Public Eye has learned Earnscliffe Strategy Group Inc., the Ottawa lobby/communications firm that employs many of Prime Minister Paul Martin's closest advisors, is setting up shop in downtown Vancouver. In an interview, Earnscliffe principal Harry Near confirmed the decision saying, "We've had a number of clients over the years who have basically said we wish you had an Earnscliffe operation in Vancouver." He added the office, which will focus on lobbying the provincial government and is the company's first satellite branch, should be up and running by October 3. Bruce Young, who previously headed Hill & Knowlton Inc.'s British Columbia outpost and, until recently, was a special advisor to Prime Minister Martin, will be running the operation.

Earnscliffe's expansion could be bad news for federal Liberal operative Mark Marissen, whose company Burrard Communications Inc. has been the unofficial base of Martinite operations in British Columbia. But, when asked what the office opening would mean for Mr. Marissen, Mr. Near said, "I've never met Mark. The guys here know Mark. The guys here speak very highly of Mark. I don't think it's going to be anything that's going to be particularly problematic from Mark's point of view."

Mr. Marissen and Mr. Young are rumoured to be rivals of sorts.