Universities emerge as biggest lobbyists in August, according to registry

While students were enjoying their summer breaks last month, university administrators were busy lobbying the federal government on a wide range of issues, including science, aboriginal affairs, and immigration. The University of Alberta was the source of the most communication reports filed on the federal lobbyists registry in August with 25. Second was the University of Calgary with 21 communication reports. Universities Canada, which represents universities across the country, was the ninth-most prolific lobbyist of the federal government in August with 12 communication reports. University of Alberta officials did not elaborate on why it lobbied so much last month or on some of the specifics behind the issues it was consulting the government on. The university said in an email statement to The Hill Times: “The University of Alberta has regular discussions with ministries across the federal government about Canada's post-secondary sector.” The University of Alberta filed for contact with two cabinet ministers. The registry showed it was in touch with Natural Resources Minister Jim Carr (Winnipeg South Centre, Man.) on Aug. 29 to discuss research and development, and economic development. As well, it registered communications with Immigration Minister John McCallum (Markham-Thornhill, Ont.) on Aug. 18 to discuss immigration. The school also noted contact with two MPs; Conservative Rachael Harder (Lethbridge, Alta.) on Aug. 23 to discuss aboriginal affairs, education, and employment and training, and New Democrat Linda Duncan (Edmonton-Strathcona, Alta.) on Aug. 8 to discuss aboriginal affairs and health. Research and development was the most common topics coming up in communication reports filed by the University of Alberta, listed in 17 of the 25 filings. Science and technology was in 15 of the reports, and aboriginal affairs was the third-most cited topic, coming up in seven reports. The University of Calgary also filed for having contact with Mr. McCallum to discuss immigration. According to the registry, it was on Aug. 19, one day after the University of Alberta communicated with him. It was the only contact with a cabinet minister filed for the University of Calgary. It did not list any communication with MPs in August. Like with the University of Alberta, most of its lobbying was with department officials. Research and development was listed as a topic in 19 communication reports filed by the University of Calgary last month. Science and technology was the second-most common topic with four reports. Infrastructure and regional development were each listed in three reports. The University of Calgary said in an email to The Hill Times: “The University of Calgary’s interaction with government was primarily in the research-and-innovation space, with a focus on clean-energy technology and our leadership in this area. The objective of these meetings was to raise awareness of the research directions and priorities of the University of Calgary, and relevant frameworks and strategies in the Government of Alberta’s innovation ecosystem, and to consider opportunities for further engagement and leveraging between the university, and provincial and federal jurisdictions.” Universities Canada did not register any contact with any members of cabinet or MPs last month, but it did communicate with three different people from the Prime Minister’s Office. Filings show it had dealings with PMO senior adviser Patrick Travers on Aug. 2 to discuss employment and training, international relations, and education on Aug. 2. On Aug. 9, it communicated to Simon Robertson, a youth adviser in the PMO, about education, and on Aug. 11 it had contact with Hilary Leftick, another youth adviser in the PMO, regarding education and aboriginal affairs. Education was the most common topic listed in communication reports filed by Universities Canada, noted in nine reports. Aboriginal Affairs, international affairs, science and technology, and research and development were each listed three times in this organization’s lobbying reports for August. Universities Canada president Paul Davidson said much of the heightened federal lobbying by his group can be traced to federal consultations happening on economic growth, innovation, and support for science. “It’s important that members of those reviews … and the political staff that support their ministers know about the priorities that Canada’s universities are pursuing through those processes,” he said, noting that universities have an interest in several of the other federal consultations underway. “Because universities are central to the economic and social fabric of this country, we’re engaged in those reviews as well,” he said, noting immigration, trade, and cultural policy as other areas universities want to have input on. “Just to give an example, international students in Canada contribute well over $10-billion a year to Canada’s economy, so it makes sense that we play in that kind of space,” he said. He added that universities are consulting with the government on aboriginal affairs because giving indigenous people more opportunities and support to attain post-secondary education is an area that needs more attention. Several other universities