Kamal Aboulmagd

The province's controversial changes to polices around hearing aid funding are attracting attention on the lobbying circuit.

was registered last week by Al MacDermid, Jeffrey Bangs, Jim Burnett, and Peter Curtis, all consultants with Pathway Group Inc. The goal of their joint registrations was to address the recent assistive devices program policy changes.

Under the changes, people looking to tap into provincial financial support for hearing aids (or assistive devices) need to visit an audiologist, rather than just an instrument specialist. The program offers up to a $1,000 in financial support for a device, which can come up to around $3,500.

Chris Arnold, president of the Association for Hearing Instrument Practitioners of Ontario, recently told 

CTV News Kitchener that requiring an audiologist to be present for every hearing assessment in Ontario

 will devastate the industry and create serious backlog for patients.

“There will be a lot of people who will be without access or waiting months,” he said.

has been the most registered organization, with four registrations made on their behalf. They were followed by the 

 who each had three unique registrations.

 led all registrant groups with six unique registrations each. 

Atlas Strategic Advisors Inc., Sussex Strategy Inc.,

were the next most active registrant groups, with 

From Jan. 27 to Feb. 2, Michael Gimelshtein of 

led all lobbyists with four registrations. Stephanie DiNucci of 

 followed with three unique registrations.

In recent arts/culture/copyright registrants:

Society of Composers, Authors & Music Publishers of Canada (SOCAN) 

was registered by Maurice Rioux, a consultant with Proof Strategies. The goal of this registration was to get the premier, the leader of the opposition and the minister of Tourism, culture and sport to attend 

 annual Gala Awards presentation. Additionally, SOCAN wants to set up meetings with the minister and/or his officials (and the NDP and Liberal leaders' office and culture critics) to discuss support for the music and arts sector.

was registered by Amir Remtulla, a consultant with Amir Remtulla Inc. to discuss how to best alternate the land use options for the client’s property at 789 Don Mills Road.

was registered by Alana Bemmann, a consultant with ANB Consulting Inc. to discuss possible grants and funding options, as well as contracts for the attainable housing initiative in Ontario.

was registered by Stephanie DiNucci, a consultant with Atlas Strategic Advisors Inc. with the goal of seeking an amendment to the Black Creek Special Policy Area to enable development of lands situated at the intersection of St. Clair and Jane. This amendment would remove the property from the floodplain designation, allowing for the addition of new residential homes in the Rockcliffe-Smythe area to meet the growing housing needs in Ontario.

Samuel Sarick Limited, Building Industry and Land Development Association (BILD), Trillium Place Development Corporation

In recent energy/environment/climate registrants:

was registered by Dario Chaiquin, a consultant with Sussex Strategy Group to discuss matters pertaining to contract management, electricity project procurements, permitting, Market Renewal and other energy-related policies.

was registered by Michael Bonner, a consultant with Atlas Strategic Advisors Inc. to encourage Ontario to procure the 5-in-1 rapid test, supplied by the client, which detects Covid-19, influenza-A, influenza-B, RSV, and adenovirus.

The Canadian Mental Health Association, Toronto Branch 

was registered in-house by Michael Anhorn, their CEO, to discuss new programming for people with severe and persistent mental illness and for mental health promotion programming.

was registered by Isaac Crawford-Ritchie, a consultant with Global Public Affairs Inc. The goal of the registration was to educate government officials on the work of the client and the important role they play in the regional and provincial healthcare system, and discuss

 hospital funding arrangements in Ontario.

Canadian Generic Pharmaceutical Association 

was registered by Kris Barnier, a consultant with Loyalist Public Affairs Inc. with the goal of ensuring that the Ontario Drug Benefit Act and Drug Interchangeability and Dispensing Fee Act regulations continue to allow for a healthy generic pharmaceutical industry in Ontario while promoting affordability for taxpayers.

was registered by Liam Thompson, a consultant with StrategyCorp Inc. The purpose of this registration was to monitor health policies and programs related to the domestic distribution of products. The intended outcome is to keep the client informed and includes arranging, attending and facilitating meetings with client and government officials in an effort to potentially further enhance the client's business dealings.

