Revised lobbyists’ code: solutions in search of problems
Last December, the Office of the Commissioner of Lobbying published a draft update to the Lobbyists’ Code of Conduct. Following thorough consultation with our members, the Government Relations Institute of Canada (GRIC) along with the Public Affairs Association of Canada (PAAC), identified several elements that are not only unworkable and difficult to enforce, but reflect […]
Trudeau right to not engage with trucker protesters, but must ‘de-escalate’ situation, say politicos
As the trucker protests in downtown Ottawa approach the two-week mark, two former Liberal staffers say Justin Trudeau is right not to engage with protesters, while a Conservative strategist says the prime minister needs to begin de-escalating the situation. “Whether this is a vulnerable moment for Trudeau politically, I would say no, if he begins […]
Chagger brings past successes and lingering ghosts to new role as PROC chair
Left out of the cabinet lineup last October, Liberal MP Bardish Chagger is now chair of the all-important Procedure and House Affairs Committee, and while some politicos don’t perceive the move as a personal slight, and laud her skills and experience, others question whether she’s the best fit for the role. While committee chairs are […]
Diving back into Broadcasting Act reform could mean big controversy
Members of Parliament, lobbyists, and stakeholders are anticipating legislation to reform the Broadcasting Act to be introduced early in this winter House session—but major digital companies are already ramping up resistance. It would be another attempt to quickly pick up legislation that dropped off the Order Paper before the last federal election. In the previous […]
Supply chain crisis and federal budget occupy agriculture sector in busy December
A supply chain crisis exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, and setting the groundwork in advance of this year’s federal budget, were among the major concerns of organizations representing the agriculture sector during one of the most advocacy-heavy Decembers on record. “There’s the labour shortage; the difficulties of accessing them up and down the produce supply […]
Lobbyists concerned potential rule changes could hinder volunteer opportunities in campaigns
Lobbyists are raising red flags in the wake of proposed changes to the Lobbyists’ Code of Conduct, which they say could restrict their ability to volunteer in even minor roles on political campaigns during elections. “There are bad apples in any profession, and so it’s no different in our profession. There has to be a […]
Lobbying needs transparency in the face of foreign threats and disinformation
When the Lobbying Act was brought in, one of its key objectives was to bring transparency to an otherwise opaque area of government engagement. In this sense, the act and its regulations have been highly effective. The system provides clickable, searchable information on reportable meetings and lobbying activities with clear oversight and punishments for those […]
Strengthening Canada’s lobbying regime
Canada’s lobbying regime is intended to foster transparency of lobbying activities and the ethical conduct of lobbyists. A healthy lobbying regime is one that supports public confidence in the integrity of government decision-making. It will come as no surprise that I believe the Lobbying Act should be strengthened. With this in mind, I shared 11 […]
Loophole-filled, weakly enforced lobbying and ethics laws a sad joke
The federal Lobbying Act and Lobbyists’ Code of Conduct, as well as federal ethics rules in the Conflict of Interest Act, MPs’ and Senators’ ethics codes, and public servants’ code continue to be a collective sad joke because of huge loopholes, fatal flaws, and weak, secretive enforcement by the ethics commissioner, lobbying commissioner, deputy ministers […]
Charging into 2022 on the COVID carousel
As 2022 kicks off, Canadians are unfortunately again being confronted by many of the same challenges we had to overcome over the last 22 months as a result of the pandemic. As all sectors continue to adapt, the impact on the lobbying industry is no different. As was the case in 2021 and much of […]
