EIA is also already part of the Edmonton Region Defence Alliance<\/a>, a new coalition of various institutions and organizations that aims to bring defence funding and jobs to Alberta\u2019s capital city region.<\/p>\n The Edmonton airport is also one of the members of the Edmonton Region Defence Alliance, which formed earlier this year. This photo shows representatives of the alliance’s members. From left, Brent Jensen, Edmonton Global; Margeaux Maron, Edmonton International Airport; David Howe, Alberta’s Industrial Heartland; Edmonton Mayor Andrew Knack; and the University of Alberta’s David Bressler and Ian Smith. (Natasha Riebe\/CBC)<\/p>\n The lobby effort<\/p>\n Lobbying is a legal, established practice where organizations communicate with government officials \u2014 both elected politicians and public servants \u2014 to advocate for action on a cause.<\/p>\n Information about these efforts is publicly available, as lobbyists are required to disclose their communications with public officials, including subject matters and government agencies they\u2019re targeting.<\/p>\n The Federal Lobbyists Registration System is managed by Canada\u2019s Office of the Commissioner of Lobbying. Most provinces maintain separate registries for provincial-level lobbying; Alberta\u2019s is managed by the province\u2019s Office of the Ethics Commissioner.<\/p>\n Records show the three lobbyists hired by the Edmonton airport authority include:<\/p>\n Hal Danchilla, a long-time political strategist and former adviser to Jason Kenney, an ex-MP and Alberta\u2019s former United Conservative Party premier.<\/p>\n Andre Corbould, a long-time public servant at the provincial and municipal levels, which included time as Edmonton\u2019s city manager.<\/p>\n Malcolm Bruce, former CEO of Edmonton Global, a non-profit that focuses on promoting business in the region. It\u2019s also part of the Edmonton Region Defence Alliance.<\/p>\n Federal records show each of them declared intentions to meet with people in several agencies, including the Department of National Defence (DND) and Prairies Economic Development Canada. Two of them, Bruce and Corbould, have each already communicated with Lt.-Gen. Michael Wright, commander of the Canadian army and Chief of the army staff.<\/p>\n Provincial records show they will try to meet with officials in Alberta\u2019s Trade and Economic Corridors ministry until the end of June. In addition to seeking support for aligning with federal defence initiatives, they\u2019ll advocate for \u201cdual opportunities\u201d for investment and growth with the airport, Edmonton region and Alberta, the records said.<\/p>\n ‘Well-positioned to be a major player’<\/p>\n Karim Jamal, a business professor at the University of Alberta, considers the lobbying a savvy move.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Edmonton airport is an obvious partner in this ecosystem\u2026. They are well-positioned to be a major player,\u201d he told CBC News.<\/p>\n Airports have a lot of fixed costs, Jamal said, and they want to attract passenger and cargo traffic.<\/p>\n Defence-related traffic, he said, could make Edmonton\u2019s airport a bigger economic asset in the region through higher use and more efficient operations. It could also lead to cheaper flights.<\/p>\n Christian Leuprecht, a political science professor at Canada\u2019s Royal Military College and Queen\u2019s University, in Kingston, Ont., agreed.<\/p>\n He said Ottawa\u2019s new spending, as well as current international conflicts, present an opportunity for the authority to reimagine what the airport could be, which \u201ccan completely change a city.\u201d<\/p>\n A recent North Atlantic Treaty Organization report stated Canada spent two per cent of its gross domestic product on defence last year \u2014 the first time in decades it has hit that mark.<\/p>\n The latest federal budget also earmarked $81 billion for national defence, including $6.6 billion over five years for the defence industrial strategy<\/a>, a plan released this year that details how Ottawa aims to build up defence businesses.<\/p>\n There are thousands of military personnel spread around several bases in central and northeastern Alberta, including bases in Edmonton, Wainwright and Cold Lake. The former air facility at CFB Edmonton is now largely unused.<\/p>\n![\"From](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/canada\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/b82e2c0288284d0b757dab00d7ead73a.jpeg\"\/)
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