Public affairs is often reduced to one thing: lobbying.

Government meetings, policy submissions, and regulatory processes are all important and necessary. And, they are all best handled by government relations professionals who know what they’re doing.

But public affairs doesn’t stop at the meeting table.

Public affairs is the broader environment that lobbying also operates within. It’s the public conversation, media narratives, and the trust that decision-makers carry into the room. When that environment isn’t managed, even the strongest policy arguments get pushback and resistance.

Lobbyists help open doors. Public affairs shapes what happens next. It ensures issues are understood early, conversations move faster, and pressure points are reduced. If ignored, organizations will spend more time reacting than persuading and influencing.

And Canada’s policy landscape? It’s increasingly very public. 

Media cycles move fast. Digital campaigns mobilize within hours. Community voices change the conversation. Decision-makers don’t operate by themselves. Public confidence, stakeholder sentiment, and media narratives all together shape outcomes. When silence is intended as taking caution, it can quickly become a liability.

At Mash, our approach to public affairs means advocacy with intent.

We work alongside in-house GR teams and external lobbyists to help organizations communicate complex issues clearly and credibly. 

Our work in this space can include national and regional advocacy campaigns, digital and broadcast advertising, media engagement, and rapid-response communications, all aligned with the core policy objectives.

As just one example, a client we worked with in the medical field had hit a wall. Their traditional lobbying and media efforts weren’t moving the needle; despite extensive conversations with elected officials and senior bureaucrats, one of their core policy proposals just wasn’t advancing. 

So Mash helped them launch a targeted public momentum campaign. A combination of digital advertising, billboards, and direct text and email actions activated supporters and enabled the public to send a clear message of support to government decision-makers. 

The result? It worked. The government heard directly from voters, and the policy moved forward quickly as a result.

Lobbyists understand process, policy, and politics. 

Mash focuses on narrative, brand, visibility, and public understanding. When these efforts come together, organizations gain credibility and momentum. Policy conversations become more productive, resistance softens, and outcomes improve.

Public affairs isn’t just lobbying, but lobbying works best when supported by smart, strategic public advocacy. 

Mash helps organizations and GR professionals shape the conversation boldly, so policy discussions succeed.

Why waste another day? Get started now!

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