As he has been for several years, agriculture minister Gerry Ritz remains the favourite government target for lobbyists.
During the first 16 weeks of the year, Ritz met with registered lobbyists 31 times, according to records released by the federal Office of the Lobbying Commissioner.
Lobbyists ranged from agricultural groups making their point about new farm program rules that took effect April 1 to concerns from both supply management and export-oriented farm groups about ongoing trade negotiations.
In late March, Agrium Inc. and Farmers of North America met with Ritz to discuss environmental regulations affecting agriculture.
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The Canadian Federation of Agriculture, Grain Growers of Canada and Canadian Pork Council also were part of the lineup.
From the end of February through the first week of March, representatives of Grain Growers met with the minister five times, making it the group with the most access.
Other lobbyist visitors ranged from the University of Saskatchewan to BioteCanada.
As a target for lobbyists, the agriculture minister was more popular than finance minister Jim Flaherty in the days preceding his late March budget.
And although transport minister Denis Lebel was sponsoring legislation to enact the first rail shipper protection rules against poor railway service, he was visited by just 19 lobbyists with a policy point to make between Jan. 1 and April 17 compared to 31 registered visitors to Ritz’s office.
