consulted with the City of Toronto, the Ontario government, and federal government on its development plans amidst growing concerns surrounding privacy and economic development.

As early as February 2018, Sidewalk Labs communicated with government officials about regulations related to the testing and piloting of autonomous vehicles. Sidewalk Labs consistently met with government officials to discuss possibly collaborating on transportation and renewable energy. This aligns with the platform’s early aspirations to integrate autonomous vehicles with public infrastructure (e.g., public transit and traffic lights) to boost efficiency and sustainability. Sensors would also use “machine learning, statistical modelling and image processing” track traffic flows. Its data collection plans also included optimizing parking through monitoring programs, predictive analytics over building energy usages, and sensors measuring temperature and air quality.

Sidewalk Labs’ initial plans for the Quayside development came with increasing public scrutiny over what seemed to be unregulated access, collection, and management of public and personal data. From May 2018 onward, Sidewalk Labs’ lobbying communications included communicating with government officials about privacy-related matters. At this time, the company’s registered lobbying information began listing the Office of the Privacy Commissioner in its communications report. While the data would surely be lucrative to Sidewalk Labs and other tech partners, critics believed the government was left out of the economic profits. Waterfront Toronto’s very own Digital Strategy Advisory Panel raised concerns that Sidewalk Labs’ plans for an urban data trust were too abstract and without specifics. The urban data trust would oversee data management of personal data collected from public spaces and digital infrastructure.

Affordable housing was a necessary selling point for the Sidewalk Labs project, earmarking 20% of the development to subsidizing housing. However, critics noted that the Quayside project would need to be scaled up or publicly funded through CMHC to ensure economic profits. At the beginning of 2019, the company’s registered lobbying information began listing the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) in its communications.

What government institutions does Sidewalk Labs lobby in Canada?

Sidewalk Labs has lobbied 18 government institutions to date. A complete list of institutions is provided below using information from the Lobbying Registry.

Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC)
Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC)
Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC)
Finance Canada (FIN)
Global Affairs Canada (GAC)
House of Commons
Infrastructure Canada (INFC)
Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED)
National Research Council (NRC)
Natural Resources Canada (NRCan)
Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada (OPC)
Prime Minister’s Office (PMO)
Privy Council Office (PCO)
Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC)
Public Safety Canada (PS)
Toronto Port Authority
Transport Canada (TC)
Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat (TBS)

November 1, 2022January 16, 2023

Company Profile: IBM

By Fizza Kulvi, PhD Candidate (McMaster University)

The lobbying practices of IBM Canada have not received as much journalistic attention as companies like Uber, Netflix, and Google. However, data from the Canadian lobbyist registry combined with public information provided by the company itself helps us get a sense of IBM’s lobbying in the US and Canada.

IBM emphasizes its investments in Canada, particularly in research, development, and innovation. It has registered lobbying interventions in policy debates ranging from cybersecurity, economic development, privacy, and health. The company highlights its research partnerships with the federal government, the Government of Ontario, and the Government of Alberta.

IBM lobbying in the US

IBM emphasizes that is one of only a handful of major companies that does not make financial contributions to political parties in the United States. The company has never had a political action committee, yet it has established a strong presence in Washington by lobbying and financing intermediaries. IBM lobbies about promoting modernized technology for governance, cybersecurity, competitive open source 5G market, trustworthy AI, Section 230 reform, and data privacy legislation. IBM has also decided to intervene in issues like immigration reform and the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act. It took a stance against facial recognition software used for policing and surveillance. These interventions are a result of increasing pressures from shareholders, consumers and employees to address the company’s social impact.

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.

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)

What does IBM lobby about in Canada?

IBM Canada has intervened in policy debates about economic development, intellectual property, cybersecurity, immigration, taxation and finance, government procurement, and more. The tech company has taken a stance on Bill C-26: Critical Cyber Systems Protection Act, Bill C-27: Digital Charter Implementation Act, as well as policies and programs related to temporary foreign workers, COVID-19, and regional economic development.

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)

October 31, 2022November 1, 2022

Company Profile: Twitter

By: Bradley McNeil, Ph.D. Student (McMaster University)

This blog post discusses the growth Twitter’s lobbying in the US and Canada. It reveals that many of Twitter’s initial lobbying activities in Canada were shaped by Twitter’s and the Canadian Government’s reactions to the 2016 U.S. Election. Twitter has gone on to lobby, as well, on a growing range of issues in Canada from proposed online harms legislation to proposed online news legislation.

