A lobby group that includes foreign tech giants Amazon, Facebook, Google and Snapchat has been working behind the scenes in Ottawa to try and block a bill that would limit the advertising of sweetened beverages and junk food. Bill S-228, which was approved by the House of Commons, has been stalled in the Canadian Senate, where it has hit resistance from some members. An audit of the Lobbyist Registry of Canada by Le Devoir shows that the Interactive Advertising Bureau of Canada (IAB) has met with government officials about S-228 more than 22 times in the past six months. The IAB said the “ban on online advertising will be ineffective, the internet has no borders.” The organization also claimed the bill would cost its members 10 per cent of their ad revenues from the food and beverage industry. (Le Devoir)

Talking point: With additional heavy lobbying coming from the food and entertainment industries—including Coca-Cola Ltd., the Canadian Beverage Association (representing Coca-Cola, PepsiCo and Red Bull), Food Consumers Products of Canada, the National Hockey League, the Canadian Council of Meat, and Restaurants Canada (including McDonald’s, Subway, and A&W)—many health experts fear the bill will be dragged through lengthy procedural tactics that will make it impossible to adopt before next year’s federal election.