The Premier's spokesperson, however, stated that Enbridge was no longer a client of the firm by the time she joined the firm.
In a 2006 Confidential Government Relations Plan from Burrard Communications, Clark is listed as a partner in the company. Burrard Communications is a lobbying firm founded by Clark’s ex-husband Mark Marissen.
Burrard Communications lobbied the federal government on behalf of Enbridge Inc. starting in April 2005. The Plan stated that “Burrard worked on issues related to their Gateway Project" including "strategic communications advice and federal government relations.”
The firm was located at Clark’s then-primary residence at 511 San Remo Drive in Port Moody, BC – where Clark was the former provincial MLA for Port Moody/Burnaby Mountain. The registration was later switched to an address on Granville Street in Vancouver, BC.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Clark said, when presented with the documents from Burrard Communications listing her name. Clark faced questions about her past work with Burrard Communications while she was in Ottawa to promote B.C.’s Liquid Natural Resources on Monday.
"(Clark) never worked for Enbridge and by the time she briefly worked at Burrard, Enbridge was no longer a client," her press secretary Sam Oliphant said today.
Clark's ties to the lobbying firm for Enbridge appeared to have ended entirely when she became Premier, but she later raised eyebrows by appointing Ken Boessenkool, a former Enbridge lobbyist and advisor to Prime Minister Stephen Harper, as her chief of staff in 2012.
Her ex-husband's name was among those lobbying for Enbridge on behalf of Burrard Communications. The other Enbridge lobbyist at the firm, John Fraser, later became Clark's assistant deputy minister for strategic planning and public engagement. According to a media report in 2006, she was slated to join the firm as an equal partner.
A search based on Clark's Port Moody address of the federal lobbyist registry shows 28 registrations dating back to 1999 and as recent as 2006. In addition to Enbridge, the firm was also engaged in lobbying for a major B.C.-based mining company, then known as Teck Cominco, while still located at Clark's Port Moody address.
Established in 1998, Burrard Communications boasts a “proven track record in public policy development, issue advocacy and strategic communications”. Clark's bio as company partner in the 2006 Government Relations Plan emphasized her high public profile, as well as "political experience" among her strengths in advising clients.
Clark left the B.C. Government in May 2005, after holding the office of Deputy Premier and Education Minister.
“She took a break from government in 2005 to spend more time with her family. She worked in the media during her time from government, including as a columnist and commentator and host of the “Christy Clark Show” on CKNW”, according to her official bio.
The federal lobbyist registry cites six registrations in which Burrard Communications lobbied for Enbridge on “Environmental Assessment, Climate Change and Energy Development” between April 2005 and December 2006.
Several federal government ministries were targeted by Burrard, including Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development, Environment Canada, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Natural Resources Canada and the Privy Council Office.
Enbridge first announced to the public their intent to develop the “Gateway Project” in July 2005.
Original Article
Source: vancouverobserver.com/
Author: Matthew Millar
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