In this issue...

New Cabinet = New Registration Updates

A new cabinet was sworn in on March 19 and that means it’s time to check your lobbyist registration(s) and update your lobbying targets.

While the names of ministers are not listed on the Ontario Lobbyists Registry, the titles of ministers are. When a ministerial title changes or a new ministry is created, the Office updates the list of lobbying targets accordingly. Updating this list means your previous selections are removed, so it’s important to carefully check through the target list and select the new names.

Senior officers, consultant lobbyists and primary contacts recently received an email about post-election obligations which listed the changes, but this list of lobbying target updates is also available on the Office website.

New Names

Remember – you have 30 days to update your registrations to comply with the Lobbyists Registration Act, 1998. If you have any questions, please contact the Office.

A Reminder on Political Activity

If you volunteered or worked on a political campaign during the recent provincial election, this may affect your ability to lobby certain public office holders, including MPPs and their staff.

As a lobbyist, you have the right to engage in political activity. However, your political activity could restrict your current and future lobbying activities.

Participating in a political campaign can lead to the possibility of placing a public office holder in a real or potential conflict of interest.

You are advised to review the Office’s Guidance for Lobbyists on Political Activity and seek an Advisory Opinion from the Integrity Commissioner on your specific situation. The Office’s Interpretation Bulletin #11 “What is a conflict of interest and how does it affect my lobbying?” provides a handy overview of the requirements of the Act.

Office staff can answer any additional questions about obligations under the Act by email at lobbyist.mail@oico.on.ca.

Rebranding or restructuring – how it affects your registration

Whether you have a consultant lobbyist or an in-house registration, changes to the name or structure of the company or organization in the registration must be accurate.
Here are some examples of changes that should be promptly addressed in your registration.

Rebranding

If a company or organization rebrands and changes its name, an update to the name must be made to the consultant or in-house registration within 30 days of the change. When you update the name in your registration, there will be a field to provide the reason for the change (e.g., rebranding).

When updating the business name, you should include the former business name. For example, if the new business name is “ABC Company” and the former business name is “123 Limited”, you will update the business name as follows: “ABC Company (formerly 123 Limited)”. The former name should remain listed for one year. This helps with continuity of information on the registry.

Restructuring

The “Additional Client Information” (for consultant lobbyists) or the “Additional Company Information” (for in-house persons and partnerships) sections of the registration require clear information about parent companies, as well as subsidiary companies that have a direct interest in the outcome of the lobbying activity or goal.

This means that if a for-profit entity goes through a merger or acquires a new subsidiary, the registration for the company, whether it is a consultant lobbyist registration or an in-house one, needs to reflect this within 30 days of the change occurring.

A reminder to Consultant Lobbyists

Your clients may have their own in-house registration or you may be working with another consultant lobbyist who also has a registration for the client. When a new name or company information is provided in one registration, the Office often checks to see that related registrations are also up to date. Regular communication with your client and fellow consultant lobbyists ensures everyone is on the same page and has accurate information on their registration.