Twitter Lobbying in the News

Prior to 2018, Twitter was a modest spender in the realm of lobbying in the United States. In the US, Twitter’s total lobbying expenditures between 2013 and 2017 totaled $2,130,000. Since then, Twitter has nearly tripled their US lobbying expenditures spending $6,480,000 from 2018 to date. The surge of lobbying activities in the United States can be understood as Twitter’s reaction to increased public scrutiny following the use of US based social media platforms by Russian actors who interfered with the democratic process of the 2016 US Presidential Election.

Since the 2016 US Election, lawmakers have called for increased regulation of social media online advertising models. In this new era of increased scrutiny, the subjects of Twitter’s lobbying activities include: Net Neutrality, Consumer Privacy, and content moderation legislation.

In 2017, as a member of the now defunct Internet Association (a powerful American lobbying group made up of major tech corporations such as Google, Amazon, and Facebook) Twitter lobbied about Net Neutrality. The Internet Association’s campaign urged the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to uphold the 2015 Open Internet Order. Twitter argued that without the FCC’s Net Neutrality rules, Internet Service Providers (ISPs) would block the free flow of information by charging content providers more to access the Internet and reach users. In November 2017, Republican, and then Federal Communications Commission Chairman, Ajit Pai, claimed that Twitter was politically biased in its content moderation practices. Responding to Pai, Twitter asserted that its rules apply to all equally, and reaffirmed that Net Neutrality is central to an open internet. The FCC ended Network Neutrality rules on June 11, 2018.

In September 2019, Twitter lobbied against the California Consumers Privacy Act (CCPA). The Californian act grants users the right to access their personal data collected by online platforms and gives users the option to stop their data from being sold to third parties. Twitter ran an aggressive ad campaign against the CCPA in the State of California. Twitter’s ads claimed that the passing of the CCPA would mean that users would have to start paying for their once free-to-use websites and apps. Although Twitter lobbied against the CCPA alongside the Internet Association, the Act was signed into law on June 28, 2018. The CCPA represents the first consumer privacy act in the country. Twitter remains free to use in California.

In 2019 and 2020, Twitter lobbied against content moderation legislation which threatened to revoke Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act. In 2019, Twitter lobbied against the ‘Ending Support for Internet Censorship Act’ which was introduced by Republican Senator Josh Hawley. The Act would enable the Federal Trade Commission to audit social media tech companies for evidence of political biases in content moderation decisions. Hawley warned social media companies that their government granted immunity from user generated content (UGC) would be revoked unless tech companies were more transparent and accountable for the political effects of their content moderation decisions. Hawley’s Bill was a response to his perceived censorship of President Trump.

Again, In 2020, Twitter lobbied against President Trump’s Executive Order on Preventing Online Censorship which also proposed amendments to Section 230 of the 1996 Communications Decency Act. Twitter argued that the executive order was a politicized retaliation for Twitter’s decision to fact check the President’s tweet about mail-in voting. Twitter was a member of the Center for Democracy and Technology (CDT) which argued Trump’s executive order threatening Section 230 violated the First Amendment rights of social media companies. The Executive Order also involved the creation of agencies to audit for evidence of political bias in the content moderation decisions of private platforms. Trumps executive order was revoked by President Biden on May 14, 2021.

Who Lobbies for Twitter in Canada?

Michele Austin has been the Director of Public Policy for US and Canada since 2018. The Canadian Registry of Lobbyists indicates Austin has been Twitter’s only senior officer whose lobbying activities represent 20% or more of their duties. Austin represents Twitter at hearings with Canadian government officials, policy makers, civil society organizations on both sides of the border.

Austin has held several public offices prior to her position at Twitter. Austin served as chief of staff twice under Stephan Harper’s government. From 2011 to 2012, Austin served as chief of staff at Public Works, Status of Women, Shared Services Canada, where she served conservative member of parliament Rona Ambrose. From 2006 to 2007, Austin served as chief of staff at Industry Canada under Maxime Bernier, the founder, and leader of Canada’s far-right People’s Party. Austin also served as a legislative assistant from 2000-2006, as a speech writer and communications specialist at the House of Commons and for the Office of James Rajotte, and from 1996 to 1997 at the House of Commons at the office of John Williams. In 2022, Austin was named a top 100 lobbyist by the Hill Times.

