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Five-year ban on lobbying excessive, say former political staffers
By Laura Ryckewaert May. 2, 2016
The Federal Accountability Act, a cornerstone campaign commitment of the Harper Conservatives, introduced a five-year ban on lobbying activities for 'designated public office holders' after they left their Hill jobs.
Tight squeeze: Liberal staff, some Hill media, and other politicos, including lobbyists, gathered for a 'Wonderful Wednesday' at D'Arcy McGees Pub on Sparks Street on Nov. 4, 2015, the day the new Liberal cabinet was sworn in. The Hill Times Photograph by Jake Wright
Former political staffers are encouraging the Liberal government to review and amend the Federal Accountability Act, in particular to reduce the five-year lobbying ban included under the Lobbying Act, saying it deters people from working on the Hill and is overly burdensome. “From the time that the FAA [Federal Accountability Act] was brought in, there have been people from all sides of politics saying a five-year ban was too extreme,” said Greg MacEachern, a former Liberal staffer and now
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