This is just the latest installment of the ongoing series: “Who’s pulling Doug Ford’s strings?” And in a twist that should surprise no one, it’s more of big pharma. This time, it’s AstraZeneca and GlaxoSmithKline.
The GSK listings here came up with 1 useful name, while there were a few with AZ. It must also be said, that this industry has been going on for a long time.
Nadia Yee worked as a manager for GlaxoSmithKline for several years. Her role was to get more drugs out to the public. She is currently a Senior Manager for AstraZeneca. Before becoming a drug lobbyist, she worked in the Government of Mike Harris/Ernie Eves, the “Conservatives” in power before Ford.
Jon Feairs started off in the Interim Program in the Ontario Legislature. He then went to work for M.P.P. Mike Gravelle (a Liberal). He then went on to hold several roles in the Government under McGuinty and Wynne.
Ryan Lock held several roles in different Ministries of the Liberal Governments of Wynne/McGuinty, before he joined GlaxoSmithKline in 2016. More examples of the revolving door.
Since we last checked in on Jessica Georgakopoulos, she has done more lobbying including for GSK. Keep in mind, she worked in Ford’s Office, and was his “Covid Communications Director” for a time. It’s not like she was close to the Premier and access to him, or anything like that.
Keep in mind, while other lobbyists may not have officially held roles in the Governments they seek to infleunce, companies like AstraZeneca, GlaxoSmithKline, and others, all have dedicated marketing and sales teams to pitch their products to public.
What else is going on lately?
Susan Baker spent nearly a decade in the Ontario Ministry of Health, and would have served under Liberal, NDP and Conservative rule. She now lobbies for Innovative Medicines Canada
Conrad Bellehumeur spent years working for the Government of Canada before becoming a lobbyist for IM Canada. Considering how many politicians switch between Provincial and Federal, it would be interesting to know who he associates with.
Anne-Sophie Belzile was an Advisor to the Canadian Senate, and Advisor the Liberal Party of Canada, and worked for Martha Hall Findley.
There has also been some recent activity on behalf of Pfizer. Let’s see who is behind all of that.
Steven Hogue spent several years working for the Liberal Government of Jean Chretien, prior to him becoming a lobbyist for Pfizer. It seems that it’s paid off.
Alexis Sciuk took a different path. Although she doesn’t have connections to politicians listed, she has been in the Canadian media for quite a while
Gillian (Zimmerman) Kennedy was a Senior Policy Advisor and Strategist for the Ontario Government when Dalton McGuinty was Premier. Now, she works for the pharma industry.
What can we expect from all of this? More lockdowns? More shots or boosters needed? Ever get the sense that Ford is just along for the ride? If you haven’t figured out by now that Ford is a tool for the drug lobby, you haven’t been paying attention.
(1) http://lobbyist.oico.on.ca/Pages/Public/PublicSearch/
(2) https://lobbycanada.gc.ca/app/secure/ocl/lrs/do/advSrch
(3) https://www.linkedin.com/in/nadia-yee-050765a/
(4) https://archive.is/UlkMf
(5) https://www.linkedin.com/in/jon-feairs-826b5739/
(6) https://archive.is/9fj0j
(7) https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-lock-6b6899b/
(8) https://archive.is/62e0P
(9) https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessica-georgakopoulos-931b5523/
(10) https://archive.is/JGWso
(11) https://www.linkedin.com/in/susan-baker-b9359640/
(12) https://archive.is/QROy9
(13) https://www.linkedin.com/in/conradbellehumeur/
(14) https://archive.is/cafE0
(15) https://www.linkedin.com/in/anne-sophie-belzile-28843114/
(16) https://archive.is/LsuLR
(17) https://www.linkedin.com/in/steven-hogue-559837/
(18) https://archive.is/eUddr
(19) https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexis-sciuk/
(20) https://archive.is/D4zhI
(21) https://www.linkedin.com/in/gillian-kennedy-mba-b4029325/
(22) https://archive.is/sSfLl
- B.C. Pharmacy Association
- Capital Hill Group
- Counsel Public Affairs (Georgakopoulos)
- Counsel Public Affairs (Prevost, Lavigne)
- Counsel Public Affairs (Ruddy)
- Counsel Public Affairs (Ruddy)
- Counsel Public Affairs (Federal)
- Crestview Strategy
- Crestview Strategy (Blais)
- Crestview Strategy (Arsenault)
- Crestview Strategy (The Gang)
- Crestview Strategy (GlaxoSmithKline & Medicago)
- Ensight Canada (Shoppers Drug Mart)
- Enterprise Canada/Sussex Strategy (Lantsman et al.)
- Harbourview Public Affairs (Batherson)
- Loyalist Public Affairs (Mader, Froggatt)
- Magnet Strategy Group (Danielle Peters)
- McKercher LLP (VIDO-InterVac, Douglas Richardson)
- Rubicon Strategy (Letersky)
- Wellington Advocacy (Curran et. al)
- Various Nova Scotia Lobbying (Iain Rankin, Strang)
- Various Ontario Lobbying, Bill 160 (Disclosing Payoffs)
- Various Ontario Lobbying Keeping Province Closed
Can you find this for every province? Sask needs this list as well