A group working towards building what would be one of the biggest development projects in Toronto's history has enlisted a lobbyist to help its dealings with the provincial government.
Planning to develop the Rail Deck — a currently exposed stretch of rail corridor just west of the CN Tower in downtown Toronto — stretches back about a decade. If covered, the area would represent around 15 to 20 acres of prime real estate in downtown Toronto. A complicated battle between the City of Toronto and developers over the area's future has played out since the mid-2010s, which The Trillium elaborated on in a recent investigation of the Ontario Land Tribunal.
Ultimately, developers emerged as the winners from the recent part of that history — a saga decided by the provincial land-use adjudication system. Now, a group that includes prominent allies of Premier Doug Ford is looking to move forward with a project that, in its drafting stage, looks to include nine condo towers with more than 6,000 housing units and almost 10 acres, combined, of public or publicly accessible park space.
The project website of the group lists its development team as including two companies that Ford friend and government appointee Carmine Nigro runs or is directly involved with, along with its two more recent partners: Fengate Asset Management, and LiUNA.
Nigro's Craft Developments purchased what is known as the "air rights" to build where the Rail Deck would be constructed back in 2013.
Joseph Mancinelli, another Ford ally and government appointee, is chair of LiUNA's Pension Fund of Central and Eastern Canada, which joined the project in 2021.
The group's project website says its next step is submitting a revised proposal to the City of Toronto. Under a Fengate subsidiary called the Rail Deck District Corporation, a few executives of the company registered to lobby on the development project at the municipal level last November.
Rail Deck District Corporation has now set its sights on lobbying Ontario's environment minister and her ministry, its recently enlisted provincial lobbyist's registration indicates.
Jessica Georgakopoulos of Sussex Strategy Group registered to lobby on behalf of Rail Deck District Corporation on Mar. 1, marking a first for the group at the provincial level.
Georgakopoulos' only lobbying targets for Rail Deck District Corporation are Environment Minister Andrea Khanjin's office and the Ministry of the Environment. Her registration says her lobbying goal is to "organize meetings for (her) client to discuss a new, multi-use development and park project" at the Rail Deck.
Below are the other provincial lobbying registrations that were made or updated in the past week.
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Consultants
Krystle Caputo of ONpoint Strategy Group for MST Rebar Inc.
Kenzie McKeegan of Loyalist Public Affairs for Apotex Inc.
Joyce Mankarios of Sussex Strategy Group for MyHealth Centre
Joyce Mankarios of Sussex Strategy Group for Ontario Home Respiratory Services Association
Krystle Caputo of ONpoint Strategy Group for Nickel Developments Ltd.
Tasnia Khan of Amir Remtulla Inc. for Enercare
Aleksandar Stosic of S&A Strategies (Formerly Stosic & Associates Ltd) for Urbacon
Dan Mader of Loyalist Public Affairs for Tay River Health Centre
Alexandra Spence of Loyalist Public Affairs for Tay River Health Centre
Michael Bonner of Atlas Strategic Advisors Inc. for Global University Systems Canada, Inc.
Stephanie DiNucci of Atlas Strategic Advisors Inc. for Global University Systems Canada Inc
Kenzie McKeegan of Loyalist Public Affairs for Tay River Health Centre
Shawn Cruz of Counsel Public Affairs for Ontario Charitable Gaming Association
Fraser Macdonald of StrategyCorp Inc. for PayIt
Rémi Moreau of Sussex Strategy Group for Capital Power Corporation
Rémi Moreau of Sussex Strategy Group for TransAlta Corporation
Rémi Moreau of Sussex Strategy Group for Evolugen
Rémi Moreau of Sussex Strategy Group for Capstone Infrastructure
Caroline Pinto of Counsel Public Affairs Inc. for Fero International Inc.
Michael Ras of Counsel Public Affairs Inc. for Fero International Inc.
Meera Mahadeo of Counsel Public Affairs Inc. for Fero International Inc.
