Types of Lobbyists
What type of lobbyist are you?
There are three types of lobbyists under the Lobbyists Registration Act, 1998. The rules and requirements differ, depending on the type. You are encouraged to read the Act and familiarize yourself with the rules.
Consultants
A consultant lobbyist is a person who is paid to lobby on behalf of a client. Within specified time limits, he/she must register when he/she begins lobbying for a client, when information previously submitted changes, and when the lobbying activity is terminated or completed. Consultant lobbyists typically include government relations staff, lawyers, accountants and other professionals who provide lobbying services to their clients.
The term “paid” includes money or anything of value, or a contract, promise or agreement to pay money or anything of value.
A client can be a person, partnership or organization on whose behalf a consultant lobbyist undertakes to lobby.
A consultant lobbyist must file a separate registration for each client.
In-house lobbyist (Persons and Partnerships)
An in-house lobbyist (persons and partnerships) is an employee, paid director, group of employees or group of paid directors who collectively spend at least 50 hours in a calendar year lobbying on behalf of the person and partnership (for-profit entity).
The senior officer must file a registration for the person and partnership (for-profit entity) and list the in-house lobbyist(s) within the registration. Within specified time limits, the registration must be filed when the in-house lobbyist(s) meet the 50-hour threshold, when information previously submitted changes and when the in-house lobbyists are no longer lobbying or are no longer employed by the person and partnership (for-profit entity).
The following are specifically excluded from being in-house lobbyists:
Officers of the Assembly who are appointed on the address of the Assembly and individuals employed in the office of such officers.
Public servants as defined under the Public Service of Ontario Act, 2006.
Other classes of employees of Crown agencies as may be prescribed.
In-house lobbyist (Organizations)
An in-house lobbyist (organizations) is an employee or group of employees who collectively spend at least 50 hours in a calendar year lobbying on behalf of a not-for-profit organization.
The senior officer must file a registration for the organization and list the in-house lobbyist(s) within the registration. Within specified time limits, the registration must be filed when the in-house lobbyist(s) meet the 50-hour threshold, when information previously submitted changes and when the in-house lobbyists are no longer lobbying or are no longer employed by the not-for-profit organization.
The following are specifically excluded from being in-house lobbyists:
Officers of the Assembly who are appointed on the address of the Assembly and individuals employed in the office of such officers.
Public servants as defined under the Public Service of Ontario Act, 2006.
Other classes of employees of Crown agencies as may be prescribed.