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# Two major electoral campaigns in Canada are being run by former Airbnb and real estate lobbyists
- URL: https://www.onthetrail.info/latest/two-major-electoral-campaigns-in-canada-are-being-run-by-former-airbnb-and-real-estate-lobbyists/
- Published: 2026-10-13T14:34:52.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-13T14:34:52.000Z
- Description: A revolving door of election campaign staff and political lobbyists is not in the public interest — a ‘layer cake of conflicts of interest’
- Author: Isaac Peltz
- Tags: News

### This is an excerpt from today's publication with Ricochet! [Please go read the full article here. ](https://ricochet.media/politics/two-major-electoral-campaigns-in-canada-are-being-run-by-former-airbnb-and-real-estate-lobbyists/?ref=onthetrail.info)Thank you as always to Ricochet, and we hope to continue working together on more news stories– they're exceptional partners and we love working with other media! Sign up for their newsletter here

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Both Toronto mayoral candidate Brad Bradford and B.C. Premier David Eby’s campaigns are being staffed by former Airbnb and real estate lobbyists, an investigation by Ricochet has revealed.

Using On the Trail’s database of lobbyists from every jurisdiction across the country, Ricochet found that Bradford and Eby’s campaign staff hold long-term connections with both Airbnb and the real estate industry at large, and bring into question how serious both campaigns are [with their claims](https://www.torontotoday.ca/local/city-hall/bradford-pledges-land-transfer-tax-cut-and-will-take-on-more-debt-to-pay-for-it-12837656?ref=onthetrail.info) of [making housing more affordable.](https://globalnews.ca/news/12073707/bc-david-eby-ndp-tax-new-unsold-condos-raise-speculation-vacancy-fees/?ref=onthetrail.info) The two of them even worked together at certain points in their careers.

Bradford’s [campaign spokesperson](https://www.cbc.ca/lite/story/9.7353690?ref=onthetrail.info) is Laryssa Waler-Hetmanczuk, former director of communications for [Doug Ford](https://newpathway.ca/laryssa-waler-hetmanczuk-provincial-politics-job-private-life/?ref=onthetrail.info), and the CEO and founder of Henley Strategies, [a highly active lobbying firm.](https://data.onthetrail.info/en/organization/6ab3f9ee9eb74eb775b4b46d?ref=onthetrail.info) Her past clients include Airbnb, Aventus Developments (a luxury condo developer), as well as High Art Capital Inc., and Willowdale Asset Management Holdings Inc., both real estate investment and holding firms.

In a similar fashion, [Cheryl Oates](https://data.onthetrail.info/en/lobbyist/6ab3fa849eb74eb775b4ca28?ref=onthetrail.info), a lobbyist and former chief of staff for the BC NDP, has been appointed as Eby’s campaign manager in the provincial election campaign. Oates was noted as being a lobbyist for Uber in 2021, and Shoppers Drug Mart Inc. in 2024, and Gateway casinos and entertainment as recently as October 2025\. Records show she also lobbied on behalf of Teranet Holdings LP, a property registry for Ontario and Manitoba. [IJF recently reported](https://theijf.org/brief/david-eby-cheryl-oates?ref=onthetrail.info) the same.

Additionally, in March of 2026, while lobbying the B.C. provincial government on behalf of High Art Capital Inc., Waler-Hetmanczuk met with Oates directly, then-chief of staff for the BC NDP, to discuss the viability of establishing a fund in B.C. “to acquire blocks of newly completed, unsold condominium units \[…\] and convert them into long-term rental housing.” 

Bradford and incumbent Mayor Olivia Chow have [sparred](https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/city-hall/olivia-chow-and-brad-bradford-scramble-to-take-credit-for-landlord-crackdown-at-troubled-east-york-apartment/article%5Ffb5cfe2d-72ed-498e-8abf-1cc36f8cffdb.html?ref=onthetrail.info) over their respective records on housing policy. Rent has gone up by 71 per cent in Toronto since 2018\. Chow was elected as mayor in 2023\. 

Toronto goes to the polls on October 26\. The B.C. provincial election is set for October 24.

Ricochet reached out to the BC NDP and Brad Bradford’s campaigns for comment. Neither responded.

[FULL ARTICLE CONTINUED HERE](https://ricochet.media/politics/two-major-electoral-campaigns-in-canada-are-being-run-by-former-airbnb-and-real-estate-lobbyists/?ref=onthetrail.info)