Patrick Kinsella.
Patrick Kinsella, the quintessential insider in B.C. politics, arranged for representatives of a mining company based in Pemberton to meet on Dec. 1 with Premier Christy Clark and Energy Minister Rich Coleman.
Sylvan Resources Ltd. was hoping to move ahead with plans for a gold mine. The meeting was to discuss the regulatory and permitting process, according to records filed with the B.C. Lobbyists Registrar.
Records filed with the Lobbyists Registrar show that Mr. Kinsella checked a box under the heading "MLA or Minister contacted." The date of Dec. 1 was added to the declaration.
However, Rebecca Scott, deputy press secretary in the premier's office, said Ms. Clark did not meet or speak with Mr. Kinsella or representatives of Sylvan Resources on Dec. 1.
Ms. Scott could not say whether Mr. Clark had spoken or met with Mr. Kinsella on another date.
Those responsible for Ms. Clark's schedule did not recall any meeting but an extensive search would be required before a definite answer could be provided, Ms. Scott said.
A spokesperson for the registrar said the date on Mr. Kinsella's declaration could indicate when the lobbyist had contact with an elected official or when the intention to have contact was declared.
Unlike the federal lobbyists registry, the B.C. registrar does not require lobbyists to list every meeting with a MLA or cabinet minister, she said in an interview.
Mr. Kinsella, of The Progressive Group, co-chaired the B.C. Liberal campaign in 2001 that brought B.C. premier Gordon Campbell into office. Elections BC records show Mr. Kinsella as the principal officer of companies that contributed $85,154 to the B.C. Liberal Party since 2005. He was deputy minister to B.C. premier Bill Bennett, and a top organizer and senior executive in Ontario's Progressive Conservative Party in the 1970s.
The registry shows that Mr. Kinsella last fall represented seven clients, including Sylvan Resources, that had contact with cabinet ministers.
Mr. Kinsella contacted Mr. Coleman on behalf of Corinex Communications Corp. on July 23, the day that the provincial cabinet minister announced government support of $1-million for the company to start a clean-energy pilot project.
Corinex was looking to work in partnership with BC Hydro to complete the pilot project integrating its technology with a microgrid that handles locally generated energy from sources such as solar, wind, biomass and geothermal. Corinex specializes in development of high speed IP [Internet Protocol] communications systems.
Mr. Kinsella was a registered lobbyist for five companies that had contact in October with several cabinet ministers: The New Car Dealers of B.C., Pacific Western Brewing Company, Exel Logistics, Mark Anthony Group and the Great Canadian Gaming Corporation.
Records in the lobbyists registry show the car dealers were looking to work with the government on standards for tail pipe emissions. The brewing company sought an "exporting brewing exemption" to allow brewing products for export to customers in Japan, Asia and the United States.
Exel Logistics was interested in a contract, grant or financial benefit related to a new liquor distribution system. Mark Anthony Group, which runs a microbrewery, intended to work with the government "to establish consistent liquor regulations, including import and export." Great Canadian Gaming Corp. hoped to work on gaming regulations, the registry records state.
Mr. Kinsella did not respond on Thursday to a request at his office for an interview.