By Pepper Parr
December 12th, 2023
BURLINGTON, ON
The City will have a new lobbyist registry ByLaw effective Monday, Jan. 1, 2024. The new bylaw provides transparency about individuals and organizations who lobby City of Burlington public office holders.
The lobbyist registry was updated through a bylaw approved by City Council on July 11, 2023 and includes:
- A move from volunteer to mandatory registration of applicable lobbying activities. All lobbyists must file a registration for each matter they intend to lobby prior to the lobbying, or within fifteen days of the initial communication.
- An expanded definition of lobbying communication that includes 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 an informal setting.
- The addition of the Burlington Leadership Team as a part of the lobbyist registry, along with City Council, as public office holders.
- The appointment of the City Clerk as the Lobbyist Registrar to centralize and improve efficiency of registry administration.
- Limited enforcement of the bylaw: Where a person has contravened any of the provisions in the bylaw, they will be prohibited from lobbying activities until an information and education meeting with the Lobbyist Registrar is held. For a second offense, lobbying activities will be prohibited for 60 days.
The City’s lobbyist registry is available online at burlington.ca. A new registration form and webpage updates will be made to reflect the bylaw once it takes effect in January 2024.
Kevin Klingenberg, Deputy Clerk: “The new Lobbyist Registry ByLaw will help ensure greater transparency in the local government decision-making process. Lobbying is a legitimate activity. It benefits lobbyists, public office holders and members of the public. This new registry ensures the process is transparent, centralized for cost-effectiveness, and easy to access by the public.”