In 2022, Twitter registered two senior consultants from the Capital Hill Group, one of Canada’s largest independent government relations firms, as lobbyists. Twitter registered consultant David Dyer who has had a 35-year career in government and government relations. From 1985 to 1989, Dyer was Chief of Staff at Industry/Consumer and Corporate Affairs. From 1984 to 1985, he was Director of Communications Supply and Services at Services Directorate. The Capital Hill Group’s website advertises Dyer as a specialist in Canada’s federal Copyright Act, tourism, and culture among several other services areas.

Twitter also hired Fernando Minna who has held several public offices. Capital Hill Group advertises Minna as a specialist in government relations, reputation management, intergovernmental support, policy and regulation. For 25 years, Fernando has served in leadership roles on multiple political campaigns at both the federal and provincial level in Ontario: Policy Advisor in the Office of Brantford MP Phil McColeman in the House of Commons (2016-2021); Policy Advisor for the Minister’s office of Public Works and Government Services Canada (2013-2015); Issues Manager at the Minister’s Office for Public Works and Government Services Canada (2012-2013), Senior Special Assistant for Parliamentary Affairs Public Works and Government Services Canada, Minister’s Office (2010-2012); Assistant to the Parliamentary Secretary Public Safety, Minister’s Office (2009-2010); and Legislative Assistant Office of MP Phil McColeman, House of Commons (2008-2009).

The Registry of Lobbyist website indicates that neither Dyer nor Minna have logged any communication reports with government officials since being hired by Twitter.

that neither Dyer nor Minna have logged any communication reports with government officials since being hired by Twitter.

What Does Twitter Lobby About in Canada?

In 2013, Twitter opened its first Canadian office in Toronto. However, Twitter did not officially register as a lobbyist in Canada until 2018. The surge of Twitter’s lobbying activities in response to the scrutiny social media platforms received in the aftermath of the 2016 US Election spread across the border and into Canada.

In 2018, Twitter’s initial lobbying activities in Canada concerned Bill C-76, the Election Modernization Act, regarding advertising. Anticipating foreign interference in the Canadian 2019 federal election, the Canadian government introduced Bill C-76 which required online platforms to create an online registry of all digital advertisements placed by domestic and foreign political advertisers during federal elections and make them visible to the public for two years. On November 29, 2018, Twitter shared its reservations about Bill C-76 with the Senate of Canada during a Legal and Constitutional Affairs Standing Committee meeting. Austin noted that Bill C-76 would be a setback for its Ads Transparency Centre, a pilot political ad registration system that was already being tested in the US. Austin indicated that Twitter planned to expand its Ad Transparency Centre across the globe, but the addition of uniquely Canadian titles would “add layers of cost and complexity to the engineering build” to the Ad Transparency Centre. Twitter also stated it was uncomfortable with the fact that Bill C-76 made Twitter solely responsible for the verification of identities behind political ads on their platform. Austin noted that Twitter had already “socialized” alternative visions of a political ad identity verification program with Elections Canada and individuals in the office of the Minister of Democratic Institutions. Twitter’s vision involved the creation of a Canadian equivalent to the United States Federal Election Commission (FEC) identity verification system. During the Committee meeting, Senator Linda Frum, who Austin lobbied in November of 2018, supported Austin’s solution, calling the creation of a Canadian equivalent to the FEC for the verification of the identities behind political ads a “no brainer”. Ultimately Twitter’s failure to support for Bill C-76 resulted in Democratic Institutions Minister Karina Gould’s condemnation Twitter for not signing onto a declaration of election integrity. Less than a month after receiving Gould’s letter, Twitter announced its Canadian ad transparency policy which stated they would ban political ads during the two-month pre-writ period of the election. Austin maintains that Twitter has an excellent working relationship with the Democratic Institutions department, Elections Canada, the Commissioner of Canada Elections, and cybersecurity authorities. Austin notes that Twitter appreciated Gould’s criticism, however, the company wishes the Canadian government would appreciate the elections security efforts Twitter has made.

