Global Public Affairs and MERCURE Merge in Power Play for National Dominance

TORONTO, ON – May 12, 2026 – In a landmark move set to reshape Canada's public affairs landscape, Global Public Affairs announced today its merger with MERCURE Conseil + Communication, a leading Québec-based firm. The union creates an unprecedented coast-to-coast network, combining Canada's largest independent government relations firm with one of Québec's most influential voices.

The merger establishes a national powerhouse of more than 100 advisors across 14 offices, but its true strategic brilliance lies in the deep integration of Québec-specific expertise. By joining forces with MERCURE, Global Public Affairs gains an immediate and formidable presence in Montréal and Québec City, a move that directly addresses the long-standing challenge for national firms: mastering Québec's unique political and business ecosystem.

The Québec Gambit: Mastering a Distinct Political Landscape

For any organization with national ambitions, Québec is not just another province; it is a distinct society with its own political culture, regulatory hurdles, and unwritten rules of engagement. This merger is a clear acknowledgment of that reality. Québec's political environment, shaped by the Quiet Revolution and a deep-seated focus on cultural and linguistic identity, demands more than just a satellite office and translated documents. It requires genuine, on-the-ground credibility and relationships.

MERCURE brings precisely that to the table. The firm has built its reputation by navigating the corridors of power at the National Assembly, provincial ministries, and municipal governments across the province. Its expertise is rooted in a profound understanding of a system where language is paramount, and where the Lobbying Transparency and Ethics Act creates a highly regulated environment for public affairs professionals. This framework, unique in its comprehensive application to both provincial and municipal levels, requires a specialized skill set that MERCURE has honed advising top organizations in key sectors like aerospace, life sciences, and transportation.

"Québec is central to any serious national public affairs strategy, and MERCURE is the firm that has earned its place at the centre of it," said Randy Pettipas, CEO of Global Public Affairs, in the announcement. "This merger gives our clients deep relationships at every level of Québec government, bilingual expertise from advisors embedded in the province, and full integration with our national network."

This move positions the new entity to offer something competitors have struggled to provide: a truly seamless national service that is as fluent in the political dialect of Québec City as it is in that of Ottawa.

Forging Canada's Independent Public Affairs Leader

The merger does more than just solve the Québec puzzle; it solidifies Global Public Affairs' position as the country's most extensive independent public affairs network. In a market with major multinational players like Hill+Knowlton Strategies and Edelman, as well as strong national competitors like National Public Relations, this move creates a clear differentiator. The combined firm's scale, now with over 100 policy experts, provides the breadth and depth to rival any competitor while retaining the agility of a privately held firm.

The expansion to 14 offices nationwide gives the firm an unmatched physical footprint, enabling it to offer clients localized intelligence and support from St. John's to Victoria. This is particularly crucial for industries facing complex, multi-jurisdictional regulatory challenges, from energy and natural resources to technology and healthcare.

By absorbing MERCURE's deep bench of talent and its prestigious client list, Global Public Affairs not only grows in size but also in stature. The merger is a statement of ambition, signaling a drive to become the undisputed one-stop shop for any major organization navigating the complexities of the Canadian federation.

"We're proud to welcome the MERCURE team and offer Canada's most ambitious organizations the government relations and communications expertise they need in Québec," Pettipas added, emphasizing the high-stakes nature of the clients they aim to serve.

A New Era of Integrated Bilingual Counsel

For clients, the merger promises to eliminate a common pain point: the need to manage multiple agencies to achieve true national and bilingual reach. The new entity is structured to provide a single, integrated team that can develop and execute strategies that resonate in both English and French Canada, a capability that has become essential in today's polarized environment.

MERCURE will continue to operate under its respected brand as "MERCURE: A Global Public Affairs company," led by its current president, Hugo Delorme. This strategy suggests an understanding that MERCURE's brand equity and local leadership are invaluable assets to be preserved, not dissolved. This approach aims to ensure continuity for existing clients while progressively integrating capabilities.

Hugo Delorme highlighted the mutual benefits and client-centric logic behind the decision. "MERCURE has always focused on delivering results for clients in Québec's unique environment. This merger with Global gives us national reach while preserving the local relationships and expertise that define our firm," Delorme stated.

This fusion of local mastery with national scale is the core of the value proposition. A client in the life sciences sector, for example, can now rely on a single firm to manage a product approval process with Health Canada in Ottawa while simultaneously navigating provincial reimbursement issues and stakeholder relations in Québec.

"Together, we can serve our clients at a scale Canada's most complex challenges require," Delorme concluded, pointing toward the larger, more intricate mandates the combined firm is now equipped to handle. The move signals a shift in the industry, where deep, bilingual, and fully integrated counsel is no longer a luxury but a requirement for success.