On April 11, a bill was introduced in the Alberta Legislative Assembly to amend the providence’s lobbying laws. Bill 11, Lobbyists Amendment Act, 2018, lowers the threshold required for lobbyist registration from 100 hours per year spent lobbying to 50 hours. The proposed amendments also ban contingency lobbying but allow a consultant lobbyist who has entered into a contingency agreement before the law takes effect to received contingency payments until either the agreement expires or 24 months after the bill takes effect, whichever is earlier.

The legislation would also prohibit a consultant lobbyist or organizational lobbyist, during lobbying activities, to give any gift to a public office holder, being or intended to be lobbied, that would place the public office holder in a conflict of interest under the office holder’s own ethics rules.

Authority for additional administrative financial penalties for contraventions of the lobbying laws are included in the bill. The amount of an administrative penalty is determined by the registrar, who considers factors such as the severity of the contravention, the degree of willfulness or negligence in the contravention, any history of non-compliance, and whether the person who received the notice of administrative penalty has received an economic benefit because of the contravention.

Additionally, the bill creates new definitions for “public office holder” and “former public officer holder.”

The bill is being sponsored by MLA Christina Gray, who represents the provincial election district for Edmonton-Mill Woods.

A bill was introduced in the National Assembly of Quebec to amend the legislature’s ethics law. The amendments to the Code of Ethics and Conduct of the Members of the National Assembly (MNA) (chapter C-23.1) would provide an Ethics Commissioner inquiry report be produced within 90 days of the date on which an inquiry began, with allowances for extensions.

The bill also entitles a lawmaker who is the subject of an inquiry report to request a review committee be established to examine the report before it is tabled in the National Assembly. The review committee, which would be composed of three persons and chaired by a Court of Appeal judge designated by that court’s chief judge, could approve or revise the inquiry report.

The private bill, which was introduced on March 21 by MNA Claude Surprenant, an Independent representing the provincial electoral district of Groulx in the Laurentides region of Quebec, also mandates the committee must hear from both the investigated member and from the ethics commissioner. The bill also establishes the procedure for tabling the review report in the National Assembly.

On March 7, former Manitoba premier Greg Selinger will officially resign from provincial politics. Selinger announced his resignation amid allegations of MLA Stan Struthers’s inappropriate behavior while Selinger was leader of the party.

A special by-election for Selinger’s St. Boniface constituency MLA seat will be called by Premier Brian Pallister in the next six months, as required by law. Pallister will not commit to calling the by-election before summer, according to the Winnipeg Free Press.

Pictured: Former Manitoba Premier Greg Selinger

2018 will bring lobbying laws to Prince Edward Island, the only remaining province in Canada without them.

Bill No. 24, the Lobbyist Registration Act, was passed during the Third Session of the 65th General Assembly of the Prince Edward Island Legislative Assembly and has already received Royal Assent. This Act will come into force on a date fixed by proclamation of the Lieutenant Governor in Council, which historically takes several months in order for the province to set up an Office of the Lobbyist Registrar.

Upon the Act coming into force, consultant lobbyists, in-house lobbyists, and employers of in-house lobbyists will be required to register with the Registrar when communicating with a public office holder, directly or through grassroots communications, in an attempt to influence them on a variety of issues.

Additionally, a consultant lobbyist will be required to register when communicating with a public-office holder to influence the awarding of any contract by or on behalf of the Crown or arrange a meeting between a public-office holder and any other person. Registrants will be required to file returns with this Registrar every six months detailing any relevant subject matters lobbied, including legislative and regulatory proposals, the techniques of communication the lobbyist has used or expects to use to lobby, the employer or client for which the registrant is lobbying, and the identification of entities or persons paying more than $750 per fiscal year to the registrant to lobby.

Lobbying on a contingency fee basis is prohibited for consultant lobbyists and former public office holders are prohibited from lobbying for a period of six months after leaving office. Penalties for violations of the Act include fines up to $25,000.

Canada’s three territories still do not have laws regulating lobbying.

On January 18, a lawsuit was filed challenging Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s recent appointments to head the ethics and lobbying sections of the Canadian government.

The lawsuit, filed by Democracy Watch, a non-profit Canadian organization concerned with government accountability, alleges the Cabinet failed to consult with the opposition party, as required by law, before making the appointments. The lawsuit also asserts the Cabinet has a conflict of interest because of ongoing ethics investigations, which prevent it from legally allowing the appointments.

On January 9, Mario Dion was selected to replace Mary Dawson, whose term had expired, as Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner. On November 30, Trudeau nominated Nancy Bélanger as the next Commissioner of Lobbying. Bélanger replaced Karen Shepherd, who occupied the position through term extensions following the expiration of Shepard’s seven-year term in June 2016.

Democracy Watch’s press release is available here.

On February 14, a by-election will be held for Kelowna West electoral district seat of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia.

The seat has remained vacant since August 4 of last year when MLA Christy Clark resigned to leave politics after leading the British Columbia Liberal Party from 2011 to 2017.

