Government of Canada Restates its Policy for Interactions with Crown Corporations and Other Public Organizations

For immediate release

November 16, 2009

Ottawa –  The Honourable Vic Toews, President of the Treasury Board, today reminded all Crown corporations and other public organizations of the Government's longstanding policy and expectation that its relationship with these organizations be conducted directly and without the use of paid consultant lobbyists.

"The use of paid consultants by Crown corporations to lobby the Government of Canada should not be underwritten by taxpayers," said Minister Toews. "Agencies within the federal sector need to examine all their spending to ensure taxpayers receive value for their money. The use of consultant lobbyists for communicating and lobbying the federal government is an unnecessary and inappropriate use of public funds."

Minister Toews noted that the Government's policy was being extended to apply to shared governance organizations. As a result, it now covers 91 Crown corporations, departmental corporations and shared governance organizations for which the Government of Canada has direct responsibilities or that expend public funds reported as Government assets. The policy further applies to subsidiaries of Crown corporations.

"Our Government believes that any communication between public organizations, such as Crown corporations, and the federal government about their mandates, operations, funding and other matters are a regular, ongoing aspect of Government operations," said Minister Toews. "As such, these interactions should be conducted directly and without use of consultant lobbyists."

The Clerk of the Privy Council sent a letter to all chief executives of Crown corporations, departmental corporations and certain shared governance organizations.  The letter was also sent to all responsible deputy ministers and is posted on the TBS website.

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For more information, contact:

Christine Csversko
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.

TTY (Telecommunications device for the hearing impaired) - (613) 957-9090