Aug 16, 2024
— The firm’s marching orders are divided into a pre-election period — during which Capitol Counsel will provide “strategic advice and tactics for securing meetings with key government representatives and other stakeholders” as well as longer-term engagement goals while building out “an initial repository of key U.S. government and business contacts for Ontario to leverage” — and a post-election period.
— After the elections, the firm will readjust its strategy as needed to reflect the outcome of the elections at both the federal and state levels while identifying policy issues relevant to the province, crafting white papers and conducting polling as requested and shaping Ontario’s messaging on its priorities for the appropriate audiences, DOJ filings show.
— Capitol Counsel will also devise a plan for the first 100 days of the new Congress and administration, “including identifying any U.S. engagement opportunities for Ontario, during the first 100 days and beyond.”
— The hire also comes ahead of a key deadline for the U.S.-Mexico-Canada agreement in 2026 to determine whether to extend the trade pact for 16 years or open it up for changes. As part of Capitol Counsel’s work for Ontario, the firm will offer advice on such a prospect.
— The Capitol Counsel lobbyists working on the account are roughly split between parties. The Republicans are Jason Scism, a former aide to Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.); David Bridges, a former tax counsel for Sen. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.); Nick Bouknight, former top aide to former Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.); and Clint Robinson, a former George W. Bush administration official.
— The Democrats working on the account are Jeff Carroll, a longtime aide to House Energy and Commerce ranking member Frank Pallone (D-N.J.); Rob Diamond, a former Obama White House and Biden 2020 official; and Jonathan Kott, a former aide to Sens. Chris Coons (D-Del.) and Joe Manchin (I-W.Va.).
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