Rob Elliott of Counsel Public Affairs Inc. for NextEra Canada Development LP
Michael Ras of Counsel Public Affairs Inc. for NextEra Canada Development LP
Elizabeth Seip of PAA Advisory | Conseils for Black Healthcare Professionals Network
Dario Chaiquin of Sussex Strategy Group for Capital Power Corporation
Dario Chaiquin of Sussex Strategy Group for Canadian Renewable Energy Association
Brad Duguid of Brad Duguid Consulting for Centre for the Commercialization of Regenerative Medicine
Christina Salituro of Navigator for Northern Graphite Corporation
Mandeep Sharma of MM PR for Women's Brain Health Initiative
Jeff Rutledge of McMillan Vantage for Lake Erie Green Power, LLC
Al MacDermid of Pathway Group for Westlake Corporation
Jerry Khouri of Pathway Group for Westlake Corporation
Alik Angaladian of Maple Leaf Strategies for FPInnovations
Ben Levitt of S&A Strategies (formerly Stosic & Associates) for Ontario Psychological Association
Jessica Georgakopoulos of Sussex Strategy Group for Rail Deck District Corporation
Heather Tory of Longview Communications & Public Affairs for Glencore Canada Corporation
Rick Roth of Global Public Affairs for Boreal Education
Carlo Oliviero of Edelman Global Advisory for The Sleeve Clinic
Faith Chipman of New West Public Affairs for Canadian Institute for Advanced Research (CIFAR)
Peter Curtis of Pathway Group Inc. for Westlake Corporation
Laryssa Hetmanczuk of GT and Company for Hello Fresh
Chris Gray of 3Sixty Public Affairs for RAREi - The Canadian Forum for Rare Disease Innovators
Georganne Burke of Pathway Group for Ohr Temimim
Elizabeth Wagdin of Global Public Affairs Inc. for Ontario Stone, Sand & Gravel Association
Nicholas Kapelos of Hellascan Inc. for Elmon S. A.
Giancarlo Drennan of Sussex Strategy Group for Pures College of Technology
Rob Elliott of Counsel Public Affairs Inc. for Enterprise Rent-A-Car Canada Company
Faith Chipman of New West Public Affairs for Career Colleges Ontario
Jessica Georgakopoulos of Sussex Strategy Group for Committee of Architectural Technology Professionals
Liam Thompson of StrategyCorp Inc. for McKesson Canada
Christopher Mourtos of ONpoint Strategy Group for Protexxa Inc.
David Morgado of ONpoint Strategy Group for Luso Canadian Charitable Society
Jonathan Kent of JECKA Consulting Group for Brook Restoration Ltd.
Brooke Timpson of Liaison Strategies for The Redwood
Brooke Timpson of Liaison Strategies for South Asian Women's Centre
Gayle Nathanson of Campbell Strategies Inc. for Gakino’amaage: Teach For Canada
Chris Holz of Campbell Strategies for Gakino’amaage: Teach For Canada
Jonathan Ricci of StrategyCorp Inc. for Nature Conservancy of Canada
David Morgado of ONpoint Strategy Group for Fieldgate Land Development Limited
Liam Thompson of StrategyCorp Inc. for Ontario Non-Profit Housing Association (ONPHA)
Mykyta Drakokhrust of Loyalist Public Affairs for Golf Association of Ontario
Ana Salvagna of StrategyCorp Inc. for Therme Group RHTG GmbH
Nico Fidani-Diker of ONpoint Strategy Group for Regional Municipality of York
Mitch Heimpel of Enterprise Canada for IMT Group
Rick Roth of Global Public Affairs for Ontario Road Builders' Association
Darryl Tempest of Tempest Consulting Corp (formerly 2435869 Ontario Inc) for The Canadian Vaping Association
Christopher Karas of Karas Legal Services P.C. for Cindy Gates-Dee and the Dee family
Nasha Brownridge of StrategyCorp Inc. for Nature Conservancy of Canada
Matt Conley of StrategyCorp Inc. for Woodbine Entertainment Group
Stephanie DiNucci of Atlas Strategic Advisors Inc. for HumanisRx Corporation
Carlo Oliviero of Edelman Global Advisory for Coinbase Group Inc
Fraser Macdonald of StrategyCorp Inc. for Township of South Stormont
Lee Boswell of Crestview Strategy for SkipTheDishes Restaurant Services Inc.