are on record as having lobbied the federal government last month, including the University of Lethbridge, Carleton University, the Université de Montréal, the University of Manitoba, the University of Saskatchewan, the University of Victoria, McMaster University, Ontario College of Art and Design (OCAD) University, York University, McMaster University, Queen’s University, the University of Winnipeg, Wilfred Laurier University, and McGill University. College and Institutes Canada was also involved in some lobbying of the federal government last month—including contact with Mr. McCallum on immigration—as was Seneca College and Canadore College. Sheamus Murphy, a consultant with Counsel Public Affairs, who represents OCAD, also cited consultation on innovation and science as key reasons for last month’s lobbying by the academic sector. He said these consultations “impact the nature of commercialization and the nature of how knowledge is created and how it is commercialized and how it grows the economy, and so universities certainly see that they have a fundamental role in that.” Mr. Murphy added that universities are interested in taking advantage of the $2-billion a year in infrastructure funding the government has earmarked for post-secondary institutions. Earlier this month, the federal government announced $900-million in funding to various universities as part of the Canada First Research Excellence Fund. Science Minister Kirsty Duncan (Etobicoke North, Ont.) is the minister responsible for that program. She is listed in three communication reports in August, and just one from a university. The University of Victoria filed that it had contact with Ms. Duncan on Aug. 15 on the issue of research and development. This school, however, was not among those awarded funding in this latest announcement. The multi-year lobbying campaign that went into securing that research fund, started by the previous Conservative government, was recently outlined in The Hill Times. Mr. Davidson said some of the universities’ lobbying of government last month might have touched on details of the funding that was announced on Sept. 6, but a bigger focus of universities consulting with the government last month would likely have been next year’s budget. Among the other busy lobbyists last month was the Centre For Israel and Jewish Affairs, which had 20 communications reports, making it the third-biggest lobbyist in August after the University of Alberta and the University of Calgary. Six different cabinet ministers were among the officials the Jewish advocacy group had contact with last month. That included Finance Minister Bill Morneau (Toronto Centre, Ont.) who was among several Liberal MPs the group discussed constitutional issues with on Aug. 25. Also, Heritage Minister Mélanie Joly (Ahuntsic-Cartierville, Que.) and Indigenous Affairs Minister Carolyn Bennett (Toronto-St. Paul, Ont.) were part of a group that the centre talked to about justice and law enforcement on Aug. 24. The Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs registered lobbying of Transport Minister Marc Garneau (Notre-Dame-de-Grâce-Westmount, Que.) and Treasury Board President Scott Brison (Kings-Hants, N.S.) on Aug. 19 regarding constitutional issues. Marci Surkes, chief of staff to Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale (Regina-Wascana, Sask.), was also included in that communication report. The registry also shows the group lobbied Environment Minister Catherine McKenna (Ottawa Centre, Ont.) on Aug. 16 and discussed housing. David Cooper, the group’s director of government relations, said a particular point of interest for his organization is Bill S-201, a public bill proposed by Liberal Sen. James Cowan (Nova Scotia) that would ban employers and insurance companies from requiring genetic tests from people. “The issue is a priority for our community and for CIJA,” Mr. Cooper said in an email, noting that the organization is a member of the Canadian Coalition for Genetic Fairness, which advocates against genetic discrimination. He added that security, affordable housing for the Jewish community, and Middle East relations are also among the issues his group prioritizes in lobbying the federal government. The most common topics cited in the registry for lobbying by the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs last month were international relations, constitutional issues, health, and immigration. Other groups that were among the biggest lobbyists of the federal government last month included the Council of Canadian Innovators with 16 communication reports, and the Canadian Medical Association and Northern Gateway Pipeline, each with 15 reports. dabma@hilltimes.com The Hill Times Top 15 lobbyists in August by communication reports: University of Alberta 25 University of Calgary 21 The Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs 20 Council of Canadian Innovators 16 Canadian Medical Association 15 Northern Gateway Pipeline 15 Canola Council of Canada 13 Vancouver International Airport Authority 13 Universities Canada 12 International Boreal Conservation Campaign 11 MDA Systems Ltd. 11 The Mining Association of Canada 11 Canadian Bankers Association 10 Coast Capital Savings Credit Union 10 Restaurants Canada 10 Source: Federal lobbyists registry