The McGrath Group was established to handle the strategic communications, media training, and media relations services offered by John and others. He believes the only way to have an impact in the crowded media environment is to craft compelling messages embedded in a strong fact-based narrative John's clients have included the Ministry of Energy, the Environmental Commissioner of Ontario, the Ombudsman for the City of Toronto, and a number of law firms. The McGrath Group has also published two handbooks, "When the Media Calls" and "Unaccustomed as I am to Public Speaking" that are available on its website, www.mcgrathgrp.com

Since 2010, John has been a strategic communications advisor for the City of Toronto’s Ombudsman. He was hired shortly after the Office of the Ombudsman opened for business, and has provided writing, editorial and strategic advice for the Ombudsman’s investigative and annual reports. John also provides media training and media relations’ advice to the Ombudsman, who has had a significant impact on Toronto’s municipal administration.

John provided research, writing and editing services for the preparation of the Ontario Government’s 2017 Long Term Energy Plan (LTEP). As part of the LTEP team at the Ministry of Energy, he participated in meetings with senior Ministry officials, staff of energy agencies and the Minister’s office where the direction and recommendations of the plan were discussed. John also attended a number of the community meetings that were held as part of consultation phase of the plan across Ontario.

In the fall of 2009, John began providing media training and communications services to the Environmental Commissioner of Ontario, Gord Miller. During this time, he has provided writing and editorial assistance in the production of annual and special reports, and advised the Commissioner and his staff on strategic communications and media relations.

In 2015-16, I assisted the Ontario Energy Board in it's review of the proposed Energy East Pipeline. I provided communications advice, liased and did interviews with media, and wrote the final report

During the late summer and fall of 2013, John provided research, writing and editing services for the preparation of the Ontario Government’s Long Term Energy Plan (LTEP). As part of the LTEP team at the Ministry of Energy, he participated in meetings with senior Ministry officials, staff of energy agencies and the Minister’s office where the direction and recommendations of the plan were discussed. John also attended a number of the community meetings that were held as part of consultation phase of the plan across Ontario.

In late January 2013, John joined the Transition Team of the new leader of the Ontario Liberal Party, Kathleen Wynne. During the following two and a half months, he helped set up the Communications division of the Premier’s Office and oversaw daily communications. Reporting directly to the Principal Secretary, He had direct responsibility for strategic communications and messaging, media relations, planning and marketing. Once the Communications division was staffed up and running smoothly, John left and resumed his private practice.

During the summer and fall of 2012, John assisted the members of the Distribution Sector Review Panel in the formulation and writing of their report. The Panel, which was established by the Ontario government to review the structure of Ontario’s electricity distribution sector, was tasked with examining whether there was a more efficient way to deliver electricity to the customer. Its report, which was released in December of 2012, was the first independent review that focused solely on electricity distribution.

As Director of Communications, I provided strategic communications and policy advice for Elenchus and its clients. Elenchus has realized that communications has to be at the centre of all of a corporation's major decisions. It can no longer be treated as an add-on, but has to inform program development, and be integrated into program delivery.

Between 1998 and 2009, John was the Queens Park bureau chief and provincial affairs specialist for CBC Radio News in Toronto. During that time he covered three provincial election campaigns (1999, 2003 and 2007) as well as municipal and federal campaigns. In 2003, John was the main analyst for the CBC Radio News during its election night coverage of David Miller's victory in the mayoral race. During the last three federal elections, he provided CBC Radio listeners stories of the critical battleground ridings in Ontario. John also co-hosted CBC Radio Toronto's election night coverage in 2006 and 2008Not all of John's stories involved conventional politics. In 2002, John broke the news of plans for the first gay marriage in Canada, and covered the campaign that ultimately led to its legalization in Canada

After years of dormancy, John resuscitated CBC Radio’s coverage of municipal politics in 1997 when he covered the debate over the province’s plan to amalgamate the five cities in Metro Toronto into one mega-city. This was the biggest political controversy locally since the Spadina Expressway, pitting the overwhelming majority of the City’s residents against the Conservative government of Mike Harris. John then covered the election that brought Mayor Mel Lastman and the new Council into power, and reported on the first year and a half in the political life of the new city

John ran the local Toronto newsroom for CBC Radio News for four years. As Senior Editor, he was responsible for managing the budget as well as the story production of seven reporters and editors. With the input of the other members of the newsroom, John would set out the direction for the day's newscasts. He was also responsible for the operation of two bureaus, at Queen's Park and in Hamilton. During this time the newsroom made its first efforts to broaden its coverage of Toronto's diverse communities, with specials and enhanced coverage of the City's black community.