Joint Finance and Economic Development Committee and Governance Renewal Sub-Committee

WHEREAS the definition of lobbying under the proposed Lobbyist Registry By-law covers communication by “an individual who is paid or who represents a business or financial interest”; and WHEREAS there are occasions when not-for-profit groups/organizations communicate with Members of Council regarding matters that concern a financial interest of the not-for-profit group/organization; and WHEREAS lobbying is a legitimate activity, and it is in the best interest of the taxpayer to have transparency regarding lobbying that occurs for the financial benefit of any group or organization, whether for profit or not for profit; THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Lobbyist Registry By-law be amended to require disclosure by not-for-profit groups/organizations when communicating regarding a financial interest, where that not-for-profit group/organization has paid staff.

WHEREAS grass-roots lobbying campaigns are almost exclusively related to advocacy efforts; and WHEREAS the proposed Lobbyist Registry has been revised to explicitly exempt advocacy communication from the disclosure requirements of the Registry; THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT the definition of “grass-roots communication” in Subsection 1(4) and the provision related to the authority to grant an exemption for a grassroots lobbying campaign, specifically Section 5 (Grassroots Exemption Period), be removed from the draft Lobbyist Registry By-law .

WHEREAS the Governance Renewal Sub-Committee directed that the Lobbyist Registry “be designed to register only lobbying activities and actions”; and WHEREAS staff have recommended that ‘Communication’ be defined as “any substantive form of communication including formal meeting, email letter or phone call”; and WHEREAS this definition does not explicitly include those interactions that materially advance a matter defined as lobbying that occur outside of a formal setting; THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT the definition of ‘Communication’ in the Lobbyist Registry By-law be amended to read: “Communication” means any substantive form of communication including a formal meeting, email, letter, phone call, or meaningful dialogue or exchange that materially advances a matter that is defined as lobbying whether in a formal or informal setting.”

THAT subsection 1(5) of the draft Lobbyist Registry By-law be amended to remove the last sentence, as follows: “These communications can take place at any time, in both a formal and informal setting”.