Back to School: Counsel’s Study Guide on the Changes Shaping Ontario’s Classrooms
As Ontario students settle back into their school routines, sharpened pencils and fresh erasers represent more than just the start of a new school year— they signal major shifts in the province’s public education system. With a “no-nonsense” Minister in charge and the government still early in its mandate, the political conditions are well-aligned for […]
Virginia Weese Joins Counsel as Senior Consultant
Virginia Weese Joins Counsel’s Growing Ontario Team. Counsel is excited to welcome Virginia Weese as a Toronto-based Senior Consultant to its fast-growing Ontario team. With experience in provincial and federal politics, Virginia is a public affairs professional specializing in government relations, event planning, advocacy, and strategic communications. Most recently, she served as Tour Advance for […]
Frank Denton Joins Counsel as Senior Advisor
Counsel is proud to welcome Frank Denton as Senior Advisor on its Ontario Team Frank brings extensive experience from decades of service as an Assistant Deputy Minister with the Ontario government, where he led the design and implementation of regulatory programs across high profile ministries. Frank has overseen reforms and the creation of a wide […]
Patrice Barnes Joins Counsel as Senior Advisor
Counsel is proud to welcome Patrice Barnes as Senior Advisor Patrice brings a distinguished legacy of public service, education leadership, and community advocacy. With a career rooted in equity-driven policy development and stakeholder engagement, she now empowers organizations to navigate complex policy environments and build impactful strategies. As the former Member of Provincial Parliament for […]
Three Things to Expect from this Week’s First Ministers’ Meeting
Ontario’s cottage country will once again play host to an important meeting of political leaders at a historic turning point. Unlike the 2010 G8 summit where world leaders were tackling how best to spark global economic recovery, the Canada’s First Ministers are gathering to forge a new national path forward without the stable partnership Canada […]
Premier David Eby Refreshes Cabinet
Centring Jobs and the Economy: Premier Eby Refreshes Cabinet As global geopolitical tensions intensify, Premier David Eby made a targeted refresh to his cabinet team, aligning ministers’ skills with the province’s most pressing challenges. Framed as a strategic shuffle rather than a wholesale change, the move emphasizes jobs, economic growth, and resilience in the face […]
How to Ruin Your Lobby Day: 5 Common Mistakes
If your organization is looking to advance a policy goal, build relationships with key decision makers or raise its profile at Queen’s Park, a Lobby Day can be one of the most effective tools in your advocacy arsenal. Also known as Queen’s Park Days, Advocacy Days or Fly-Ins, they are coordinated events where members of […]
Merriah Michel Joins Counsel as Senior Director
Merriah Michel joins as Senior Director Counsel is proud to announce the expansion of its Opinion Research team, with Merriah Michel joining as Senior Director. Merriah is a seasoned research strategist with over a decade of experience leading public opinion and market research across government, nonprofit, and private sectors. With a background in mathematics and […]
From Problem to Policy: A Guide to Effective Budget Advocacy
Turning Your Policy Idea into a Viable Budget Proposal—A Practical Guide to Effective Budget Advocacy What goes into a good budget submission? Before the House of Commons rose for summer recess, the Standing Committee on Finance (FINA) issued their yearly call for pre-budget briefs from stakeholders. The submission deadline is August 1, 2025. If you […]
Counsel Expands Ontario Team
Counsel is proud to announce the expansion of its Ontario team with the addition of Raymond Chan as Senior Account Director and Jessica McDougall as Senior Consultant to serve our growing business. Raymond Chan Raymond brings over 15 years of experience working in government, advocacy, and regulatory affairs to his new role at Counsel. He has […]