Conservatives are ‘serious about moving forward’ to enact House committee’s recommendations on Lobbying Act, say opposition MPs.
Lobbying Commissioner Karen Shepherd also wants to be able to hand out fines, remove the 20 per cent rule, and list all lobbyists and DPHOs in monthly reports.
Critics also say Canada’s lobbying commissioner should have more power.
U.S. President Barack Obama’s decision on Keystone XL Pipeline opens up more lobbying.
There are some 5,000 registered lobbyists, but they say the rules still aren’t clear and they’re getting a bad rap.
Time to deal with copyright issue ‘Canada’s intellectual property protection currently ranks behind Botswana’: lobbyist Geoff Norquay.
Even the definition of lobbying should be clearer, as Parliament begins five-year review of Lobbying Act.
Lobbyists say they’re ‘not evil’ and this time there needs to be a real dialogue between government and stakeholders.
Lobbyists can’t be banned outright from participating on political panels, but more clarity is needed on the rules, say political players.
But lobbyists say they want clarification on Charter Rights to free speech and their political activities.
Hired guns say summer 'an excellent' time to lobby and to meet with Cabinet ministerial staffers.
Lobbying Act was enacted in 2006 under the Federal Accountability Act, and is up for a statutory five-year review. It will not likely begin until the fall, but it's a big issue.
Lobbyists keep eye on health care, copyright, federal-provincial relations, digital economy, strategic review and more.
Canada's Lobbying Commissioner Karen Shepherd is arguing for the power to fine people who breach the Lobbying Act and Lobbying Code of Conduct.
There's been a natural chaos in lobbying minority governments, but lobbyists say they're looking forward to some breathing room over the next four years.
The 20 per cent rule under the Federal Accountability Act should be eliminated, say opposition MPs and industry stakeholders.
However, lobbyists are pushing pre-budget consultations, copyright, innovation and defence as the House returns this week.
Opposition MPs say Conservatives are blocking their efforts to find out what was going on in Conservative MP Kelly Block's office.
Liberal MPs Wayne Easter, John McCallulm, Marc Garnearu, Martha Hall Findlay and Tory MP Mike Wallace are the top five.
The House of Commons was listed in 788 active lobbyist registrations and the Senate was listed in 769 active registrations.