Edmonton event held for Liberal ministers, MPs raised concern over lobbying rules

The corporate and party affiliations of the three hosts were not listed on an invitation circulated to Liberal MPs at their Edmonton retreat.

A real estate executive, a lobbyist and a banker held a reception for cabinet ministers and MPs on the margins of the government’s recent caucus meeting in Edmonton, raising concerns within the party that the event could be in breach of federal lobbying rules.

Two of the hosts, Duncan Wlodarczak and Nicole Brassard, are on the federal Liberal Party’s B.C. board. The third host, Devin Demerse, is on the national party’s Alberta board.

Their corporate and party affiliations were not listed on an invitation circulated to MPs at the Edmonton retreat.

The event was called “The Western Exchange,” and was held at the bar of the JW Marriott, a downtown