Ben Smith

Government Relations Strategist

Ben Smith is a public affairs strategist with a track record of results. He’s delivered significant wins for clients, and his political acumen has been published in Canada’s most-read news outlets.

As a strategist, Ben has helped businesses, and associations in highly-regulated sectors frame their narrative and spread their message in an impactful way. Ben specializes in building campaigns and creating communications strategies that move opinion and earn trust. He built a successful government relations business based in the GTA and served as a Director of Communications on Parliament Hill and served as Communications Director to an Ontario Provincial Cabinet Minister in the Doug Ford Government.

Ben has run Conservative campaigns at all levels of government, and was proud to run as a Conservative candidate in his hometown of Stouffville during the 2021 Canadian federal election.

Interview with Ben

Trends in Canada-wide lobbying services and how Ontario fits into that?

There’s a clear trend toward more coordinated, cross-jurisdictional advocacy. Organizations are increasingly focused on national narratives that resonate across provinces, while still tailoring approaches to regional nuances. Ontario remains central, it’s both an economic engine and a political leader.

What happens here often sets the tone nationally. As a result, lobbying strategies need to balance localized understanding with national coordination.

How do Ontario public affairs experts navigate multi-jurisdictional challenges?

Navigating multi-jurisdictional challenges requires deep local expertise paired with a national lens. In Ontario, public affairs professionals must understand the political landscape at Queen’s Park, municipal dynamics across the province, and how federal policies interplay with both.

Successful navigation involves tailoring messaging for different governments, aligning timing across legislative calendars, and managing stakeholder relationships across jurisdictions.