: Nurse Practitioners' Association of Ontario, Novartis Canada, Organon Canada Inc., Pfizer Canada ULC, Hoffmann-La Roche Limited

was registered by Cameron Penner, a consultant with Blackbird Strategies, Ltd. to facilitate meetings with Public Office Holders and elected officials for funding to increase capacity for First Nations police forces and the enforcement of First Nations laws.

was registered by Michael Gimelshtein, a consultant with The CCS Group to assist the community in securing the support of the federal and provincial governments for the development of a treatment centre in CLFN.

was registered by Yaron Gersh, a consultant with The CCS Group, to meet with the ministry of energy to support a pump storage project near the community.

was registered by Yaron Gersh, a consultant with The CCS Group, to assist the client in their efforts to acquire a family health team or nurse-led family health team within the community.

Red Rock Indian Band, Sheguiandah First Nation, Wiikwemkoong Unceded Territory

The Ontario Forest Industries Association 

was registered by Brock Vandrick, a consultant with Wellington Dupont to discuss the non-resident speculation tax, specifically, scoping the program to certain markets within Ontario that face high rates of speculation while removing barriers to new Canadians seeking to work in remote, northern, and rural communities.

was registered in-house by Michael Garcia, their president and CEO. The goal of their lobbying efforts was to seek fair trade through the strengthening and enforcement of the Trade Remedy Act. They also want the Ontario government to support policies that facilitate reciprocity and ensure a level playing field when the Ontario government purchases (or funds the purchase of) materials for infrastructure projects.

was registered by Mackenzie Taylor and Giancarlo Drennan, both consultants with Sussex Strategy Group to guide the client through the Private Bill process.

: 3M Canada Company, Professional Engineers Government of Ontario

was registered in-house by Eric Gales, their managing director, to work with the government to promote and support Ontario's digital economy, including ensuring the availability of a high-skilled tech workforce. Another part of the lobbying effort was to seek government contracts with multiple government departments and institutions with regards to 

 cloud based solutions and related support services.

International Information System Security Certification Consortium, Inc. (ISC2) 

was registered by Isaac Crawford-Ritchie, a consultant with Global Public Affairs Inc. to raise the profile of the client with the Ontario government and demonstrate how the organization can work collaboratively with governments to develop a strong cybersecurity workforce and fill the cybersecurity workforce gap that exists in Canada.

was registered in-house by Darren Entwistle, their CEO. The goal of the registration was to gather information about the cellular broadband program and whether it could be of interest to 

. This program is active and incentivizes development of wireless broadband infrastructure that could be of interest to 

, and they have been in discussions with the Ministry of Infrastructure on potential locations for applications for funding. Additionally, TELUS wants to talk about promoting the adoption of technology and digital government, including digital health technologies, to improve service delivery.

was registered in-house by Michael Keroullé, their President. The purpose of this registration was to advocate for provincial investment, public transit initiatives, innovation and sustainability mobility solutions across Ontario, as well as secure funding for transit projects that will serve Ontario’s traveling public, urban development, economic development and job creation.

was registered by Tim Smitheman, a consultant with Rubicon Strategy to educate MPPs and government staff on the client’s role within Ontario's shipbuilding industry, and to discuss the merits of Ontario adopting a marine strategy.

CPA Canada, Trent University, University of Guelph, Doornekamp Construction Ltd., Ontario Convenience Stores Association, Capstone Infrastructure Corporation, Ivey Foundation, Ontario Federation of Trail Riders, OMERS Administration Corporation, Ontario Agri Business Association, Ontario Provincial Police Association, Ontario Sewer and Watermain Construction Association, Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan Board, Paper & Paperboard Packaging Environmental Council (PPEC), Private Career Education Council (Ontario) o/a Career Colleges Ontario, AirMatrix Inc, Mitacs, National Association of Career Colleges, Algoma University, Alpha College of Business and Technology, GS1 Canada, IKEA Canada Ltd. Partnership, Investment Management Corporation of Ontario, GS1 Canada, College of Audiologists and Speech Language Pathologists of Ontario, Greybrook Realty Partners, Association of Snow and Ice Control, BECC Construction Inc., Shelter Movers, Ontario Coalition for Better Child Care, Canadian Bankers Association, Conduent, Inc. and its Affiliates, Corporation de Sécurité Garda Canada, Council of Canadian Innovators, Dancor Construction Ltd., The Corporation of the City of Markham

A list of new, renewed and amended registrations with the Office of the Integrity Commissioner.

Who's Lobbying for Whom: Hearing aid program changes prompt registration

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