Former Saskatchewan premier Brad Wall has registered to lobby on behalf of a Calgary-based real estate trust, new disclosures from the federal Office of the Commissioner of Lobbying show.
Wall, who was considered by some last year as a possible federal Tory leadership contender, before he ruled out that possibility, registered last week with the commissioner’s office to lobby on behalf of Avenue Living Real Estate Core Trust. According to his filing, he wants to set up a call with the federal minister responsible for housing for a “general introduction to the business of the client and to seek support for an application to [the Canadian Housing and Mortgage Corporation] for large cap borrow status.”
While Wall, who served as Saskatchewan premier from 2007 to 2018, was named as a trustee to the company last spring, he’s listed in the registration as an outside consultant, working for Flying W Consulting Inc., which is based in Maple Creek, Sask., according to the filing.
Maple Creek is located in southwestern Saskatchewan, a roughly hour and a half drive from Swift Current, which Wall represented during his nearly 20-year tenure in the Saskatchewan Legislature.
A rental unit pictured in a file photo. Andrew Francis Wallace/Toronto Star
Avenue Living Core Trust is an open-ended mutual fund trust targeting “stabilized assets with strong occupancy and stable current income,” according to an article from the Western Investor. It was set up by Avenue Living Asset Management, which was founded in 2006 by Anthony Giuffre, Dr. Michael Giuffre and Carl Diodati. The first purchase the firm made was a 24-unit residential rental building in Brooks, Alta.
Also of note, Dylan McGuinty, brother of Liberal MP David and former Ontario premier Dalton, registered last week on behalf of Particle Vaccine Canada Ltd. to seek funding for a powder vaccine delivery technology. Particle Vaccine is owned/controlled by Grant Gazdig, a Canadian who runs an investment company in Hong Kong called Clipper Capital Ltd.
Collectively, there were 43 new registrations filed last week, representing 34 different client organizations, with the Hotel Association of Canada being named in separate five filings. SES S.A. and Memsel Manufacturing were both named in three new filings, while Hood Packaging Canada/Glopak Division appears twice in the latest batch of new registrations.
By lobby firm, StrategyCorp won the week with five new registrations followed by Loyalist Public Affairs with three while eight different companies had a pair. Collectively, 40 different lobbyists had new registrations last week, though only three – Paul Tye, Michael Juce and Evelyne Langlois-Paquette – had more than a single new listing. They each had two.
All consultant lobbyists and most in-house lobbyists (those lobbying for the company they work for) must register with the Office of the Commissioner of Lobbying if they are lobbying public office holders. They must also submit monthly reports (known as communication reports) detailing all lobbying communications with designated public office holders.
Two weeks ago, iPolitics counted 58 new registrations over that seven-day span, while three weeks ago, we saw 41.
The highlights
In recent agriculture registrations:
Edelman’s Christopher Vivone registered for the Canadian Federation of Agriculture (CFA) to lobby on a broad range of policy issues and funding levels. The CFA received $234,000 in federal funding last year.
In recent COVID-19 financial support registrations:
Michael Mostyn, the CEO of B’nai Brith, registered to discuss support for charities and non-profits impacted by COVID-19 and the possible rise of antisemitism and hate speech as a result of the pandemic.
Mark Quinn of Quinn Public Affairs registered for Arctic Gateway Group to get COVID-19 economic relief money to repair their rail track
The lights of the Intercontinental Hotel on Front Street displays a heart as Toronto encourages people to maintain physical distances as he combats the spread of COVID-19 in Toronto. April 4, 2020. Steve Russell/Toronto Star
The Hotel Association of Canada built on previous registrations related to the pandemic by being registered by an army from StrategyCorp to lobby about the particular damage the pandemic and border closures is having on the tourist industry. The new lobbyists are Erik De Lorenzi, Conal Slobodin, Troy Sherman, Andrew Steele and Leslie Noble.
In recent COVID-19/medical research/supplies registrations:
A trio from Loyalist Public Affairs — Nicholas Pozkhe, Kenzie McKeegan and Christopher Froggatt — registered on behalf of Memsel Manufacturing Co. to discuss the sale, import and manufacturing of medical devices.
Summa Strategies Kait LaForce registered for primed Medical Products about making and/or procuring PPE.
Paul Tye of Sussex Strategy registered for Canada Medical Nonwovens Co. Ltd. to lobby about creating a Canadian facility to manufacture personal protective equipment.
Tye also registered for Capital Sports Management Inc., one of the subsidiaries of Eugene Melnyk’s parent company that owns the Ottawa Senators, to discuss “non financial’ recovery opportunities to allow sports organizations to rebuild from the pandemic lockdown. Capital Sports Management is a recreational facility design and management firm that operates the three “Sensplex” arenas in the Ottawa area.
Conlin Bedard LLP owners Paul Conlin and Ben Bedard registered for steel manufacturer ArcelorMittal Dofasco G.P. and Stelco respectively about the Time Limits and Other Periods Act (COVID-19) as relates to Special Import Measures Act. Last year both companies received $50 million each in federal funding.
In recent environment/climate registrations:
Vice President Cory Basil registered for EDF Renewables Development Inc. to get economic recovery funding to build green infrastructure.
