Jesse Cnockaert

Jesse Cnockaert started writing for The Hill Times in July 2021 following three years as editor of The Lobby Monitor. He still covers the federal lobbying scene, keeps tabs on important legislation before the House and Senate, and takes the lead on the paper’s policy briefings which cover must-read federal policy issues across a broad range of sectors. Previously, Cnockaert reported for Metro Ottawa, and spent eight years covering news for three different municipal newspapers. He can be reached at jcnockaert@hilltimes.com.

Canada losing ground in global life sciences race, needs quicker funding and harmonized clinical trials system, say sector experts

A promised $1-billion in the 2025 budget for the Venture and Growth Capital Catalyst Initiative—a program that includes a life sciences stream—has yet to begin flowing, according to Wendy Zatylny, president of BIOTECanada.

news | BY JESSE CNOCKAERT | September 16, 2026

Federal relief programs must ‘work at the ground level,’ say sector reps, as trade war escalates

A total import ban by the U.S. on specific Canadian products will take effect on Sept. 29, as a response to Canadian dollar-for-dollar counter tariffs.

news | BY JESSE CNOCKAERT | September 14, 2026

Trade war lobbying ‘all-consuming and exhausting,’ but we are ‘made for moments like this,’ say lobbyists

CFIB CEO Dan Kelly says the trade war has triggered memories of the pandemic. ‘There are some parallels here in that it’s a sudden emergency … and nobody’s expecting it’s going to go away in the very short-term.’

news | BY JESSE CNOCKAERT | September 7, 2026

Registration-by-default proposal could impact small groups as Lobbying Act review resumes this fall, say Imagine Canada, GRIC

‘For a lot of charities, there isn’t a GR team lobbying every day…it’s infrequent engaging with government, and that is something that we think should be continued,’ says Imagine Canada VP Jodene Baker.

news | BY JESSE CNOCKAERT | September 7, 2026

National security threat from superintelligent AI ‘currently unaddressed’ in national AI strategy, warns advocacy group

If AI superintelligence were developed anywhere on Earth, ‘Canada’s sovereignty would be stripped away,’ says Samuel Buteau, a consulting program officer for ControlAI.

news | BY JESSE CNOCKAERT | August 31, 2026

Carney ‘riding high,’ with elbows-up approach to trade war, but support could falter as economy feels impact, say pollsters

‘The fact of the matter is that as soon as the economic casualties start piling up, which I think everyone expects that there will be … I think that will pose a risk,’ says pollster Nik Nanos.

news | BY JESSE CNOCKAERT | August 30, 2026

Conservatives’ infighting damages chances of closing gap with Liberals: Poilievre dealing with ‘slow erosion with no defined endpoint,’ say political players

‘I think it’ll persist until there’s a time when there is either a new leader, federally, or there’s a change in government, provincially,’ said Conservative strategist Jeff Rutledge.

news | BY JESSE CNOCKAERT | August 24, 2026

Aerospace industry pushes for Transport Canada certification process to keep up with expanded defence spending; Joly top-lobbied minister in July

Transport Canada certification has ‘got to keep pace with the new technologies that are coming forward,’ including drones and autonomous aircraft, says Mike Mueller, president and CEO of Aerospace Industries Association of Canada.

news | BY JESSE CNOCKAERT | August 24, 2026

Pricier packaging, protecting food sovereignty top CUSMA concerns for food sector advocates

With yet more American tariffs on Canadian imports looming, lobbyists are still hoping for a renewed trade deal and emphasize predictability is key.

news | BY JESSE CNOCKAERT | August 17, 2026

Liberal lead over Conservatives could show ‘crack in the armour’ depending on U.S. trade talks outcome, say strategists, pollsters

The clock is ticking down to an Aug. 19 deadline when U.S. President Donald Trump threatens to impose 50-per-cent duties on more than $20-billion worth of Canadian exports.

news | BY JESSE CNOCKAERT | August 16, 2026

New Strategic Exports Office a step forward in trade diversification, but Canada also faces infrastructure, price-competitiveness challenges, say trade experts

Ottawa’s goal to double domestic exports to markets beyond the U.S. by 2035 is feasible, but trade experts say achieving that outcome will take more than efforts initiated by the new office.

news | BY JESSE CNOCKAERT | August 10, 2026

Small and medium-sized businesses warn of ‘entrepreneurial drought’ crisis, lobby feds for a reduction in small business tax rate

There is ‘significant bleeding from the small business community across Canada’ that has been underway for more than a year, says CFIB CEO Dan Kelly.

news | BY JESSE CNOCKAERT | August 10, 2026

Conservative infighting could be trouble for Poilievre: ‘he just needs to demonstrate some wins,’ say party strategists

A wave of Conservative infighting erupted after the Calgary Stampede, and the fall could be tough for Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, say some, but Conservative Dan Mader says Poilievre’s leadership is secure.

news | BY JESSE CNOCKAERT | August 3, 2026

Expanded powers for commissioner of Canada Elections allow timely action, but critics weary of potential for due process violations

Bill C-25 provides Commissioner of Canada Elections Caroline Simard, the enforcer of the Canada Elections Act, new authority to compel witnesses to provide testimony and demand documents for investigations without obtaining a judge’s warrant.

news | BY JESSE CNOCKAERT | August 3, 2026

Bill C-25’s voter privacy protections ‘vastly inadequate,’ say critics, data can’t be sold, but it can be bought

Changes implemented the bill include making federal parties to submit privacy policies to the Canada’s Chief Electoral Office, but critics are argue there are still no meaningful restrictions on what the parties can do with the data they gather.

news | BY JESSE CNOCKAERT | July 27, 2026

Fruit and Vegetable Growers of Canada among most active lobbying in June, focused on CUSMA: ‘U.S. administration right now is a little unpredictable’

Fresh fruit and vegetable exports are currently safe from the 50-per-cent tariffs that U.S. President Donald Trump announced on July 20, although goods that are subject to the tariffs include alcohol, dairy products, paper, furniture, and many others.

news | BY JESSE CNOCKAERT | July 26, 2026