Canada's broadcasting industry is regulated by the federal government through the CRTC.
Like in other regulated industries, Canadian broadcasting executives have a long history of cultivating relationships with influential politicians and bureaucrats who may be involved in decisions that affect their bottom line.
To this end, Canada's broadcasters have in the past been among the most generous financial contributors to political candidates, governing politicians and their parties, until recently when corporate political contributions were banned. FRIENDS has previously followed this money trail and published the results in Follow the Money.
Recently introduced requirements for lobbyists to report their meetings with government officials provide a new window on the work of broadcasters to influence public policy. In keeping with FRIENDS' watchdog role, regular updates on lobbying activities of broadcast industry executives in Ottawa are published here.
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Canadian Association of Broadcasters
| Date | Activity Description | Designated Public Office Holders | Subject Matter |
| 2008/09/17 | In-house Organization: Canadian Association of Broadcasters Responsible Officer: Glenn O'Farrell |
Ron Parker Senior Assistant Deputy Minister |
Broadcasting, Telecommunications |
| 2008/09/15 | In-house Organization: Canadian Association of Broadcasters Responsible Officer: Glenn O'Farrell |
Michel Arpin Vice-Chair, Broadcasting |
Broadcasting, Telecommunications |
| 2008/09/11 | In-house Organization: Canadian Association of Broadcasters Responsible Officer: Glenn O'Farrell |
Robert A Morin Secretary General |
Broadcasting |
| 2008/08/28 | In-house Organization: Canadian Association of Broadcasters Responsible Officer: Glenn O'Farrell |
Stephen Kelly Chief of Staff Zoe Addington Policy Advisor |
Copyright, Telecommunications, Broadcasting |
| 2008/08/21 | In-house Organization: Canadian Association of Broadcasters Responsible Officer: Glenn O'Farrell |
Michel Arpin Vice-Chair, Broadcasting |
Broadcasting |
| 2008/08/20 | In-house Organization: Canadian Association of Broadcasters Responsible Officer: Glenn O'Farrell |
Michel Arpin Vice-Chair, Broadcasting |
Broadcasting |
| 2008/08/14 | In-house Organization: Canadian Association of Broadcasters Responsible Officer: Glenn O'Farrell |
Jean-Sébastien Langelier Senior Policy Advisor |
Copyright, Telecommunications, Broadcasting |
| 2008/08/07 | In-house Organization: Canadian Association of Broadcasters Responsible Officer: Glenn O'Farrell |
Ron Parker Senior Assistant Deputy Minister |
Copyright |
| 2008/08/07 | In-house Organization: Canadian Association of Broadcasters Responsible Officer: Glenn O'Farrell |
Judith A La Rocque Deputy Minister |
Telecommunications, Broadcasting |
| 2008/08/07 | In-house Organization: Canadian Association of Broadcasters Responsible Officer: Glenn O'Farrell |
Robert A Morin Secretary General |
Broadcasting |
| 2008/07/30 | In-house Organization: Canadian Association of Broadcasters Responsible Officer: Glenn O'Farrell |
Wesley Moore Parliamentary Secretary Assistant |
Copyright |
| 2008/07/25 | In-house Organization: Canadian Association of Broadcasters Responsible Officer: Glenn O'Farrell |
Konrad von Finckenstein Chair Robert A Morin Secretary General |
Broadcasting |
| 2008/07/17 | In-house Organization: Canadian Association of Broadcasters Responsible Officer: Glenn O'Farrell |
Rodney MacDonald Policy Advisor |
Broadcasting, Governor-in-Council Appointments |
| 2008/07/15 | In-house Organization: Canadian Association of Broadcasters Responsible Officer: Glenn O'Farrell |
Phil Harwood Policy Advisor |
Broadcasting, Copyright |
| 2008/07/15 | In-house Organization: Canadian Association of Broadcasters Responsible Officer: Glenn O'Farrell |
Judith A LaRocque Deputy Minister Jean-Pierre Blais Assistant Deputy Minister, Cultural Affairs |
Telecommunications, Broadcasting |
| 2008/07/03 | In-house Organization: Canadian Association of Broadcasters Responsible Officer: Glenn O'Farrell |
Ron Parker Senior Assistant Deputy Minister |
Telecommunications, Copyright, Broadcasting |
| 2008/07/02 | In-house Organization: Canadian Association of Broadcasters Responsible Officer: Glenn O'Farrell |
Konrad von Finckenstein Chair Robert Morin Secretary General |
