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ARTICLE · 16 JUNE 2023

Changes To Lobbyists' Code Of Conduct Will Impact Those Who Communicate With Federal Government

The Code will apply equally to employees and officers who lobby on behalf of an employer and to consultants and contractors who lobby, for payment, on behalf of a client.

CanadaMedia, Telecoms, IT, Entertainment

Significant changes to the Lobbyists' Code of Conduct ("Code") will come into force on July 1, 2023. These changes will impact all businesses and organizations that lobby the federal government, including those who lobby on grants, contributions and financial benefits.

The Code will apply equally to employees and officers who lobby on behalf of an employer and to consultants and contractors who lobby, for payment, on behalf of a client. The former are known as in-house lobbyists; the latter are consultant lobbyists.

Clarification of Ban on Communications with "Close Relationships"

Rule 4.1 of the new Code will prohibit a lobbyist from lobbying1 a public office holder if the public office holder "could reasonably be seen to have a sense of obligation towards" the lobbyist due to a "close relationship."2 A "close relationship" is now defined as:

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