Over the last few months, there have been significant
developments in lobbying, conflict of interest and political
financing regimes in Ontario, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and
at the federal level.
ONTARIO
Ontario's Integrity Commissioner has issued Interpretation Bulletin #11 (Interpretation
Bulletin) that spells out that office's interpretation of the
conflict of interest provisions in the Lobbyists Registration
Act, 1998 (Ontario Lobbying Act). That Interpretation Bulletin
indirectly imposes several requirements similar to the federal
Lobbyists' Code of Conduct.
Currently, the Ontario Lobbying Act provides that consultant and
in-house lobbyists are prohibited from placing public office
holders in real or potential conflicts of interest such that public
office holders would be found to violate certain conflict of
interest provisions in the Members' Integrity Act
(Integrity Act). The Ontario Lobbying Act also codifies that
certain conflict of interest
