When government matters to your business, know how to move the file forward.
Senior government relations, public policy and regulatory counsel for organizations navigating political change, complex regulation and high-stakes government decisions across Canada.
Federal & Provincial Government Relations · Public Policy · Regulatory Affairs · Issues Management
Experience from every side of the table.
Most government-relations advice comes from one perspective. Illuminatus Consulting brings experience from inside government, political offices, national industry associations, consulting and campaigns.
That means understanding not only what a client wants government to do, but how decision-makers assess a request, where resistance will come from, and what it takes to build a path forward.
Every engagement is led personally by Matthew Ellis. No junior account team. No hand-offs.
Inside Government
Experience in four federal ministerial offices and direct exposure to how political and policy decisions are made.
Inside Industry
Senior association leadership representing businesses in complex, highly regulated environments.
Political Strategy
Campaign strategy, stakeholder mobilization, political communications and issue positioning.
Advocacy
Hands-on federal and provincial government-relations strategy focused on measurable outcomes.
Senior counsel for complicated files.
For organizations with something important riding on a government decision.
Companies navigating government
When regulation, policy or government action has a direct commercial impact on your business.
Industry & professional associations
When members need a stronger, more coordinated voice with federal or provincial decision-makers.
Regulated industries
When market access, licensing, regulatory change or political scrutiny creates material business risk.
Organizations facing a high-stakes file
When the challenge is not simply knowing who to call, but understanding the process, politics and pressure points.
Track Record
Retail Modernization
Advanced alcohol retail modernization and supported the transition to private cannabis retail across provincial jurisdictions through a multi-year policy process.
Essential-Service Designation
Secured recognition of an entire retail sector as an essential service during a national public health emergency, protecting continuity of operations for thousands of independent retailers.
Regulated Product Market Access
Led national regulatory and market-access work in one of Canada’s most heavily regulated product categories, navigating federal review and provincial retail-access rules.
Senior-level counsel. Direct access.
Matthew Ellis has spent more than two decades working inside government, political offices, industry associations and consulting. That range of experience shapes every Illuminatus Consulting engagement.
Clients work directly with Matthew from the first conversation through execution, with advice grounded in the political realities, policy process and commercial stakes surrounding the file.
Learn more about Matthew →Let’s talk about what needs to move.
Every engagement starts with a direct conversation about the issue, the decision-makers and what success actually looks like.
Start a conversation →