Former Premier McGuinty Registers to Lobby Queen’s Park

This article was last updated on April 16, 2022

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Almost a year and a half after resigning from the top provincial post, former Premier Dalton McGuinty has allegedly signed up as a lobbyist to convince the government he used to lead. According to an entry in the provincial lobbyist registry on Aug, 26, Mr. McGuinty has his business address as a house in a residential Ottawa neighbourhood. Record shows that he is lobbying on behalf of a Kitchener company that makes Brightspace, i.e. an educational software system that allows students to work together over the Internet, called Desire2Learn.

The registration further explained that Mr. Dalton aims to lobby unspecified MPPs, along with the Ministries of Education and Training, Colleges and Universities. Furthermore, it was added that he will strive to get Desire2Learn’s technology into more schools and postsecondary institutions. According to a statement issued by a representative for the former premier, Mr. McGuinty organized a meeting between Desire2Learn and “senior education bureaucrats,” however it was cancelled by the company since “Mr. McGuinty acknowledges that arranging such a meeting constitutes the need to register.” It was highlighted that “Mr. McGuinty, as a private citizen and business person will always ensure that he conducts himself in a transparent and forthright manner.”

Whereas on the other hand, a spokeswoman for Education Minister Liz Sandals, Lauren Ramey, confirmed that the minister hadn’t met with Mr. McGuinty as a Desire2Learn lobbyist. Ramey stated “that being said, we partnered with this organization well before Mr. McGuinty began this role. We look forward to continuing to work with Desire2Learn,” Lauren Ramey wrote in an email.