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On February 6, 2006, the Office of the Registrar of Lobbyists was designated as a department and was moved from the Department of Industry to the portfolio of the President of the Treasury Board as an independent organization. As Registrar of Lobbyists, I am pleased to present the first Report on Plans and Priorities for the Office, for the period 2006-2007 to 2008-2009.
The Lobbyists Registration Act (Act) is about much more than simply creating a public registry. I believe firmly that Parliamentarians intended the Act to contribute in an important way to an outcome of confidence in the integrity of government decision-making. This has recently been reinforced by the Parliamentary debate on Bill C-2 (the proposed Federal Accountability Act). Consequently, I have set my three priorities for this planning period to support this fundamental outcome – acting within the current legislation while preparing for any new accountability tools that Parliament chooses to provide.
The Registry of Lobbyists is our principal instrument of transparency. Accessible over the internet, it is well-known and well-used by lobbyists, journalists, public office holders and others. However, when the on-line Registry was launched in 1996, it was not designed for the volumes of data it now contains, nor for the search expectations of present internet users. Improving the capacity of the Registry and preparing it for enhanced capabilities is a priority for the planning period.
Increasing awareness of the Lobbyists Registration Act, including how it operates and who needs to register, is key to increasing compliance. We have begun developing a comprehensive education and awareness strategy aimed at public office holders, lobbyists and those who employ them, and I have set this as a priority.
There are consequences for failing to comply with the Lobbyists Registration Act or the Lobbyists' Code of Conduct (Code). Several investigations are underway now, and if Parliament provides increased enforcement powers, more can be expected. It will be important not only to pursue enforcement by assigning more resources to reviews and investigations within the Office, but also to communicate the outcomes of enforcement activity. This is the third of my priorities for the planning period.
I am confident that the work set out in this Report will play a key role in implementing Canada's federal lobbying legislation.
Michael Nelson
Registrar of Lobbyists
I submit for tabling in Parliament, the 2006-2007 Report on Plans and Priorities (RPP) for the Office of the Registrar of Lobbyists.
This document has been prepared based on the reporting principles contained in the Guide for the Preparation of Part III of the 2006-2007 Estimates: Reports on Plans and Priorities and Departmental Performance Reports:
Michael Nelson
Registrar of Lobbyists
Reason for Existence
The Office of the Registrar of Lobbyists's mandate is derived from the Lobbyists Registration Act. Its purpose is to ensure transparency and accountability in the lobbying of public office holders with a view to contributing to confidence in the integrity of government decision making.
2006-2007 | 2007-2008 | 2008-2009 |
---|---|---|
3,514 | 3,378 | 3,378 |
2006-2007 | 2007-2008 | 2008-2009 |
---|---|---|
20 | 20 | 20 |
Type | Planned Spending (in '000$) | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2006-2007 | 2007-2008 | 2008-2009 | |||
Strategic Outcome: Transparency and accountability in the lobbying of public office holders contribute to confidence in the integrity of government decision-making. | |||||
Priority #1 Update the Registry and enhance its transparency |
New | Program Activity – Registration of Lobbyists |
1,519 | 1,420 | 1,420 |
Priority #2 Increase awareness of Act and Code requirements |
New | Program Activity – Education and Research |
930 | 908 | 908 |
Priority #3 Pursue enforcement of the Act and the Code and communicate the results achieved |
New | Program Activity – Reviews and Investigations under the Lobbyists Registration Act and the Lobbyists' Code of Conduct |
1,065 | 1,050 | 1,050 |
We believe that the ultimate contribution of our work is increased confidence in the integrity of government decision-making.
We are focussing on the following three areas in this planning period:
We have organized our work around three principal activities and a set of outputs that contribute directly to the aforementioned focus areas. First, registration of lobbyists is designed to ensure that public office holders and the public know who is lobbying government. It targets lobbyists, and its outputs are a current and accurate public registry and registration advice for registrants (lobbyists). Key functions under this activity are registration of lobbying activities, maintenance of the public registry, and provision of registration advice to lobbyists to assist them in meeting the letter and spirit of the Act.
Second, education and research aims for greater awareness and clarity in respect of lobbyists and public office holders accountabilities. It targets lobbyists, public office holders and the general public, and its outputs are education programs for lobbyists and public office holders, communications for the general public, policy research for informed input into public policy development, Annual Reports, Advisory Opinions and Interpretation Bulletins.
