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Lobbying by U15-Group of Canadian Research Universities: its registrations, its lobbyists, the bills it has named and every meeting it has reported with federal office holders since November 2021.

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Organization

U15-Group of Canadian Research Universities

Meetings this Parliament
140
With MPs
13
Since Nov 2021
469
Active registrations
1

Most recent reported meeting: Sep 28, 2026.

Registrations in effect

In-house (organization) In effect since Jun 23, 2026 Receives government funding

Filed by Robert Asselin, Chief Executive Officer

Lobbyists

  • Robert Asselin · CEO Former designated public office holder

    Formerly Director of Policy, Minister's office, Finance Canada (2015–2017)

  • Alicia Tiffin · Manager, Partnerships and Public Affairs Former public office holder

    Formerly Issues Manager, Office of the Leader of the New Democratic Party of Canada, House of Commons (2022–2025)

    Formerly Legislative Assistant, Office of Laurel Collilns, MP, House of Commons (2020–2022)

    Formerly Constituency Assistant, Office of Jagmeet Singh, MP, House of Commons (2019–2019)

    Formerly Outreach Officer, Office of the Leader of the New Democratic Party of Canada, House of Commons (2019–2019)

  • James Hammond · Director of Public Affairs Former public office holder

    Formerly Legislative Assistant, Office of Taylor Bachrach, House of Commons (2019–2022)

    Formerly Legislative Assistant, Office of Nathan Cullen, House of Commons (2018–2019)

    Formerly Parliamentary Assistant, Office of Don Davies, House of Commons (2018–2018)

  • Michael Rowell · Director of Policy
  • Mike Matheson · Managing Director (Digital Initiatives)

Institutions they may lobby: Canada Foundation for Innovation, Canada Infrastructure Bank, Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), Canadian Heritage (PCH), Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), Communications Security Establishment Canada (CSEC), Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC), Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC), Finance Canada (FIN), Global Affairs Canada (GAC), Health Canada (HC), House of Commons, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED), Justice Canada (JC), National Defence (DND), National Research Council (NRC), Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC), Office of the Commissioner of Lobbying (OCL), Prime Minister's Office (PMO), Privy Council Office (PCO), Public Safety Canada (PS), Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC), Senate of Canada, Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC), Statistics Canada (StatCan), Treasury Board Of Canada Secretariat (TBS)

What they're lobbying on (9)
  • Advocacy regarding the Government of Canada’s defence and research agenda, including policies, programs and regulations developed by the Department of National Defence, Defence Research and Development Canada and other relevant departments and agencies that directly or indirectly impact the post-secondary education sector.
  • Advocacy regarding the Government of Canada’s innovation and economic development agenda, including policies, programs and regulations developed by Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada and other relevant departments and agencies that directly or indirectly impact the post-secondary education sector.
  • Advocacy regarding the Government of Canada’s health research and life sciences agenda, including policies, programs and regulations developed by Health Canada and other relevant departments and agencies that directly or indirectly impact the post-secondary education sector.
  • Advocacy regarding immigration policies, programs and regulations related to international students, faculty, and highly qualified research personnel developed by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada and other relevant departments and agencies that directly or indirectly impact the post-secondary education sector.
  • Advocacy regarding housing strategy issues, policies and programs that directly or indirectly impact the post-secondary education sector.
  • Advocacy regarding Government of Canada training, employment and skills policies or programs, developed by Employment and Social Development Canada and other relevant departments and agencies, that directly or indirectly impact the post-secondary education sector with respect to their research and education activities.
  • Advocacy regarding Canada’s research and development agenda, including research funding administered through the granting agencies and other federal departments and agencies, program design, and regulatory concerns related to research, including research security.
  • Advocacy to ensure that proposals to develop or amend federal legislation, regulations, policies or programs that directly or indirectly impact the post-secondary system reflect the needs of universities and support research and education activities, including communication with public office holders in the House of Commons of Canada, the Senate of Canada and relevant departments and agencies.
  • Activities related to the operation of U15 digital initiatives including Cognit.ca and SecureScholar.

Registration 778689-296246-46. Look it up in the official Registry

Reported meetings

Spreadsheet

Filed by Chad Gaffield (302), Robert Asselin (138), Gilles Patry (29).