Lee Boswell of Crestview Strategy for Dye and Durham
Isaac Crawford-Ritchie of Global Public Affairs for SAP Canada Inc.
Carlo Oliviero of Edelman Global Advisory for Alstom Transport Canada Inc.
Carlo Oliviero of Edelman Global Advisory for ServiceNow
Carlo Oliviero of Edelman Global Advisory for Cisco Systems Canada
Carlo Oliviero of Edelman Global Advisory for Oracle Corp.
Tausha Michaud of McMillan Vantage for Geosource Energy Inc
Johanna Chevalier of Counsel Public Affairs Inc. for Natural Burial Association
Vince Amodeo of Global Public Affairs for SAP Canada Inc.
Al MacDermid of Pathway Group for Ontario Provincial Police Association (OPPA)
Jeffrey Bangs of Pathway Group Inc. for Ontario Provincial Police Association (OPPA)
Cameron Doherty of Crestview Strategy Inc. for Greater Toronto Airports Authority
Fraser Macdonald of StrategyCorp Inc. for Woodbine Entertainment Group
Jessica Trepanier of StrategyCorp Inc. for Ontario Racing
Devan Sommerville of Counsel Public Affairs Inc. for Natural Burial Association
Alexander Glista of StrategyCorp Inc. for Northbridge Capital Inc.
Aidan Grove-White of StrategyCorp Inc. for Northbridge Capital Inc.
Fraser Macdonald of StrategyCorp Inc. for Northbridge Capital Inc.
Kyle Sholes of StrategyCorp Inc. for Ontario Non-Profit Housing Association (ONPHA)
Brian Teefy of StrategyCorp Inc. for Ontario Non-Profit Housing Association (ONPHA)
Alex Armanious of StrategyCorp Inc. for Ontario Non-Profit Housing Association (ONPHA)
Fraser Macdonald of StrategyCorp Inc. for Ontario Retirement Communities Association (ORCA)
Carolyn Kim of Grosso McCarthy Inc. for VON
Jordon Daniels of StrategyCorp Inc. for Ontario Professional Planners Institute
Kyle Sholes of StrategyCorp Inc. for Miziwe Biik Aboriginal Employment & Training
Saad Baig of StrategyCorp Inc. for Ontario Racing
Kyle Sholes of StrategyCorp Inc. for McKesson Canada
Kevin Den Heijer of Enterprise Canada for Ontario College of Family Physicians
Ralph Palumbo of The Hillcrest Consulting Group Inc. for Call2Recycle
Alex Armanious of StrategyCorp Inc. for Miziwe Biik Aboriginal Employment & Training
Stephanie Gawur of Santis Health for Ontario Community Support Association
Rob Gilmour of Crestview Strategy for Ontario Good Roads Association
Alexander Glista of StrategyCorp Inc. for Ontario Professional Planners Institute
Karl Baldauf of McMillan Vantage for AbbVie Corporation
Rick Roth of Global Public Affairs for Ontario Book Publishers Organization
Brad Duguid of Brad Duguid Consulting for Cormorant Utility Services
Garry Keller of StrategyCorp Inc. for Sysco Canada Ltd.
Aidan Grove-White of StrategyCorp Inc. for Woodbine Entertainment Group
Jerry Khouri of Pathway Group for Aviva
Jeffrey Bangs of Pathway Group Inc. for Aviva
Kelly Baker of StrategyCorp Inc. for McKesson Canada
Christopher Loreto of StrategyCorp Inc. for Miziwe Biik Aboriginal Employment & Training
Aidan Grove-White of StrategyCorp Inc. for Ontario Professional Planners Institute
Aidan Grove-White of StrategyCorp Inc. for Choice Properties Limited Partnership
Vince Amodeo of Global Public Affairs for VIN Verification Services Inc.