More recently, when Canadian Heritage shared its Online Harms Proposal in 2021, Twitter submitted a critical response to Canadian Heritage. Twitter noted that although the company maintains an “excellent working relationship with both the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) and Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS)…digital service providers are not an extension of Canadian law enforcement institutions.” While the Online Harms Proposal generated considerable backlash from academics, civil society groups, and tech companies, Twitter’s response was perhaps most critical, comparing the proposed creation of a Digital Safety Commissioner possessing the power to block websites to the practices of authoritarian governments of China, North Korea, and Iran. During an April 26, 2022, meeting of the Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security, Austin noted that Twitter happily collaborate and co-operate with law enforcement entities when appropriate and in accordance with legal processes. Austin argued that Twitter was a solution to these problems rather than a problem and quoting Canada’s Global Affairs Minister Joly, said: “More than ever, social media platforms are powerful tools of information. They play a key role in the health of democracies and global stability. Social media platforms play an important role in the fight against disinformation.” Similar to the Twitter’s issues with Bill C-76, Austin indicated that the Online Harms Proposal was another “made in Canada solution” which may overwhelm and overcomplicate the scalability of Twitters content moderation policies and practices across the globe. The final report of the Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security notes that “Although Meta and Twitter told the committee they invest heavily in technology and human resources to enforce their policies, the harms that arise from the shortcomings of their efforts are undeniable and there is good reason to believe that these harms will persist until the current approach is changed.”

Twitter also lobbies about Bill C-18, Canada’s Online News Act, which would require major tech companies to negotiate deals to pay media outlets to make their news content available on major online platforms. On April 26, 2022, Twitter told the Standing Committee on Public safety and National Security that the company was concerned whether the scope of Bill C-18 would extend to Twitter. Austin claims that Twitter does not generate significant revenue on news in Canada because it is a closed platform which forces users to leave the site when they click on news links. On Twitter’s latest registration version on the Registry of Lobbyist website which was posted four days after Austin’s comments to the Standing Committee, Twitter included Bill C-18 as subject they now lobby about.

The list below indicates the specific subject matters, details, and government institutions Twitter is actively lobbying, including individual communication reports. The information comes from the Registry of Lobbyists.

Subject Matter: Consumer Issues/Industry

Details: Innovation policy, specifically policies or programs related to the open internet, inclusion, human rights, free expression and free association, the digital economy, net neutrality, data security and consumer privacy.

Corresponding Communication Reports:

September 09, 2020 – James Cumming, Member of Parliament for Edmonton Centre | House of Commons

Subject Matter: Elections

Corresponding Communication Reports:

February 01, 2022 – Philippe-Andre Rodriguez, Deputy Director | Center for International Digital Policy | Global Affairs Canada (GAC)
October 23, 2019 – Allen Sutherland, Assistant Secretary to the Cabinet, Machinery of Government | Privy Council Office (PCO)
April 08, 2019 – James Cudmore, Director of Policy | The Office of Karina Gould | House of Commons; Matthew Hall, Policy Advisor | The Office of Karina Gould | House of Commons; Allan Sutherland, Assistant Secretary (Machinery of Government) | Privy Council Office (PCO)

Subject Matter: Intellectual Property

Details: Intellectual property proposals and legislation with regard to copyright and online content, user rights and intermediary liability.

The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), specifically provisions related to intellectual property and digital trade.

Corresponding Communication Reports:

October 29, 2021 – Joelle Pare, A/Director, Copyright Policy | Broadcasting, Copyright and Creative Marketplace Branch | Canadian Heritage (PCH)

Subject Matter: Justice and Law Enforcement

Corresponding Communication Reports:

March 18, 2021 – Caroline Bourbonniere, Head of Appointments | Minister’s Office | Canadian Heritage (PCH); Brian MacKay, Ontario Regional Advisor | Minister’s Office | Canadian Heritage (PCH); Raphael Yacobi-Harris, Policy Advisor | Minister’s Office | Canadian Heritage (PCH)
May 19, 2020 – Dan Lindenas, Director of Policy | Office of the Minister | Public Safety Canada (PS)
April 08, 2019 – James Cudmore, Director of Policy | The Office of Karina Gould | House of Commons; Matthew Hall, Policy Advisor | The Office of Karina Gould | House of Commons; Allan Sutherland, Assistant Secretary (Machinery of Government) | Privy Council Office (PCO)
March 20, 2019 – Stephanie Kusie, Member of Parliament | House of Commons
November 27, 2018 – Linda Frum, Senator | Senate of Canada

Subject Matter: Telecommunications/Media

Details: Bill C-11, An Act to amend the Broadcasting Act and to make related and consequential amendments to other Acts (Online Streaming Act).

Bill C-18, An Act respecting online communications platforms that make news content available to persons in Canada (Online News Act).

