Communiqué — Fall 2021 Lobbyists Registrars and Commissioners Network conference

Regulators gather virtually for Lobbyists Registrars and Commissioners Network conference

VICTORIA—British Columbia’s Office of the Registrar of Lobbyists (BC ORL) hosted a Lobbyists Registrars and Commissioners Network (LRCN) conference on September 28 and 29, 2021. The conference was held virtually from Ottawa by the Canadian Intergovernmental Conference Secretariat (CICS).

BC ORL Registrar Michael McEvoy chaired the meeting. He opened with a land acknowledgement, recognizing the traditional territories of the lək̓ʷəŋən speaking people. Butch Dick, master carver and educator from the Songhees First Nation, then provided a Traditional Welcome. In his Welcome, Elder Dick shared insights about the importance of transparency to being genuine in personal and community relationships.

The delegates shared recent jurisdictional developments and updates on legislative reforms and lobbying issues, and participated in two roundtables and a workshop. The first concerned lobbying and elections, especially relevant given recent and upcoming elections. Key discussion points focussed on questions and issues that can arise during an election writ period and jurisdiction-specific rules.

In other highlights Quebec’s Commissioner of Lobbying for Quebec, Jean-François Routhier, led a workshop session presented by representatives from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). The delegates considered contextual, conceptual, operational and technical challenges related to the implementation of the OECD recommendations of the OECD’s project entitled "Strengthening a culture of transparency and integrity in lobbying in Quebec."

The OECD session was followed by a roundtable discussion about social media and lobbying. Delegates examined the use of social media in lobbying; the kinds of social media communications that need to be registered; and the public, private and transitory nature of social media.

Registrar and Commissioner arrivals and departures

The LRCN acknowledged the appointment of Karen Shepherd, Integrity Commissioner for the City of Ottawa following the retirement of Robert Marleau, former Integrity Commissioner for the City of Ottawa as well as the departure of LeeAnn Montgomery and the appointment of Allison M. Whelan as Commissioner of Lobbyists for Newfoundland and Labrador.

Member attendees

• Office of the Registrar of Lobbyists – British Columbia
• Office of the Commissioner of Lobbying – Canada
• Office of the Ethics Commissioner – Alberta
• Office of the Registrar of Lobbyists – Saskatchewan
• Office of the Lobbyist Registry – Manitoba
• Office of the Integrity Commissioner – Ontario
• Commissaire au lobbyisme – Quebec
• Office of the Integrity Commissioner – New Brunswick
• Lobbyist Registrar – Toronto
• Lobbyist Registry – Ottawa
• Registry of Lobbyists – Newfoundland and Labrador

Guests

• Representatives from Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)