Former Newfoundland and Labrador government official Andrew Parsons has transitioned into a federal lobbyist role shortly after leaving his provincial position. Parsons is now representing Exploits Valley Renewable Energy Corporation (EVREC), which is spearheading a significant green energy project in central Newfoundland. During his tenure as the energy sector overseer from 2020 to 2025, Parsons played a pivotal role in selecting EVREC as one of the developers authorized to utilize Crown lands for wind farm construction. This decision led to earmarking 300 square kilometers of public land for potential use by the company in 2023.
Although there are no legal constraints at the provincial or federal level preventing Parsons from advocating for EVREC in Ottawa, NDP leader Jim Dinn has raised concerns about the rapid transition from minister to lobbyist, citing potential conflicts of interest. Parsons, who concluded his 13-year tenure as MHA for Burgeo-La Poile in May and subsequently joined Sussex Strategy Group as senior counsel in Toronto, officially registered as a consultant for EVREC with the federal Registry of Lobbyists on August 4. Notably, Parsons engaged with federal Minister of Innovation, Science, and Economic Development Mélanie Joly on September 16 regarding EVREC’s proposed 3.5-gigawatt wind energy project in the Botwood area, estimated at $12 billion.
According to Manon Dion from the Office of the Commissioner of Lobbying of Canada, there are no federal regulations barring former provincial ministers from lobbying federal officials. Newfoundland and Labrador Commissioner of Lobbyists Hilary Wicks Morrow clarified that while ex-provincial ministers are restricted from lobbying provincial entities for 12 months post-office, there are no such limitations for engaging with federal decision-makers. NDP leader Dinn advocates for stricter regulations governing lobbying by former politicians to uphold public trust and reduce perceived conflicts of interest.
Efforts to bolster regulations for ministers-turned-lobbyists have been proposed, including extending the cooling-off period from 12 to 48 months for officials exiting provincial politics before engaging in lobbying activities. The stance of the province’s Minister of Justice and Public Safety Helen Conway Ottenheimer, as well as Liberal Leader John Hogan, remains undisclosed amidst calls for regulatory enhancements.