GRIC Submission to House of Commons ETHI Committee

Government Relations Institute of Canada (GRIC) Submission ETHI Review of the Lobbying Act

Executive Summary:

The Lobbying Act’s (“Act’) preamble states the following:

WHEREAS free and open access to government is an important matter of public interest;
AND WHEREAS lobbying public office holders is a legitimate activity;
AND WHEREAS it is desirable that public office holders and the public be able to know who is engaged in lobbying activities;
AND WHEREAS a system for the registration of paid lobbyists should not impede free and open access to government;

The preamble explicitly affirms that lobbying is a legitimate and essential component of a healthy democratic system – one that contributes to informed public decision-making while  safeguarding free and open access to government.

The Act’s central objective is balance: promoting transparency and accountability without impeding the ability of Canadians, organizations, and stakeholders of all sizes to engage meaningfully with public office holders. This principled approach distinguishes Canada’s framework from jurisdictions that lack comprehensive lobbying legislation or rely on voluntary, fragmented, or uneven disclosure systems.

Against this backdrop, given the robustness of Canada’s existing framework, any amendments to the Act should be guided by proportionality and evidence. Reforms that prioritize meaningful transparency and clarity will best preserve the openness, accessibility, and democratic engagement that the Lobbying Act was designed to protect. GRIC’s recommendations are grounded against such a backdrop.