  • Reported by Robert Asselin · In-house (organization)

    • Jeannot Boucher · Major-General, Canadian Defence Academy, National Defence (DND)
    Advocacy regarding the Government of Canada’s defence and research agenda, including policies, programs and regulations developed by the Department of National Defence, Defence Research and Development Canada and other relevant departments and agencies that directly or indirectly impact the post-secondary education sector. Read more

    Official report

  • Reported by Robert Asselin · In-house (organization)

    • Manuela Tomic · Senior Policy Advisor, Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED)
    Advocacy regarding Canada’s research and development agenda, including research funding administered through the granting agencies and other federal departments and agencies, program design, and regulatory concerns related to research, including research security. Read more

    Official report

  • Reported by Robert Asselin · In-house (organization)

    • Valerie La Traverse · Vice-President, Corporate Affairs, Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC)
    Advocacy regarding Canada’s research and development agenda, including research funding administered through the granting agencies and other federal departments and agencies, program design, and regulatory concerns related to research, including research security. Read more

    Official report

  • Reported by Robert Asselin · In-house (organization)

    • Alejandro Adem · President, Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC)
    Advocacy regarding Canada’s research and development agenda, including research funding administered through the granting agencies and other federal departments and agencies, program design, and regulatory concerns related to research, including research security. Read more

    Official report

  • Reported by Robert Asselin · In-house (organization)

    • Nipun Vats · Assistant Deputy Minister, Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED)
    Advocacy regarding Canada’s research and development agenda, including research funding administered through the granting agencies and other federal departments and agencies, program design, and regulatory concerns related to research, including research security. Read more

    Official report

  • Reported by Robert Asselin · In-house (organization)

    • Isabelle Mondou · Deputy Clerk of the Privy Council and Associate Secretary to the Cabinet, Privy Council Office (PCO)
    Advocacy regarding Canada’s research and development agenda, including research funding administered through the granting agencies and other federal departments and agencies, program design, and regulatory concerns related to research, including research security. Read more

    Official report

  • Reported by Robert Asselin · In-house (organization)

    • Gibby Armstrong · Assistant Deputy Minister, National Defence (DND)
    Advocacy regarding the Government of Canada’s defence and research agenda, including policies, programs and regulations developed by the Department of National Defence, Defence Research and Development Canada and other relevant departments and agencies that directly or indirectly impact the post-secondary education sector. Read more

    Official report

  • Reported by Robert Asselin · In-house (organization)

    • Nipun Vats · Assistant Deputy Minister, Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED)
    Advocacy regarding Canada’s research and development agenda, including research funding administered through the granting agencies and other federal departments and agencies, program design, and regulatory concerns related to research, including research security. Read more

    Official report

  • Reported by Robert Asselin · In-house (organization)

    • Mackenzy Metcalfe · Policy Advisor, Finance Canada (FIN)
    Advocacy regarding Canada’s research and development agenda, including research funding administered through the granting agencies and other federal departments and agencies, program design, and regulatory concerns related to research, including research security. Read more

    Official report

  • Reported by Robert Asselin · In-house (organization)

    • Christiane Fox · Deputy Minister, National Defence (DND)
    Advocacy regarding the Government of Canada’s defence and research agenda, including policies, programs and regulations developed by the Department of National Defence, Defence Research and Development Canada and other relevant departments and agencies that directly or indirectly impact the post-secondary education sector. Read more

    Official report

  • Reported by Robert Asselin · In-house (organization)

    • Tara Lapointe · Vice-President, Stakeholder Engagement and Advancement of Society, Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC)
    Advocacy regarding Canada’s research and development agenda, including research funding administered through the granting agencies and other federal departments and agencies, program design, and regulatory concerns related to research, including research security. Read more

    Official report

  • Reported by Robert Asselin · In-house (organization)

    • Karim Bardeesy · Member of Parliament
    • Manuela Tomic · Senior Policy Advisor, Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED)
    Advocacy regarding Canada’s research and development agenda, including research funding administered through the granting agencies and other federal departments and agencies, program design, and regulatory concerns related to research, including research security. Read more

    Official report

  • Reported by Robert Asselin · In-house (organization)

    • David McFarlane · Director of Policy, Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED)
    Advocacy regarding Canada’s research and development agenda, including research funding administered through the granting agencies and other federal departments and agencies, program design, and regulatory concerns related to research, including research security. Read more

    Official report

  • Reported by Robert Asselin · In-house (organization)

    • Valerie La Traverse · Vice-President, Corporate Affairs, Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC)
    Advocacy regarding Canada’s research and development agenda, including research funding administered through the granting agencies and other federal departments and agencies, program design, and regulatory concerns related to research, including research security. Read more

    Official report

  • Reported by Robert Asselin · In-house (organization)

    • Sylvie Lamoureux · Vice-President, Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC)
    Advocacy regarding Canada’s research and development agenda, including research funding administered through the granting agencies and other federal departments and agencies, program design, and regulatory concerns related to research, including research security. Read more

    Official report

  • Reported by Robert Asselin · In-house (organization)