Broadcasting |
CanWest Global Communications
| Date | Activity Description | Designated Public Office Holders | Subject Matter |
| 2008/07/15 | In-house Corporation: Canwest Global Communications Responsible Officer: Leonard Asper |
Robert Morin Secretary General |
Broadcasting |
| 2008/07/15 | In-house Corporation: Canwest Global Communications Responsible Officer: Leonard Asper |
Stephen Kelly Senior Policy Advisor |
Broadcasting |
| 2008/07/09 | In-house Corporation: Canwest Global Communications Responsible Officer: Leonard Asper |
James Prentice Minister of Industry and Regional Minister of Alberta |
Broadcasting |
CTVglobemedia
| Date | Activity Description | Designated Public Office Holders | Subject Matter |
| 2008/09/16 | In-house Corporation: CTVglobemedia Responsible Officer: Ivan Fecan |
Robert Morin Secretary General |
Issues affecting the broadcasting industry |
| 2008/09/10 | In-house Corporation: CTVglobemedia Responsible Officer: Ivan Fecan |
Michel Arpin Vice-Chairman, Broadcasting |
Issues affecting the broadcasting industry |
| 2008/08/26 | In-house Corporation: CTVglobemedia Responsible Officer: Ivan Fecan |
Isaac Breadner Executive Assistant to Jim Prentice, Minister of Industry |
Issues affecting the broadcasting industry |
| 2008/08/26 | In-house Corporation: CTVglobemedia Responsible Officer: Ivan Fecan |
Jim Prentice Minister of Industry |
Broadcasting |
| 2008/08/26 | In-house Corporation: CTVglobemedia Responsible Officer: Ivan Fecan |
Jim Prentice Minister of Industry |
Issues affecting the broadcasting industry |
| 2008/07/31 | In-house Corporation: CTVglobemedia Responsible Officer: Ivan Fecan |
Zoe Addington Special Assistant, Policy to the Minister of Industry |
Economic state of conventional television; digital transition; CTF; and copyright legislation |
| 2008/07/31 | In-house Corporation: CTVglobemedia Responsible Officer: Ivan Fecan |
Stephen Kelly Chief of Staff to the Minister of Industry |
Economics of conventional television; digital transition; CTF; and copyright legislation |
| 2008/07/23 | In-house Corporation: CTVglobemedia Responsible Officer: Ivan Fecan |
Robert Morin Secretary General |
Timing of approval of Corus Entertainment's application for authority to acquire Canadian Learning Television from CTVglobemedia |
| 2008/07/10 | In-house Corporation: CTVglobemedia Responsible Officer: Ivan Fecan |
Jean Sebastian Lanier Sr. Policy Advisor to the Minister of Canadian Heritage |
Economic state of conventional television; the CTF; and copyright legislation |
| 2008/07/09 | In-house Corporation: CTVglobemedia Responsible Officer: Ivan Fecan |
Robert Morin Secretary General |
Procedural Issues Pertaining to Group Licence Renewals |
Rogers Communications
| Date | Activity Description | Designated Public Office Holders | Subject Matter |
| 2008/09/19 | In-house Corporation: Rogers Communications Responsible Officer: Edward S. Rogers |
Leonard Katz Vice-Chairman, Telecommunications |
Broadcasting, Accessibility Hearing Procedure |
| 2008/07/09 | In-house Corporation: Rogers Communications Responsible Officer: Edward S. Rogers |
Ron Parker Senior Assistant Deputy Minister |
Intellectual Property, Broadcasting, Telecommunications, International Trade |
Shaw Communications
| Date | Activity Description | Designated Public Office Holders | Subject Matter |
| 2008/08/15 | Consultant: Brian Felesky Consulting firm: Felesky Flynn LLP Client: Shaw Communications |
Brian Ernewein General Director |
Taxation and Finance |
| 2008/07/09 | Consultant: Gerald
Kerr-wilson Consulting firm: Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP Client: Shaw Communications |
Ron Parker Senior Assistant Deputy Minister |
Intellectual Property, Telecommunications |
The information posted here has been collected from the Registry of Lobbyists and includes all "planned communication" between lobbyists and senior political and bureaucratic players who are considered to be "designated office holders" because of their ability to make or influence public policy decisions.
Contact between lobbyists and designated office holders that is not planned, for example a chance encounter at a fundraising event, does not have to be reported.
Persons wishing a complete record of such lobbying contacts should visit the Registry of Lobbyists website.
