Suzanne Sabourin
Automatically compiled listing. Details may contain errors.Counsel at Gowling WLG
- Called to the bar
- 2009
- Languages
- English, French
Administrative & Regulatory LawAdministrative & Regulatory LawAbout Suzanne Sabourin
As counsel with the Advocacy Group in Gowling WLG's Ottawa office, Sabourin works on the firm's government affairs and regulatory work. Day to day, that means helping clients meet lobbying registration duties and conflict of interest rules wherever they deal with the state, whether federally, provincially, in a territory or at city hall. When a complaint lands before the federal Commissioner of Lobbying or a provincial, territorial or municipal counterpart, Sabourin represents the client. Clients can work with Sabourin in either French or English.
The parliamentary side of the practice is hands-on. Sabourin readies witnesses for House of Commons and Senate committees, writes the briefs and submissions they bring, and counsels clients on procedural rules so an advocacy plan can move ahead. The experience goes both ways: Sabourin has testified before the House of Commons Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics during its statutory review of the Lobbying Act, and has written on lobbying rules for The Hill Times.
Before joining Gowling WLG, Sabourin sat on the industry group advising the Canadian Food Inspection Agency on the Safe Food for Canadians Regulations, and on the government and industry group that steered Canada's WTO dispute with the United States over country-of-origin labelling to a successful result for Canada. As Chief Industry Liaison, Sabourin helped industry associations put their members' positions to government during bilateral and multilateral trade talks, and took a leadership role in building work plans with the CFIA and the USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service under the Regulatory Cooperation Council.
On the regulatory side, Sabourin has guided Canadian and foreign food companies on labelling, packaging and marketing. A political science graduate of the University of Ottawa with a master's focused on international affairs, Sabourin went back to the same university for an LLB in the French Common Law Program and was called to the Ontario bar in 2009.
Practice areas
Lobbying registration and compliance
Sabourin advises on lobbying registration and conflict of interest obligations at the federal, provincial, territorial and municipal levels, and helps major Canadian and international companies build compliance policies, programs and training for their lobbying activity. Sabourin also represents clients in complaints before the federal Commissioner of Lobbying and provincial, territorial and municipal counterparts.
Parliamentary committees and the legislative process
Sabourin guides clients through the legislative process, prepares witnesses for House of Commons and Senate committees, and drafts the submissions and briefs they present with an eye to shaping legislation and regulations.
Food regulation
Canadian and foreign companies have turned to Sabourin for advice on food labelling, packaging and marketing. Sabourin has also advised on professional standards and regulations.
Consumer complaint systems
Having set up national consumer complaint systems in financial and insurance services and advised on putting them in place, Sabourin now counsels clients on complaint handling principles, procedures and processes.
Education & credentials
- LLB (French Common Law Program), University of Ottawa (2008)
- Called to the bar of Ontario (2009)
- MA in Political Science (International Affairs), University of Ottawa (1983)
- BA in Political Science, University of Ottawa (1980)
Publications & speaking
- Testimony on the statutory review of the Lobbying Act, House of Commons Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics (2026)
- Op-ed on the lowered federal lobbying registration threshold (with Michael Walsh), The Hill Times
- Opinion piece on hospitality rules in the federal Lobbyists' Code of Conduct (with Jacques J.M. Shore), The Hill Times (2025)
- Surge in federal lobbying registrations projected with lowered registration threshold, Gowling WLG (2026)
- Lobbying with confidence: Navigating compliance in Canada in a time of change, Gowling WLG (2025)
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This listing was generated by AI from public sources in October 2026. It may contain errors, and we can’t guarantee it’s accurate or complete. Before you rely on anything here, verify it on their firm’s website. Confirm Suzanne Sabourin’s licence and standing in the Law Society of Ontario directory ↗
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