John Reynolds' Fun New Job

Lang Michener (the Michener was the late governor-general) is a high-powered national law firm. It does high-powered work with federal governments, for which their clients pay them huge sums. The clients pay those huge sums because it's worth it if they get what they want from our governments.

Lang Michener, as you would suspect, often hire lawyers, but now they've gone outside the box to hire a lobbyist, a very high-powered lobbyist one would expect a high-powered law firm to hire. His name is John Reynolds. No, it isn't, come to think of it. He's the Honourable John Reynolds P.C., the prime minister having taken the most unusual step of having him sworn in as a privy councilor, an honour usually reserved for cabinet ministers. Now, no money comes with the title, but it's nice to have. It gets you better tables at restaurants and an upgrade into first class from airlines.

Mr. Reynolds denies that he is a lobbyist - he claims to be merely a guide to the road map of government. He splits hairs. That's like saying that the coach isn't part of the team. It also must be stated - and this is a critical point - Lang Michener doesn't need the help of John Reynolds to know who runs what department, or who's behind a policy. They need someone whose name means something in government. One has to wonder why Lang Michener didn't hire a former Liberal MP instead. Surely it wouldn't be because former Liberals will not have much influence in a Tory government - perish the thought, Rafe!

Mr. Reynolds says that he certainly won't lobby Stephen Harper because he is too good a friend. The truth of the matter is that Mr. Reynolds is not an official lobbyist because he doesn't have to be. His name properly introduced will be all that's needed.

What's in a name

Here's a scenario. Senior partner says to his highly paid and honourable non-lobbyist, I need something for a client from the government. That's easy, says highly paid honourable non-lobbyist, the man to see in the government is Mr. Smith, who reports to Mr. Jones. Just talk to them and give them my warmest regards. By the way, the minister of that department is an old pal of mine, give him a ring and give him my warmest regards as well, and while you're at it, my warmest regards to Prime Minister Harper, too.

It's rather like working for CanWest - the editor doesn't have to tell reporters that stories from the Middle East must show Israel in the best possible light. That comes naturally. Any Tory minister knows that once the very powerful John Reynolds, bosom buddy of the prime minister, is involved that the PM is indirectly involved, too. The relationship between the prime minister and Mr. Reynolds, if it was unclear before (and it wasn't), the neat little honourable in front of Mr. Reynolds name is all the reminder a minister, who, after all, owes his office to the PM, needs to know.

There is nothing remotely illegal about what non-lawyer Reynolds and his law firm are up to. One did hope, based upon Mr. Harper's statements - and indeed Mr. Reynolds own words - that such a relationship would be subject to close cropped rules once the Tories gained office but, alas and alack, it seems that Mr. Harper's memory is very short, even for a politician.

Shrewd investment

Lang Michener are not fools. They don't throw their money around. They have hired John Reynolds, oops, I mean the Honourable John Reynolds, because they expect to get their money back many times over. That can only happen if clients get what they want from government, thanks to Reynolds' efforts. If that isn't the hope and expectation, why hire him?

Lang Michener will, I assure you, get their investment back with handsome dividends. That's not just because his honour can read the government road map - it's because he is a pal of the driver and all who ride in the government bus.

The Honourable John Reynolds has something to sell to Lang Michener and it's his influence, so what we have here is not a road map reader but a purveyor of influence - all nice and legal like, don't you know?

Rafe Mair writes a Monday column for The Tyee. His website is www.rafeonline.com.