Third, reviews and investigations under the Act and the Code aim for enhanced compliance and integrity in lobbying. They target lobbyists who fail to comply with the Act or the Code. Key outputs include public investigation reports, inclusion in Annual reports, and possible penalties under the Act.
These plans and priorities are summarized in Figure 1.
Figure 1: Graphic Display of ORL Plans and Priorities
Transparency and accountability in the lobbying of public office holders contribute to confidence in the integrity of government decision-making.
Registration of Lobbyists
2006-2007 | 2007-2008 | 2008-2009 |
---|---|---|
1,519 | 1,420 | 1,420 |
2006-2007 | 2007-2008 | 2008-2009 |
---|---|---|
7 | 7 | 7 |
Lobbying the federal government is a legitimate activity but it must be done transparently. The Lobbyists Registration Act requires that individuals who are paid to lobby public office holders must disclose certain details of their lobbying activities. The Registrar approves lobbyists' registrations and makes them available for searching in an electronic registry that is accessible on the Internet.
Priority #1: Update the Registry and enhance its transparency.
Transparency and accountability in the lobbying of public office holders contribute to confidence in the integrity of government decision-making.
Education and Research
2006-2007 | 2007-2008 | 2008-2009 |
---|---|---|
930 | 908 | 908 |
2006-2007 | 2007-2008 | 2008-2009 |
---|---|---|
5 | 5 | 5 |
The Office develops and implements educational and research programs to foster awareness of the requirements of the Lobbyists Registration Act and the Lobbyists' Code of Conduct. The primary audiences for programs are lobbyists, their clients and public office holders.
Priority #2: Increase awareness of Lobbyists Registration Act and Lobbyists' Code of Conduct requirements.
Transparency and accountability in the lobbying of public office holders contribute to confidence in the integrity of government decision-making.
Reviews and Investigations under the Lobbyists Registration Act and the Lobbyists' Code of Conduct.
2006-2007 | 2007-2008 | 2008-2009 |
---|---|---|
1,065 | 1,050 | 1,050 |
2006-2007 | 2007-2008 | 2008-2009 |
---|---|---|
8 | 8 | 8 |
The Office validates information provided by registered lobbyists to ensure accuracy. Allegations of non-registration or misconduct by lobbyists are reviewed and formal investigations are carried out when required.
Priority #3:Pursue enforcement and communicate the results.
The Registrar is ultimately accountable for the work carried out by the Office of the Registrar of Lobbyists. The Director of Operations is responsible for the work carried out in the registration process both paper and web-based. The Director of Investigations is responsible for the work carried out in the enforcement of the Act and Code and the functions of Deputy Registrar.
The Office of the Registrar of Lobbyists obtains some of its corporate services through memoranda of understanding with Industry Canada and Treasury Board Secretariat.
(in '000$) | Forecast Spending 2005-2006 |
Forecast Spending 2006-2007 |
Forecast Spending 2007-2008 |
Forecast Spending 2008-2009 |
---|---|---|---|---|
Registration of Lobbyists | - | - | - | - |
Education and Research | - | - | - | - |
Reviews and Investigations | - | - | - | - |
Budgetary Main Estimates (gross) | - | - | - | - |
Less: Respendable Revenue | - | - | - | - |
Total Main Estimates | - | - | - | - |
Adjustments: | ||||
Supplementary Estimates/ARLU | - | 3,152 | 3,016 | 3,016 |
Other | ||||
Employee Benefit Plan (EBP) | - | 362 | 362 | 362 |
Total Adjustments | - | 3,514 | - | - |
Total Planned Spending | - | 3,514 | 3,378 | 3,378 |
Total Planned Spending | - | 3,514 | 3,378 | 3,378 |
Less: Non-Respendable Revenue | - | 2 | 2 | 2 |
Plus: Cost of Services Received Without Charge | - | 145 | 145 | 145 |
Net Cost of Department | - | 3,657 | 3,521 | 3,521 |
Full Time Equivalents | - | 20 | 20 | 20 |
NOTES:
1. On February 6, 2006,
the Office of the Registrar of Lobbyists was designated as a department for the
purposes of the Financial Administration Act and was transferred from Industry
Canada to the Treasury Board portfolio as an independent organization.
Consequently, Forecast Spending for the Office for 2005-06 is included in
Industry Canada's Forecast Spending for that period. The Office will seek
funding for 2006-2007 and future years through Supplementary Estimates and
ARLU as set out in Table 1.
2. Costs
for accommodation services received without charge by the Office are included in
the Treasury Board Secretariat Report on Plans and Priorities.