Canada's New Government Launches Consultations on New Regulations Under the Lobbyists Registration Act

Canada's New Government is delivering on its commitment to Implement the Federal Accountability Act

February 22, 2007

Ottawa - The Honourable Vic Toews, President of the Treasury Board, today announced another milestone in implementing the Federal Accountability Act by initiating a consultation process on regulations necessary to implement the new Lobbying Act.

"Canada's New Government is delivering on one of the key milestones of the Federal Accountability Act, setting the stage to enact the Lobbying Act," said Minister Toews.  "Under the previous government, the line between appropriate and inappropriate lobbying was blurred.  Canadians have told us that they want tighter rules.  That's why the Federal Accountability Act promised new rules to provide Canadians with better information on the activities of lobbyists."

In order to bring changes to the Lobbying Act into force, regulations are required to set out the administrative measures necessary for lobbyists to comply with the new requirements of the Act. Specifically, under the Lobbying Act, regulations are necessary to prescribe:

• the form and manner of all returns, including the new monthly returns for consultant lobbyists and in-house lobbyists;
• the type of lobbying activity to be reported on in a monthly return; and
• the details on the subject-matter and other information that may be required in a monthly return.

Minister Toews added, "Canada's regulatory system is known around the world as one of the best and most inclusive.  One of its fundamental principles is the use of transparent consultations before designing regulations.  Canada's New Government remains committed to that principle.  That is why I am very pleased to announce that we are launching open and extensive consultations on the regulations related to the new Lobbying Act."

Through the consultation process, the Treasury Board Secretariat will give stakeholders, lobbyists and Canadians the opportunity to provide their views on the proposed approach and the design of the registration system.  More specifically, the government will seek input on key elements of the regulations including the type of communication and details to be included in the monthly returns as well as non-regulatory aspects of the registration system.  This critical part of the regulatory process ensures that views are taken into account to make the on-line registry work for its users and for Canadians.

Consultations will be held between March 1 and March 23, 2007.

All registered lobbyists will be contacted directly and provided the opportunity to participate in this consultation.  Members of the public who have an interest in the regulations are invited to send their views through a questionnaire accessible through one of three web sites, starting March 1, 2007:

• the Federal Accountability Act Web site at www.accountability.gc.ca,
• the Consulting with Canadians Web site at www.consultingcanadians.gc.ca,  and
• the Office of the Registrar of Lobbyists Web site at www.orl-bdl.gc.ca.

This announcement is part of the implementation of the Federal Accountability Act, which received Royal Assent on December 12, 2006. Through the Federal Accountability Act and its companion Action Plan, Canada's New Government has brought forward specific measures to strengthen accountability in government.  More information on the Federal Accountability Act and Action Plan is available at www.accountability.gc.ca.

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For more information, contact:

Mike Storeshaw
Director of Communications
Office of the President of the Treasury Board
(613) 957-2666

Robert Makichuk
Chief, Media Relations
Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat
(613) 957-2391

If there is a discrepancy between any printed version and the electronic version of this news release, the electronic version will prevail.