The Commissioner of Lobbying

Nancy Bélanger is Canada’s Commissioner of Lobbying. She was reappointed Commissioner of Lobbying by both houses of Parliament for a second seven-year term, effective December 30, 2024. Her first term began in late 2017.

Prior to her appointment as Commissioner, she was Deputy Commissioner, Legal Services and Public Affairs with the Office of the Information Commissioner (OIC), a position she held until 2017. She initially joined the OIC in 2013, as General Counsel and Director of Legal Services. She also spent six years as General Counsel with the Office of the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner.

During her career, she held positions with the Department of Justice, was Executive Officer to the Chief Justice of the Federal Court, and a Senior Legal Advisor with the Immigration and Refugee Board. 

Ms. Bélanger holds a Bachelor of Laws and a Master of Laws from the University of Ottawa, and is a member in good standing of the Law Society of Upper Canada.

Ms. Bélanger is a fluently bilingual communicator with extensive leadership experience and legal expertise.

Role of the Commissioner of Lobbying

The Commissioner of Lobbying is an independent Agent of Parliament responsible for regulating federal lobbying activities.

The Commissioner and the Office of the Commissioner of Lobbying ensure transparent and ethical lobbying of federal officials by administering the Lobbying Act and the Lobbyists' Code of Conduct.

Responsibilities also include maintaining a searchable registry of information reported by lobbyists, raising awareness of lobbying requirements among stakeholders, and verifying that lobbyists comply with lobbying-related requirements.