Annual Report 2009–2010

Message from the Commissioner of Lobbying

I am pleased to present the Annual Report for the Office of the Commissioner of Lobbying for 2009–2010.

My activities focus on the administration of the Lobbying Act, which regulates certain communications between lobbyists and federal public office holders. The Act ensures that lobbying activities are transparent and contributes to increasing Canadians' confidence in the integrity of government decision-making. My mandate is stated in the legislation and covers three activities: maintaining a registry of lobbyists that is accessible to citizens; fostering greater awareness of the Act through education and outreach; and monitoring and enforcing compliance with the legislation and the Lobbyists' Code of Conduct.

The Lobbying Act came into force in July 2008 creating the position of Commissioner of Lobbying and an Office to support me in administering the Act. During its first year, I focused on developing and implementing the processes necessary to meet the new legislative requirements. This year, much effort was devoted to refining these processes and aligning resources to better administer the Act. I created the position of Deputy Commissioner in February 2010 to consolidate the corporate functions that I must undertake as the Deputy Head of a small agency. As a result, I revised the roles and responsibilities of the other executive positions thereby allowing them to concentrate more fully on the management of the Registry and investigation activities.

In 2008, the Lobbying Act required all lobbyists to comply with new registration provisions. Because there were no transitional provisions included in the Act, there was an influx of new and updated registrations that created a backlog. I am pleased to report that my Office eliminated this backlog, while continuing to process new registrations. Although registrations are now processed promptly contingent upon the receipt of all relevant information from registrants, next year we will further improve our operations by establishing and communicating service standards.

Our web-based registration system is a model for lobbyists' registries. I remain committed to further improving the Lobbyists Registration System and ensuring it is simpler for lobbyists to use, and easier for Canadians to access and browse for information.

I believe that awareness of the Lobbying Act's requirements leads to greater compliance. In this respect, I have focused my efforts on informing and educating lobbyists, public office holders, Members of Parliament and the Canadian public about the Lobbying Act and the Lobbyists' Code of Conduct. My outreach activities have focused on key groups, including Ministers and senior officials of the 20 most-lobbied federal government institutions. I was pleased to note that among those groups, awareness of the Lobbying Act and of their role in supporting compliance is well established.

The Lobbying Act also affords me the ability to enforce the Act including investigating alleged breaches of either the Act or the Code. My Office monitors lobbying activities and conducts reviews and investigations in order to verify and ensure compliance. In 2009–2010, I continued my efforts to encourage compliance with the Act through administrative reviews, investigations, and referrals to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. In addition, I continued to review applications for exemption from the five-year prohibition on lobbying for former designated public office holders.

As you will note in this report, much has been accomplished this year, particularly with respect to refining the operations of my Office. I am looking forward to the challenges in the coming year as I continue to raise awareness of the Act and facilitate the creation of a more transparent lobbying regime in Canada. In 2010, the Lobbying Act is eligible for legislative review in which case I will work with Parliament, if and when called upon, to provide insights into changes that might be considered by the Government.

My goal remains to ensure that the Act is administered in a way that supports greater transparency and high ethical standards in lobbying activities. I am pleased to work with my capable staff who believe, as I do, in the transparency and integrity of the lobbying regime. I know I can continue to rely on their dedication and professionalism.

Karen E. Shepherd
Commissioner of Lobbying