During a recent dispute between Ottawa mayoral candidates Alex Lawson and incumbent Mark Sutcliffe, Lawson accused Sutcliffe of having a close connection with a government relations firm, particularly focusing on unregistered lobbying allegations. However, it has been revealed by CBC News that Lawson himself had previously sent emails to multiple city councillors without registering these communications. In January 2025, Lawson reached out to the councillors seeking assistance in establishing a training academy for residential construction, an area in which he is involved as the owner of a home framing company.
When questioned about why he failed to register with the lobbyist registry, Lawson explained in an interview that he believed registration was only necessary for paid lobbying activities and since his communication was not representing a paid client, he saw no need to register it.
Experts consulted by CBC had varying opinions on this matter, with one expert stating that Lawson should have indeed registered the emails as lobbying activities. Stéphane Émard-Chabot, a former city councillor and retired municipal lawyer, commented that the content of the emails suggested lobbying as Lawson was seeking favorable treatment for his business interests.
In the emails, Lawson identified himself as the owner of Capital Framers Inc., highlighting labor shortages in the industry and proposing the establishment of a training academy. He requested meetings with the councillors to discuss potential partnerships and support for the project.
Despite his registration as a lobbyist for a different matter, the emails regarding the training academy were not disclosed in the city’s lobbyist registry. Two copies of the emails were informally obtained by CBC from Coun. David Brown and Coun. David Hill, who had received them from Lawson.
Hill reported the matter to lobbyist registrar and integrity commissioner Karen Shepherd, as per city bylaws requiring lobbyists to register any lobbying communications within a specified timeframe.
‘I was working for the people of Ottawa’
Lawson defended his actions by stating that he was advocating for the housing and job needs of Ottawa residents and youth interested in the construction industry. He clarified that he was not representing any paid client but was acting in the interest of the community.
Furthermore, Lawson mentioned his involvement in government relations but denied receiving any payment from the related activities. He justified using his Political Intelligence email address by claiming that his professional credibility as a construction company owner would not have been taken seriously by city officials.
Responding to concerns about potential conflicts of interest, Lawson’s campaign manager clarified that Political Intelligence had no clients that would benefit from the proposed training center. Additionally, GOHBA confirmed that they had not engaged Lawson or his firm for any advocacy work.
Legal experts interviewed by CBC emphasized the complexity of the situation, noting that the key issue revolved around whether the communication was made on behalf of a paid client or a personal business interest. While Lawson maintained that he was not representing a client in his emails, some experts argued that his actions still constituted lobbying.
Conclusion
The debate surrounding Lawson’s emails to city councillors reveals the fine line between advocating for community interests and engaging in lobbying activities. While Lawson asserts his altruistic intentions, critics argue that his actions align more with lobbying practices and should have been registered accordingly.
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