In this issue...

As you may know, earlier this year I announced my intention to retire and will leave my position as Integrity Commissioner and Lobbyist Registrar of Ontario in early 2025. I wanted to take this opportunity to provide a few remarks in this issue of ON Lobbying about lobbying regulation in Ontario.

When I started my tenure as Registrar in February 2016, the Office was preparing to implement significant amendments to the Lobbyists Registration Act, 1998 that would come into effect that July. Among other things like new questions in the registration form, the amendments included a reduction to the threshold for registration by in-house lobbyists to 50 hours in a 12-month period, and the ability for the Registrar to investigate potential non-compliance with the Act.

These amendments improved the primary objective of the Act, which is transparency. I have always been clear that lobbying is a legitimate and beneficial avenue for information to be exchanged with government but it is important that the public know who is trying to influence the Ontario government and about what.

In my time as Registrar, I have seen the Ontario Lobbyists Registry double in size to more than 3,450 active lobbyists. I have found that the majority of lobbyists and senior officers of lobbying entities take their obligations under the Act seriously, but the Office’s compliance review and investigative work is vital to enforcing the requirements and ensuring accountability and transparency.

After close to nine years of administering the registry and interpreting the Act, I also believe it is time for new amendments that will further increase transparency and accountability. I have spoken to this in annual report messages and it is my hope there will soon be movement towards improving the Act.

As subscribers to this newsletter, I want to thank you for your efforts to stay informed on the requirements of the Act and the workings of the registry. I encourage you to contact our Office for information and advice when you have questions. This is the best way to ensure that you are meeting your obligations.

Please accept my best wishes,

J. David Wake, K.C.

Integrity Commissioner & Lobbyist Registrar

Invitations and Gifts 

You might already know that lobbyists offering gifts to public office holders is a no-no.

But did you know that inviting someone you are lobbying to an event or reception could place them in a conflict of interest?

Placing a public office holder you are lobbying in a position of real or potential conflict of interest is a contravention of the Lobbyists Registration Act, 1998 and could result in an investigation and penalty.

Make sure you’re in compliance:

1. Review the Integrity Commissioner’s Interpretation Bulletin on conflict of interest, as well as the Guidance for Lobbyists on Gifts.

2. Contact the Office to get an Advisory Opinion about the gift or the invitation you want to offer

For a bit of fun, try your hand at these lobbyist registration trivia questions!

1. In what year was the online lobbyists registry launched in Ontario?

a) 1999

b) 1977

c) 2004

2. Unscramble the words to find the names of resources available to lobbyists on the Office website.

a) Edgiu ot het Oysbilbts Nirogsittaer Cat

b) Peitrotantnier Subltilno

c) Ketclscihs

3. What is an important component to include in the description of the lobbying activity in a registration?

a) The amount of money being spent to carry out the lobbying

b) The full name of each public office holder

c) The date of the meeting

d) The goal of the lobbying

4. How many Lobbyist Registrars has Ontario had?

The answers are available on the new ON Lobbying Corner page!