A petroleum industry association that wants Canada to create its own energy brand was the most active player on the federal lobbying circuit last month, new statistics suggest.

The Petroleum Services Association of Canada (PSAC), which represents service, supply and manufacturing sectors within the upstream petroleum industry, filed 28 communication reports with the federal Office of Lobbying Commissioner in December, publicly available figures show.

Individuals and groups lobbying in the federal space are required to file a report with the commissioner’s office for all communications with designated public office holders. This includes scheduled phone calls or in-person meetings relating to advocacy efforts.

Based in Calgary, PSAC spent a week in early December meeting with parliamentarians on the Hill, discussing the struggles of Western Canada’s oil patch and the need for a “Canadian energy brand that includes oil and natural gas,” the organization said in a statement.

Falling global oil prices have rocked producers in Western Canada in recent years, exacerbated by the steep discount Canadian oil fetches on the market compared to U.S. crude. Many observers blame it on the country’s inability to reach overseas markets, with most Canadian oil flowing south to American refineries. Natural Resources Canada says 99 per cent of Canadian oil exports head to the U.S.

Erasing the discount is one of the chief justifications for the controversial expansion of the Trans Mountain pipeline, as it will allow Canadian producers to reach fast-growing markets in Asia. The project, despite government financial support, is currently stalled after the Federal Court of Appeal cancelled Ottawa’s approval because of inadequate consultations with affected First Nations.

PSAC said Canada’s inability to access markets beyond the U.S. costs the economy $80 million a day. The discount for Canadian oil widened to historic levels in November, prompting the Alberta government to order production cuts, which appeared to have helped raise prices.

PSAC said it recommended to parliamentarians the creation of a Canadian energy brand to show how the country “responsibly” develops its resources under strict environmental standards and the “rule of law.” Twelve per cent of Canadian oil imports come from notoriously authoritarian Saudi Arabia.

“A brand would help Canadians understand and be proud of our record, and support critical infrastructure development so that we can continue to provide jobs, and social and economic benefits to all Canadians,” PSAC chair Duncan Au said in a statement.

Food & Beverage Canada (FBC) was the next most active lobbying body on the Hill in December, submitting 20 communication reports to the commissioner’s office.

The national industry group for food and beverage manufacturers, FBC was formed early last year, uniting several existing regional associations. It represents over 1,500 food and beverage processing businesses across Canada.

CEO Kathleen Sullivan told iPolitics the group held a “lobby day” in December, with 10 of its directors coming to Ottawa for meetings with parliamentarians. The major topics of the meetings were efforts to attract more workers to the field, regulatory reform and increasing the “competitiveness of the industry,” she said in a phone interview.

Food and beverage manufacturers, having a hard time attracting domestic applicants, are calling for innovative and responsive programs to draw skilled foreign workers to the field, Sullivan said, citing as an example the shortage of trained butchers in Canadian meat processing plants.

FBC is hosting a breakfast event in Ottawa on Feb. 12 to mark Agriculture Day that will feature members of the government’s Agri-Food Economic Strategy Table, convened to bolster innovation and competitiveness in the sector. Members of the FBC will hold another series of meetings with parliamentarians on Feb. 26, in advance of the organization’s annual general meeting in Ottawa the following day.

Telecom giant Telus and the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA) tied for third among lobbying groups with 16 reports apiece.

When asked what issues it was lobbying on in December, CIJA referred to its publicly available 2018-19 federal issues guide. Advocacy priorities in the guide include combatting anti-semitism, countering radicalization and terrorism, “improving Canada’s immigration and refugee system,” and strengthening palliative care.

The Mining Association of Canada (MAC) rounded out the Top 5, submitting 14 reports. In a statement, MAC said staff met with government decision-makers to discuss a “number of different subjects,” namely government legislation (Bill C-69) creating new energy and assessment regulators, trade, and the environment.