New Democratic MPs are calling on the Federal Lobbying Chair to investigate what they call “potentially inappropriate lobbying” by top Conservative strategist Jenny Byrne.
On Thursday, the Globe and Mail reported that the federal lobbying firm is housed in the same office as the state lobbying firm, Jenny Byrne & Associates, and employs many of the same staff. NDP MP Charlie Angus has written to Lobbying Commissioner Nancy Belanger asking for an investigation into the relationship between the two companies.
“We have written to you today regarding our concerns about potentially inappropriate lobbying by Jenny Byrne,” Mr Angus wrote in the letter.
“Given Ms. Byrne’s advisory role and close ties to (Tory Leader Pierre) Poièvre and the Conservative Party caucus, Canadians deserve clarity about her lobbying activities.”
Byrne’s exact role in the Conservative Party is vague – she is considered one of Canada’s most powerful Conservative strategists, although neither she nor the party has disclosed how involved she is. has been done.
She has been seen walking into caucus meetings, a space usually reserved for elected officials, Conservative senators and most senior staff.
Forecheck Strategies was established on the first working day after Pierre Poièvre was elected leader of the Conservative Party in September 2023.
In addition to employing many of the same staff as Jenny Byrne + Associates, it is owned by Andrew Kimber and Simon Jeffries, who are also co-owners of Jenny Byrne + Associates.
Some of the lobbyists listed in the federal lobbying database as working for Forecheck Strategies are listed as employees on the Jenni Byrne + Associates website but are not listed on the Forecheck Strategies website. not.
There are other similarities between the two companies’ websites. Forecheck Strategies’ website says the company’s CEO is “particularly good” at “clearing up confusion” and apparently Jenny Byrne’s 2015 Globe and Mail profile.
Following inquiries from CBC News, the mention was removed from the company’s website. Mr Kimber denies Mr Byrne’s involvement with the company.
“Forecheck Strategies is a separate entity and Jenny Byrne has no involvement whatsoever. She is not and has never been an employee, consultant, director or shareholder. “I have not received, have not received, and will never receive any compensation from,” Kimber said. said in a statement sent to CBC News.
Byrne did not respond to a request for comment and said the lobbying committee office does not comment on specific cases.
Conservative MP Dan Albus said on Thursday: “I’m proposing that we have a conflict of interest law. We have a lobbying commissioner who sets very vigorous rules and we expect everyone to follow those rules.” Ta.
Mr. Poièvre would probably be the first to say that.
The government and opposition leader’s office did not respond to requests for comment.
Additional questions regarding local lobbying
In February, Mr Byrne accused opposition leader Justin Trump of “pretending to be concerned” about rising food prices due to Mr Byrne’s aggressive lobbying on behalf of grocery giant Loblaw.・Prime Minister Trudeau also faced doubts when he made the accusations.
The Ontario Lobbyist Register lists six Jenni Byrne + Associates employees as registered lobbyists for Loblaw Companies Limited.
“It turned out that [Poilievre’s] The top advisor works as a lobbyist for Loblaws. I think Mr. Poièvre owes Canadians an explanation,” Trudeau said during a media appearance in Waterloo, Ont.
Byrne himself is not listed on the public register as a consultant to Loblaw. She did not respond to requests for comment.
“Let me set the record straight: Jenny Byrne is not and has never been registered to lobby on behalf of Loblaws,” Jeffries said in a written statement. said in a statement.
On March 8, in front of a crowd of business professionals in Vancouver, Poièvre criticized lobbyists, saying they do not represent the interests of the working class.
“My experience with corporate lobbyists, a major group in Ottawa, is that they have been completely ineffective in advancing the common sense interests of people on the ground,” he told the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade.
“My message to Canadian businesses is that if you want to advance a policy agenda, you have to convince not just me but Canadians that it’s good for them.”