    • Alejandro Adem · President, Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC)
    • Matthew Hall · Senior Policy Advisor, Prime Minister's Office (PMO)
    Advocacy regarding the Government of Canada’s defence and research agenda, including policies, programs and regulations developed by the Department of National Defence, Defence Research and Development Canada and other relevant departments and agencies that directly or indirectly impact the post-secondary education sector. Read more

    Official report

  • Reported by Robert Asselin · In-house (organization)

    • Gibby Armstrong · Assistant Deputy Minister, National Defence (DND)
    Advocacy regarding the Government of Canada’s defence and research agenda, including policies, programs and regulations developed by the Department of National Defence, Defence Research and Development Canada and other relevant departments and agencies that directly or indirectly impact the post-secondary education sector. Read more

    Official report

  • Reported by Robert Asselin · In-house (organization)

    • Mona Nemer · Chief Science Advisor, Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED)
    Advocacy regarding Canada’s research and development agenda, including research funding administered through the granting agencies and other federal departments and agencies, program design, and regulatory concerns related to research, including research security. Read more

    Official report

  • Reported by Robert Asselin · In-house (organization)

    • Marcel Turcot · Vice-President, Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC)
    Advocacy regarding Canada’s research and development agenda, including research funding administered through the granting agencies and other federal departments and agencies, program design, and regulatory concerns related to research, including research security. Read more

    Official report

  • Reported by Robert Asselin · In-house (organization)

    • Robbyn Plumb · Associate Vice-President, Research and Technology Partnerships, Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC)
    Advocacy regarding Canada’s research and development agenda, including research funding administered through the granting agencies and other federal departments and agencies, program design, and regulatory concerns related to research, including research security. Read more

    Official report

  • Reported by Robert Asselin · In-house (organization)

    • Jamie Speiser-Blanche · Commander, National Defence (DND)
    • Denis O'Reilly · Deputy Commander, National Defence (DND)
    • Renée Hansen · Chief Warrant Officer, National Defence (DND)
    Advocacy regarding the Government of Canada’s defence and research agenda, including policies, programs and regulations developed by the Department of National Defence, Defence Research and Development Canada and other relevant departments and agencies that directly or indirectly impact the post-secondary education sector. Read more

    Official report

  • Reported by Robert Asselin · In-house (organization)

    • Conor Lewis · Senior Policy Advisor, National Defence (DND)
    Advocacy regarding the Government of Canada’s defence and research agenda, including policies, programs and regulations developed by the Department of National Defence, Defence Research and Development Canada and other relevant departments and agencies that directly or indirectly impact the post-secondary education sector. Read more

    Official report

  • Reported by Robert Asselin · In-house (organization)

    • Wendy Hadwen · Assistant Deputy Minister, National Defence (DND)
    • Jaspinder Komal · Assistant Deputy Minister, National Defence (DND)
    • Nipun Vats · Assistant Deputy Minister, Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED)
    • Samuel Millar · Assistant Deputy Minister, Finance Canada (FIN)
    and 5 more
    • Jeannot Boucher · Major-General, National Defence (DND)
    • Samantha McDonald · Deputy chief, Communications Security Establishment Canada (CSEC)
    • Alejandro Adem · President, Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC)
    • Marcel Turcot · Vice-President, Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC)
    • Julie Lefebvre · Vice-President, National Research Council (NRC)
    Advocacy regarding the Government of Canada’s defence and research agenda, including policies, programs and regulations developed by the Department of National Defence, Defence Research and Development Canada and other relevant departments and agencies that directly or indirectly impact the post-secondary education sector. Read more

    Official report

  • Reported by Robert Asselin · In-house (organization)

    • Shahad Khalladi · Senior Policy Advisory, Health Canada (HC)
    Advocacy regarding Canada’s research and development agenda, including research funding administered through the granting agencies and other federal departments and agencies, program design, and regulatory concerns related to research, including research security. Read more

    Official report

  • Reported by Robert Asselin · In-house (organization)

    • Yash Nanda · Senior Policy Advisor, Prime Minister's Office (PMO)
    Advocacy regarding Canada’s research and development agenda, including research funding administered through the granting agencies and other federal departments and agencies, program design, and regulatory concerns related to research, including research security. Read more

    Official report

From the Office of the Commissioner of Lobbying's open data, published November 5, 2026. Reports cover oral, arranged meetings with designated public office holders since November 22, 2021; lobbyists file them by the 15th of the following month. Names of MPs are matched to the current House of Commons, and bills are linked when the lobbyist's own description makes clear which bill it means. Contains information licensed under the Open Data Licence Agreement — Office of the Commissioner of Lobbying. Licence. PolitiKit is independent and is not endorsed by the Commissioner of Lobbying.