In recent health registrations:
Kevin Bosch of Hill+Knowlton registered for SED Administrative Services to discuss the “procurement matters associated with the pending competition for the Public Service Health Administration program,” which is the largest health care plan in Canada with over 600,000 members.
Other:
Hood Packaging Canada – Glopak Division is new to the lobby registry. It was added by Fatima Halimi and Alexander Monteil of The CAI Global Group Inc.. The company is seek funding from the Quebec regional development agency to purchase new equipment for the manufacturing facility
Amélie Gadient of Hill+Knowlton registered for the Canadian Animal Health Institute about a long list of issues around veterinary service fees and regulation of veterinary drugs.
Communications reports
There were 219 communication reports filed last week.
TORONTO – The Toronto Regional Real Estate Board says home sales in October surged as buyers continued moving off the sidelines amid lower interest rates.
The board said 6,658 homes changed hands last month in the Greater Toronto Area, up 44.4 per cent compared with 4,611 in the same month last year. Sales were up 14 per cent from September on a seasonally adjusted basis.
The average selling price was up 1.1 per cent compared with a year earlier at $1,135,215. The composite benchmark price, meant to represent the typical home, was down 3.3 per cent year-over-year.
“While we are still early in the Bank of Canada’s rate cutting cycle, it definitely does appear that an increasing number of buyers moved off the sidelines and back into the marketplace in October,” said TRREB president Jennifer Pearce in a news release.
“The positive affordability picture brought about by lower borrowing costs and relatively flat home prices prompted this improvement in market activity.”
The Bank of Canada has slashed its key interest rate four times since June, including a half-percentage point cut on Oct. 23. The rate now stands at 3.75 per cent, down from the high of five per cent that deterred many would-be buyers from the housing market.
New listings last month totalled 15,328, up 4.3 per cent from a year earlier.
In the City of Toronto, there were 2,509 sales last month, a 37.6 per cent jump from October 2023. Throughout the rest of the GTA, home sales rose 48.9 per cent to 4,149.
The sales uptick is encouraging, said Cameron Forbes, general manager and broker for Re/Max Realtron Realty Inc., who added the figures for October were stronger than he anticipated.
“I thought they’d be up for sure, but not necessarily that much,” said Forbes.
“Obviously, the 50 basis points was certainly a great move in the right direction. I just thought it would take more to get things going.”
He said it shows confidence in the market is returning faster than expected, especially among existing homeowners looking for a new property.
“The average consumer who’s employed and may have been able to get some increases in their wages over the last little bit to make up some ground with inflation, I think they’re confident, so they’re looking in the market.
“The conditions are nice because you’ve got a little more time, you’ve got more choice, you’ve got fewer other buyers to compete against.”
All property types saw more sales in October compared with a year ago throughout the GTA.
Townhouses led the surge with 56.8 per cent more sales, followed by detached homes at 46.6 per cent and semi-detached homes at 44 per cent. There were 33.4 per cent more condos that changed hands year-over-year.
“Market conditions did tighten in October, but there is still a lot of inventory and therefore choice for homebuyers,” said TRREB chief market analyst Jason Mercer.
“This choice will keep home price growth moderate over the next few months. However, as inventory is absorbed and home construction continues to lag population growth, selling price growth will accelerate, likely as we move through the spring of 2025.”
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 6, 2024.
HALIFAX – A village of tiny homes is set to open next month in a Halifax suburb, the latest project by the provincial government to address homelessness.
Located in Lower Sackville, N.S., the tiny home community will house up to 34 people when the first 26 units open Nov. 4.
Another 35 people are scheduled to move in when construction on another 29 units should be complete in December, under a partnership between the province, the Halifax Regional Municipality, United Way Halifax, The Shaw Group and Dexter Construction.
The province invested $9.4 million to build the village and will contribute $935,000 annually for operating costs.
Residents have been chosen from a list of people experiencing homelessness maintained by the Affordable Housing Association of Nova Scotia.
They will pay rent that is tied to their income for a unit that is fully furnished with a private bathroom, shower and a kitchen equipped with a cooktop, small fridge and microwave.
The Atlantic Community Shelters Society will also provide support to residents, ranging from counselling and mental health supports to employment and educational services.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 24, 2024.
Housing affordability is a key issue in the provincial election campaign in British Columbia, particularly in major centres.
Here are some statistics about housing in B.C. from the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation’s 2024 Rental Market Report, issued in January, and the B.C. Real Estate Association’s August 2024 report.
Average residential home price in B.C.: $938,500
Average price in greater Vancouver (2024 year to date): $1,304,438
Average price in greater Victoria (2024 year to date): $979,103
Average price in the Okanagan (2024 year to date): $748,015
Average two-bedroom purpose-built rental in Vancouver: $2,181
Average two-bedroom purpose-built rental in Victoria: $1,839
Average two-bedroom purpose-built rental in Canada: $1,359
Rental vacancy rate in Vancouver: 0.9 per cent
How much more do new renters in Vancouver pay compared with renters who have occupied their home for at least a year: 27 per cent
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 17, 2024.
