• Lobby Registry Best Practices for Associations

    February 8, 2022

    Contact Details
    events@csae.com

    Zoom

    Tuesday, February 8 – 1:00-2:00pm EST

    Rules, requirements and the system are constantly changing as it comes to lobby registries across Canada. With the Office of the Commissioner of Lobbying of Canada launching a consultation on future changes to the Lobbyists’ Code of Conduct, it will be important for associations to stay up-to-date.

    Join Scott Thurlow, a renowned political lawyer, and Huw Williams, President of Impact Public Affairs, as they go through the lobby registration requirements for associations. Bring your questions for the post-session Q&A.

    CSAE Members – Free registration

    Non-Members – $50

    Register here

    Huw Williams, President, Impact Public Affairs

    Huw Williams is the President of Impact Public Affairs and specializes in government and media relations. With extensive experience in the print and broadcast media, he has appeared frequently as a corporate spokesperson on CBC and CTV national news. Mr. Williams’ government experience is diverse, having served as Acting Chief of Staff to the Deputy Prime Minister of Canada; as a Senior Special Assistant to the Minister of Constitutional Affairs; and as a Legislative Assistant to the Speaker of the Alberta Legislative Assembly. He also served as an intern to a United States Congressman from the Sixth District of Indiana.

    Mr. Williams authored “A Government Relations Guide For Directors of Non-Profit Organizations” published by the Canadian Society of Association Executives (CSAE). He also served on the board of directors for the Government Relations Institute of Canada (GRIC). In 2010, Williams was named worldwide Public Affairs Professional of the Year finalist by PRNews Magazine. Williams’ other accolades include the CSAE Griner Award for outstanding “Business Excellence”, one of The Hill Times’ Top 100 lobbyists in Canada, and the Ottawa Business Journal’s “Top Forty under 40 Award” for professional success and community involvement.

    Mr. Williams holds a Masters of Business Administration from the University of Ottawa and a Bachelor of Arts (Political Science) from the University of Calgary. He has also completed studies at the Université de Tours in France and is bilingual.

    W. Scott Thurlow, MA LLB

    W. Scott Thurlow, a lawyer, was called to the bar of Ontario in 2003. He currently serves as counsel to over 30 clients on regulatory matters and policies pertaining to Chemicals Management, Climate Change, Elections Law, Government ethics and lobbying rules.

    Mr. Thurlow has represented both candidates and elected officials in their dealings with Officers of Parliament. Mr. Thurlow has represented candidates in the Ontario Courts, and has served as legal counsel to dozens of election campaigns. Mr. Thurlow has also previously served as Legal Counsel to Elections Canada.

    From 2012-2014, he served as the President of the Canadian Renewable Fuels Association (CRFA), where he represented the interests of the producers of Ethanol and Renewable Diesel in Canada.

    Scott earned a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Carleton University, a Master’s degree in Political Science from the University of Western Ontario, and his law degree from the University of Ottawa.  

    Scott served on the national board of directors of Equal Voice[i] from 2014-2019, and was the national capital region co-chair from 2015-2019. He is currently as an advisor to GreenPac, a charity dedicated to endorsing environmentally minded candidates for political office.[ii] He has previously served as a board member for Carefor (2009-2012), Biotalent Canada (2014) and the Government Relations Institute of Canada (GRIC) (2012-2014).