Frank Klees of Klees & Associates Ltd. for DG Group
Garry Keller of StrategyCorp Inc. for Ronald McDonald House Charities Canada
Brian Teefy of StrategyCorp Inc. for Ontario Big City Mayors (OBCM)
John Matheson of StrategyCorp Inc. for Ontario Big City Mayors (OBCM)
Francesca Grosso of Grosso McCarthy Inc. for VON
Frank Klees of Klees & Associates Ltd. for Pures College of Technology
Ralph Palumbo of The Hillcrest Consulting Group Inc. for Association of Independent Assessment Centres ("AIAC")
Amir Remtulla of Amir Remtulla Inc. for RioCan Real Estate Investment Trust
Vince Amodeo of Global Public Affairs for Amazon Web Services
Peter Curtis of Pathway Group Inc. for Assaulted Women’s Helpline
Saad Baig of StrategyCorp Inc. for Ontario Professional Planners Institute
John Matheson of StrategyCorp Inc. for Ontario Professional Planners Institute
Frank Klees of Klees & Associates Ltd. for Condor PropertiesLtd.
Garry Keller of StrategyCorp Inc. for Nature Conservancy of Canada
Lisa Samson of StrategyCorp Inc. for Nature Conservancy of Canada
Ralph Palumbo of The Hillcrest Consulting Group Inc. for Used Car Dealers Association of Ontario
Chris Benedetti of Sussex Strategy Group for Electricity Distributors Association
Ralph Palumbo of The Hillcrest Consulting Group Inc. for The Association of Condominium Managers of Ontario
Marc Kealey of Kealey & Associates Inc for Scientific Games International Inc.
Rod Elliot of Global Public Affairs Inc. for Koch Companies Public Sector, LLC
Philip Dewan of Counsel Public Affairs Inc. for NextEra Canada Development LP
John Matheson of StrategyCorp Inc. for McKesson Canada
Douglas Jure of Douglas Jure & Associates for FCA Canada Inc.
In-house lobbyists
Timothy Jennings of Shaw Festival
Anthony Pugliese of Institute of Internal Auditors
Shahrzad Rahbar of Industrial Gas Users Association
Juanita Beaudry of Centre for ADHD Awareness, Canada
Brenda Leciuk of College Student Alliance
Maureen Boon of College of Massage Therapists of Ontario
Tovah Barocas of Earth Rangers
Susan McIsaac of Right To Play International
Tammy Moore of ALS Society of Canada
Diane Brisebois of Retail Council of Canada
Lana Payne of Unifor
Lesley Davidson of YMCA of Greater Toronto
Dianne Martin of Registered Practical Nurses Association of Ontario
Angela Mondou of TECHNATION Canada
Daniel Tisch of Ontario Chamber of Commerce
Charla Robinson of Thunder Bay Chamber of Commerce
Ian Dunn of Ontario Forest Industries Association - Home of CLA Grading and Inspection
Kimberly Moran of Ontario Medical Association
M.Lynn Cassidy of Ontario Charitable Gaming Association
Tim Hudak of Ontario Real Estate Association
Daniel Kelly of Canadian Federation of Independent Business
Mark Selby of Canada Nickel Company
Rowan Saunders of Definity Insurance Company
Vito Ciciretto of Dynacare
Shoaib Ahmed of SCOOTY (Scooty Mobility Inc.)
Katie Decker of Johnson & Johnson Inc.
Frank Wuest of Edwards Lifesciences (Canada) Inc.
Francois Poirier of TransCanada PipeLines Limited (Formerly known as TC Energy Corporation)
Greg Ebel of Enbridge Inc.
—With files from Jessica Smith Cross