Issues related to content moderation.

Corresponding Communication Reports

May 27, 2022 – Joelle Pare, A/Director, Marketplace and Legal Policy | Marketplace and Legal Policy | Canadian Heritage (PCH)
May 26, 2022 – Brian MacKay – Senior Policy Advisor | Minister’s Office | Canadian Heritage (PCH); Ron Ahluwalia, Director of Policy | Minister’s Office | Canadian Heritage (PCH)
April 28, 2022 – John Nater, Member of Parliament | House of Commons
March 18, 2021 – Caroline Bourbonniere, Head of Appointments | Minister’s Office | Canadian Heritage (PCH); Brian MacKay, Ontario Regional Advisor | Minister’s Office | Canadian Heritage (PCH); Raphael Yacobi-Harris, Policy Advisor | Minister’s Office | Canadian Heritage (PCH)

Subject Matter: National Security/Security

Details: Internet policy, as it relates to cyber-security, national security, data localization and the cross-border flow of data.

Corresponding Communication Reports:

April 08, 2019 – James Cudmore, Director of Policy | The Office of Karina Gould | House of Commons; Matthew Hall, Policy Advisor | The Office of Karina Gould | House of Commons; Allan Sutherland, Assistant Secretary (Machinery of Government) | Privy Council Office (PCO)
March 20, 2019 – Stephanie Kusie, Member of Parliament | House of Commons
September 13, 2018 – James Cudmore, Director of Policy | Minister’s Office | Privy Council Office (PCO); Amy Archer, Policy Advisor | Privy Council Office (PCO)
July 11, 2018 – James Cudmore, Director of Policy | The Office of Karina Gould | House of Commons

Subject Matter: Privacy and Access to Information

Details: Government access to electronic communications transactional records.

Privacy legislation or proposals such the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA), the Digital Charter, and any proposals with regard to data collection, safety, and use.

Corresponding Communication Reports:

March 16, 2021 – Colin Carrie, Member of Parliament | House of Commons
February 24, 2021 Feb 24, 2021 – Jennifer Miller, Director General, Marketplace Framework Policy Branch | Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED)
February 22, 2021 – Dane Lloyd, Member of Parliament | House of Commons
February 05, 2020 – Michelle Rempel Garner, Member of Parliament | House of Commons

Subject Matter: Science and Technology

Corresponding Communication Reports:

October 23, 2020 – Pierre-Marc Perreault, Acting Director, Broadcasting, Copyright and Creative Marketplace Branch | Canadian Heritage (PCH)
March 03, 2020 – Julie Boyer, Director General – International Trade | Cultural Affairs | Canadian Heritage (PCH)
February 13, 2020 – Paul Halucha, Assistant Secretary to Cabinet – Economic and Regional Development Policy | Privy Council Office (PCO)
January 01, 2020 – Bradley Callaghan, Assistant Deputy Commissioner | Mergers and Monopolistic Practices Branch | Competition Bureau Canada (COBU)

Subject: Taxation and Finance

Details: Income Tax Act, with regard to digital tax proposals.

Corresponding Communication Reports:

January 01, 2020 – Bradley Callaghan, Assistant Deputy Commissioner | Mergers and Monopolistic Practices Branch | Competition Bureau Canada (COBU)
October 30, 2019 – Andrew Marsland, Senior Deputy Minister | Finance Canada (FIN) ; Brian Ernewein, Assistant Deputy Minister | Finance Canada (FIN) ; Miodrag Jovanovic, Associate Assistant Deputy Minister | Finance Canada (FIN)

Subject Matter: Budget

Corresponding Communication Reports: There have been no communications reports filed under this subject.

What Government Institutions does Twitter Lobby in Canada?

Twitter has lobbied 15 government institutions to date. A complete list of institutions was created using information from the Lobbying Registry and is provided below:

Canadian Heritage (PCH)
Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC)
Communications Security Establishment Canada (CSEC)
Competition Bureau Canada (COBU)
Elections Canada
Finance Canada (FIN)
Global Affairs Canada (GAC)
House of Commons
Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED)
Prime Minister’s Office (PMO)
Privy Council Office (PCO)
Public Safety Canada (PS)
Senate of Canada
Treasury Board Of Canada Secretariat (TBS)
Women and Gender Equality (WAGE)

October 21, 2022February 21, 2023

July-September 2022 update

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

(Office of the Commissioner 2022)

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

(Office of the Commissioner 2022)

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

(Office of the Commissioner 2022)

Facebook

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

(Office of the Commissioner 2022)

Google

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 4^th 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

(Office of the Commissioner 2022)

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

(Office of the Commissioner 2022)

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.

