NDP MPs call for investigation into lobbying firm with ties to top Conservative adviser
Two New Democrat MPs are asking the federal lob‐ bying commissioner to in‐ vestigate what he calls "po‐ tentially inappropriate lob‐ bying activities" by top Conservative strategist Jen‐ ni Byrne.
On Thursday, the Globe and Mail reported that a fed‐ eral lobbying firm is located at the same office - and em‐ ploys many of the same staff - as Jenni Byrne & Associates, a provincial lobbying firm. NDP MPs Charlie Angus and Matthew Green sent a letter to Commissioner of Lobbying Nancy Bélanger calling for a probe of the relationship be‐ tween the two firms.
"We are writing to you to‐ day regarding our concerns about potentially inappropri‐ ate lobbying activities by Jen‐ ni Byrne," they wrote in the letter.
"Given Ms. Byrne's advi‐ sory role and close relation‐ ship to (Conservative Leader Pierre) Poilievre and the Con‐ servative caucus, Canadians deserve clarity on her lobby‐ ing activities."
Although Byrne's exact role with the Conservative Party is murky - neither she nor the party will confirm how she is involved - she is viewed as one of the most powerful Conservative strate‐ gists in Canada.
She has been seen walk‐ ing into caucus meetings spaces typically reserved for elected members, Conserva‐ tive senators and the most senior staff.
Forecheck Strategies was incorporated the first busi‐ ness day after Pierre Poilievre was elected Conser‐ vative Party leader in Sep‐ tember 2023.
In addition to employing many of the same staff as Jenni Byrne + Associates, it is owned by Andrew Kimber and Simon Jefferies, who are also part-owners of Jenni Byrne + Associates.
Some lobbyists listed as working for Forecheck Strate‐ gies on the federal lobbying database are listed as em‐ ployees on the website of Jenni Byrne + Associates, but not on the website of Forecheck Strategies.
There are other similari‐ ties between the two firms' websites. Forecheck Strate‐ gies's website cited their CEO being "especially good" at "making messes go away" seemingly referencing a 2015 Globe and Mail profile of Jen‐ ni Byrne.
The reference was re‐ moved from the company's website after an inquiry from CBC News. Kimber denies Byrne is involved in the firm.
"Forecheck Strategies is a separate entity which Jenni Byrne has no involvement in. She is not and has never been an employee, consul‐ tant, director or shareholder. She does not, has not, and will not receive any compen‐ sation from Forecheck," said Kimber in a statement sent to CBC News.
Byrne did not respond to a request for comment and the Lobbying Commission's office said it would not com‐ ment on specific cases.
"I would suggest that we have a Conflict of Interest Act, we have a lobbying com‐ missioner that sets very vig‐ orous rules and I expect everyone to follow those rules," Dan Albas, a Conserv‐ ative member of Parliament, said Thursday.
"I'm sure Mr. Poilievre would be the first person to say that."
The Office of the Leader of the Official Opposition did not respond to a request for comment.
Additional questions about provincial lobby‐ ing
Byrne also faced questions in February when Prime Minis‐ ter Justin Trudeau accused the opposition leader of "pre‐ tending" to care about high grocery prices because Byrne's firm lobbies on be‐ half of grocery giant Loblaw.
The Ontario lobbyist reg‐ istry lists six employees of Jenni Byrne + Associates as registered lobbyists for Loblaw Companies Limited.
"It turns out that [Poilievre's] top adviser is working as a lobbyist for Loblaws. I think Mr. Poilievre owes some explanations to Canadians," said Trudeau at a media appearance in Wa‐ terloo, Ont.
Byrne herself is not listed on any public registry as a consultant for Loblaw. She did not respond to a request for comment.
"Let's be clear about the facts here, Jenni Byrne is not and never has been regis‐ tered to lobby on behalf of Loblaws," said Jefferies in a written statement.
Speaking to a crowd of Vancouver business profes‐ sionals on March 8, Poilievre took aim at lobbyists, saying they don't represent the in‐ terests of the working class.
"My experience with the corporate lobbyists in Ot‐ tawa, the main groups there, has been they have been ut‐ terly useless in advancing any common sense interests for the people on the ground," he told the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade.
"My message to corporate Canada is that if you want any of your policy agenda pushed forward, you're going to have to convince not just me, but the people of Cana‐ da that it is good for them."