From the memory pit of the Internet, recall the Progressive Conservative commitment on lobbying and lobbyists.
Don't try to go to the party website to find the commitments from the 2003 election. They've vanished as if they didn't exist. Thanks to the Internet, though, the promises have been preserved for posterity and the occasional use, like this one.
There was a consultation and then new legislation, which came into force on October 11, 2005. What's interesting is how the legislation has worked in practice. That's the subject of another post coming this weekend. 'Til then, here's the specific commitments from the 2003 general election:
A Progressive Conservative government will commission a process of public consultation to develop legislation for the registration of lobbyists operating in this Province.
The primary objectives of the legislation will be to:
- Establish a registry so the public will know who is lobbying and who is being lobbied.
- Require lobbyists to report their activities. It may also require those who hold public office to disclose circumstances in which they have been lobbied.
- Require lobbyists to file their general objectives and/or their specific lobbying activities.
- Differentiate between those who are paid to lobby government and those who represent volunteer or non-profit agencies.
- Impose significant penalties for those who violate these provisions.
-srbp-