Lobbying commissioner proposes new rules — but critics aren't happy

Canada's lobbying commissioner is proposing a new set of guidelines on how lobbyists should conduct themselves when engaging with public officials. Some critics say the changes would gut the guidelines, while others say they go too far.

The proposed changes would set monetary limits on what lobbyists should offer officials in the way of gifts and food. They would also reduce the length of the "cooling-off" period — the period of time after a person leaves a politician's employ when they're not supposed to lobby that politician.

Lobbying Commissioner Nancy Bélanger told the House ethics committee earlier this month that she hopes these proposed guidelines provide "clarity" for lobbyists.

"Right now, the rules are simply not clear. And because they're not clear, it is very difficult to regulate, investigate and provide advice," she said.

Previous guidelines suggested that lobbyists should avoid offering gifts that officials are "not allowed to accept."

Bélanger is proposing that lobbyists should not offer gifts worth more than $40, with an $80 annual cap. The same guideline would apply separately to food and drinks.

The proposed guidelines would also set the cooling-off period at one to two years.

The current guidelines state that the waiting period is a "full election cycle," which can be as long as five years, said Bélanger.

Bélanger's proposals come as the federal government faces questions about outsourcing contracts and a number of ethical breaches.

Bélanger noted in her testimony that she received "passionate but widely divergent feedback" on her proposed changes.

Duff Conacher, co-founder of the advocacy group Democracy Watch, told the ethics committee last week that the proposed guidelines on political work aren't strong enough.

"The commissioner is gutting that rule entirely," he said.

Conacher pointed out that the proposed law does not prevent a person from lobbying an official while they work for them, as the rules state the cooling-off period would begin "the day after the political work ended."

Conacher also suggested that the guidelines wouldn't explicitly stop a person from fundraising for a politician or party while working for a candidate. He said he believes it would "systemically allow for rampant unethical lobbying."