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.

Tech sector lobbying picks up with questions about new Ottawa agency for streamlining tech use, procurement

Since Digital Transformation Canada’s launch, more than 40 tech firms began new registrations on the federal lobbyists’ registry, including CCX Technologies and Amazon Web Services Canada.

news | BY JESSE CNOCKAERT | October 26, 2026

Innovation and private sector ‘not the enemy’ under Carney government, but tax reforms needed to support entrepreneurs, say innovation sector reps

Canada ranked 16th overall out of 139 economies in the 2026 Global Innovation Index, a slight improvement over its 17th spot the previous year.

news | BY JESSE CNOCKAERT | October 19, 2026

Lobbyists push for tax changes in hydrogen production, phosphate mining in next federal budget

The federal budget is coming this fall, with advocates from sectors including clean fuel, mining, agriculture, and housing raising their priorities in pre-budget consultations.

news | BY JESSE CNOCKAERT | October 18, 2026

Economic uncertainty mustn’t overshadow reconciliation commitments, say Indigenous advocates

There is progress, but ‘sustained action is imperative,’ says Stephanie Scott, executive director of the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation.

news | BY JESSE CNOCKAERT | September 30, 2026

‘Overcorrected’ international student cap a challenge for attracting talent, say post-secondary education reps

The federal government set a target of 155,000 new international student arrivals for 2026. However, according to Universities Canada, only 28,200 had arrived as of July 31, or about 18 per cent of the annual target.

news | BY JESSE CNOCKAERT | September 23, 2026

Carney ranked best public speaker, most quotable, hardest working, and one of the best fundraisers in The Hill Times’ 30th annual Politically Savvy Survey

Pierre Poilievre voted most effective Conservative QP MP, best opposition MP in scrums, best fundraiser, and biggest self promoter. Dominic LeBlanc picked as best cabinet minister, most influential cabinet minister, and MP with the best sense of humour.

news | BY JESSE CNOCKAERT | September 21, 2026

Independent businesses lobby for expanded federal supports as trade war heats up, and Joly top-lobbied minister in August

In late August, the eligibility criteria was updated for the Regional Tariff Response Initiative to allow more smaller businesses access federal funding.

news | BY JESSE CNOCKAERT | September 21, 2026

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