October 19, 2022October 28, 2022

Company Profile: Netflix

By Charnjot Shokar, M.A.

Netflix lobbying in the news

In 2022, Netflix lost over 1 million of its subscribers – the largest drop off since the company began streaming back in 2007. There were many speculations made as to why: market competition, illegal account sharing, price increases, to name a few. In its efforts to ensure future profits, price hikes are not the only tool in Netflix’s arsenal. The streaming giant also dishes out a significant amount of money on lobbying to help shape policies and regulations in ways that favour its own needs. Among eligible telecom and tech corporations, Netflix had the largest percentage increase in spending on lobbying for Q1 of this year compared to 2021. Further, in a strategic effort to shed the stricter regulations that are placed on tech companies, Netflix opted to leave the Internet Association in 2019 (the lobbying association that represented Facebook and Google) and join the Motion Pictures Association, giving them an easier avenue to shape international laws and regulations.

Following the news that Netflix and other digital services would be required to collect GST despite not having a Canadian office, Netflix opted to open up its first corporate office in Toronto in 2021. Netflix’s longtime lack of a Canadian office may have been connected to a tax avoidance strategy, as well as to the fact that the company does not sell other goods or services such as advertising, and has held no contracts over $10,000 with the Canadian federal government. In any case, the opening of a Canadian office was one step in establishing a stronger presence in Canada.

A strong Canadian presence is useful as Netflix is actively lobbying the Canadian government against the regulatory requirements that would be placed upon it through a new Online Streaming Act. It gives its contributions to Canada’s economy, both digitally and through their physical footprint, as reasons why regulations committing it to Canadian content obligations are not necessary.

Who lobbies for Netflix in Canada?

Stéphane Cardin is the Director of Public Policy for Netflix Canada. Prior to joining Netflix, Cardin held multiple senior positions with provincial government agencies and other government-backed organizations. For 8 years, he served as the VP of Industry and Public Affairs for Canada Media Fund, and prior to that, he served 7 years as the Director of Tax Credits with the Société de Développement des Entreprises Culturelles (SODEC) in Quebec. He also had a brief stint (less than 1 year) with the Canadian Audiovisual Certification Office (CAVCO) as a Business Analyst.

After launching its video streaming services in Canada in 2010, Netflix arranged much of its lobbying through a variety of firms including Aird and Berlis LLP, Borden Ladner Gervais LLP, Proof Strategies (formerly Environics Communications) and more. Many of the lobbyists that Netflix has hired through these firms have held past positions with government agencies, such as Stephen Zolf (Treasury Board), Greg Maceachern (Treasury Board and Department of Fisheries and Oceans), and Christopher McCluskey (Natural Resources Canada, National Defence, and Public Safety Canada).

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

Name	Position	Firm	Active/Inactive	Public Office Held
Stephen Zolf	Consultant	Aird & Berlis LLP	Active	Junior Economist/Analyst, Treasury Board, Office of Regulatory Reform (1983-1984)
Greg Maceachern	Consultant	Proof Strategies	Active	Director of Communications, Treasury Board, Office of the President (2005-2006), Director, Parliamentary Affairs, Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Minister’s Office (2004-2005)
Christopher McCluskey	Consultant	Proof Strategies	Active	Director of Communications, Natural Resources Canada, Office of the Minister of Natural Resources (2014-2015, 2012-2014), Chief of Staff (Acting), National Defence, Office of the Associate Minister of National Defence (2012-2012), Director of Communications and Issues Management, National Defence, Office of the Associate Minister of National Defence (2011-2012), Deputy Director of Communications, Public Safety Canada, Office of the Minister of Public Safety (2009-2011)
Leonard St-Aubin	Consultant	Len St-Aubin Consulting	Inactive	Director General Telecommunications Policy, Industry Canada, Telecommunications Policy Branch (2006-2009), Minister Counsellor, Commercial & Economic, Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Canadian Embassy, Berlin Germany (2002-2005), Senior Director, Industry Canada, Telecommunications Policy Branch (1999-2006), Director, Business & Regulatory Analysis, Industry Canada, Telecommunications Policy Branch (1995-1999), Senior Policy Analyst, Industry Canada, Telecommunications Policy Branch (1993-1995), Senior Policy Analyst, Federal Provincial Relations Office, Public Affairs (1992-1992), Chief, Trend Analysis/Policy Analyst, Broadcasting Policy Branch, Department of Communications (1986-1991), Chief, Testing Unit, Public Service Commission, Personnel Psychology Centre (1985-1986)
Louis-Charles Roy	Consultant	Proof Strategies	Inactive	Special Assistant, House of Commons, Leader of the Opposition (2009-2010)
Alex Bushell	Consultant	Environics Communications	Inactive	Parliamentary Assistant, House of Commons, Glenn Thibeault MP (2009-2013)
Stephanie Glas	Consultant	GCI Group	Inactive	Intern, Treasury Board Secretariat, Office of the President of the Treasury Board (2008-2008)
Jan Skora	Consultant	Jan Skora Consulting Services Inc.	Inactive	Advisor, Industry Canada, Spectrum Information Technology and Telecommunications (2007-2007), Director General, Industry Canada, Radiocommunications and Broadcasting Regulatory Branch (1990-1994), Director, Department of Communications, Central Region (1985-1989), Regional Director, Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission, Regional Office (1980-1985), Broadcast Engineer, Department of Communications, Regional Office (1976-1980), Cable Television Engineer, Department of Communications, Cable Television Engineering (1974-1976)

What does Netflix lobby about in Canada?

From 2011 to 2022, Netflix has a total of 168 registered lobbying communications with officials at many federal government organizations, such as Canadian Heritage, the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission, Finance Canada, and Global Affairs Canada, to name a few.

Around 2015, the idea of a “Netflix tax” was gaining a lot of steam, and it would require streaming companies such as Netflix to pay contributions to the production of Canadian content. Around this same time, all the way until Heritage Minister Mélanie Joly’s term ended, completed Access to Information requests reveal that there was a tremendous amount of lobbying done by Netflix with Canadian Heritage. The forms of communication ranged from emails, sit-down meetings in Ottawa, encounters at conferences such as the Canadian Media Producers Association’s Prime Time conference (of which Netflix was a Platinum sponsor), the Banff Media Festival (another Netflix sponsored event) to arranged encounters at cultural events such as a screening of the television show Anne with an E, a CBC-Netflix co-production, at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa. Ultimately, there never was a “Netflix tax” imposed.

In May of 2022, Netflix’s Stéphane Cardin made a submission to the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage regarding Bill C-11. The argument being raised by Netflix is that their contributions to the Canadian economy, by way of investing in Canadian online content, establishing offices and production hubs in Toronto and Vancouver, and providing Canadian talent with break-out opportunities, should shield them from facing the same “programming expenditure requirements of Canadian broadcasting groups” and adhering to the “current definitions of Canadian content”.

The table below reflects the specific subject matters, details, and government institutions Netflix is actively lobbying. The table was created using information from the Registry of Lobbyists.

Subject Matters	Subject Matter Details	Government Institutions
Arts and Culture Broadcasting Consumer Issues	Bill C-10 Section 17 (Provision of Information by the Commission)	Canadian Heritage (PCH)
Arts and Culture Broadcasting Consumer Issues	Canadian Heritage modernization of the Broadcasting Act; Bill C-11 An Act to enact the Consumer Privacy Protection Act and the Personal Information and Data Protection Tribunal Act and to make related and consequential amendments to other Acts	Canadian Heritage (PCH)
Arts and Culture Broadcasting Consumer Issues Telecommunications	Applicable regulations and policies related to the internet and new media. Informing review of Broadcasting Act and Telecommunications Act legislation and regulation. Regulatory exemptions, legislation, regulation and/or policies affecting providers of content services via the Internet. Global distribution of content in relation to cultural export policies.	Canadian Heritage (PCH) Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) Finance Canada (FIN) Global Affairs Canada (GAC) House of Commons Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) Senate of Canada

What government institutions does Netflix lobby in Canada?

Netflix has lobbied 8 government institutions to date. A complete list of institutions was created using information from the Lobbying Registry and is provided below.

Canadian Heritage (PCH)
Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC)
Finance Canada (FIN)
Global Affairs Canada (GAC)
House of Commons
Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) and its predecessor Industry Canada
Prime Minister’s Office (PMO)
Senate of Canada

September 2, 2022October 28, 2022

Company Profile: Uber

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)