Premier John Horgan announced the date for the special election on January 17.

On December 13, a bill was entered in the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick prohibiting sitting lawmakers from engaging in lobbying in New Brunswick or elsewhere during and for 12 months after their tenure in office.

Additionally, after a member is first sworn in, the member would be prohibited from being employed in or entering into a personal service contract with a business or organization engaging in lobbying in New Brunswick or elsewhere. The prohibition to lobbying for the 12 months after leaving office applies to “lobbying in New Brunswick or elsewhere in relation to a matter having a real and substantial connection to New Brunswick.”

Bill 38, An Act to Amend the Members’ Conflict of Interest Act, also creates a detailed definition of lobbying, which includes communications with public office holders in attempts to influence legislative proposals, public bills, grants, and other matters, arranging meetings between public office holders of any jurisdiction and another person, and communicating with public office holders in an attempt to influence the awarding of government contracts.

On December 11, it was announced Mario Dion, chair of the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, would replace Mary Dawson as Canada’s Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner. Dawson’s appointment as commissioner was to have ended in the summer of 2016, but her term had been repeatedly extended by the government.

The announcement was made in the House of Commons by Government House Leader Bardish Chagger. Dion’s appointment still needs to be confirmed by a vote of the House.

Besides administering the federal conflict of interest laws for public office holders and members of the House of Commons, the Office of the Conflict and Ethics Commissioner provides confidential advice to the prime minister about conflicts of interest and ethics issues.

Pictured: Incoming Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner Mario Dion.

On December 5, Elections Canada announced a by-election for the House of Commons will be held for the seat for Chicoutimi–Le Fjord (Quebec). The seat was vacated by MP Denis Lemieux, who announced his plan to resign in November for family reasons.

On December 4, Stéphane Perrault, Acting Chief Electoral Officer of Canada, received official notice from the Speaker of the House of Commons that the seat was vacant. Canadian law requires the date of this by-election be announced between December 15, 2017, and June 2, 2018, which will signal the start of the by-election period.

On November 30, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced the nomination of Nancy Bélanger as the next Commissioner of Lobbying.

Bélanger, if approved by the House of Commons and the Senate, will replace Karen Shepherd as the head of The Office of the Commissioner of Lobbying. Shepard currently occupies the position through term extensions following the expiration of Shepard’s seven-year term in June 2016.

Bélanger’s has previously held the position of General Counsel for the Office of the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner.

On December 14, a provincial by-election will be held for the Member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta (MLA) seat representing the Calgary-Lougheed electoral division.

MLA Dave Rodney resigned from the Legislative Assembly earlier this fall to create a vacancy for Jason Kenney, the new United Conservative Party leader.

Kenney, in turn, is now currently running for that MLA seat. Advance voting at the polls begins on December 6.

On November 21, the first sitting day of the 5th Legislative Assembly of Nunavut, all members of the legislature were sworn in, followed by formal confirmations of the appointments of the new speaker, premier, and Executive Council.

On November 17, the Nunavut Leadership Forum, which consists of all MLAs, had acclaimed Joe Enook, MLA for Tununiq, as speaker and elected Paul Quassa, MLA for Aggu, as premier. On the same day, the following MLAs were elected to the Executive Council: David Akeeagok, Pat Angnakak, Jeannie Ehaloak, David Joanasie, Lorne Kusugak, Joe Savikataaq and Elisapee Sheutiapik.

The premier has the prerogative to assign ministerial portfolios.

On November 17, the 2017 Nunavut Leadership Forum will meet to select the speaker, premier, and members of the Executive Council. The selection will be made by secret ballot by all 22 Nunavut Legislative Assembly Members (MLAs), who were all recently elected this fall.

A vote for the speaker will be the first order of business, according to a press release by the Legislative Assembly’s Caucus. The Speaker-Elect will preside over the remainder of the proceedings, beginning with the election of the premier. Nominated candidates will be permitted to deliver formal speeches and MLAs who are not candidates will be permitted to ask questions.

The forum will be held in the Chamber of the Legislative Assembly, will be open to the public to observe from the Visitors’ Gallery, and will be televised live across the territory on local community cable stations and direct-to-home satellite services. The caucus has decided the Executive Council, also called the Cabinet, will consist of eight members (the premier and seven ministers).

The Legislative Assembly’s Caucus announced the date and format for the forum on November 14. The swearing-in ceremony for MLAs and the confirmations of the appointments will take place on November 21, the first sitting day of the 5th Legislative Assembly.

On November 17, the 2017 Nunavut Leadership Forum will meet to select the speaker, premier, and members of the Executive Council. The selection will be made by secret ballot by all 22 Nunavut Legislative Assembly Members (MLAs), who were all recently elected this fall.

A vote for the speaker will be the first order of business, according to a press release by the Legislative Assembly’s Caucus. The Speaker-Elect will preside over the remainder of the proceedings, beginning with the election of the premier. Nominated candidates will be permitted to deliver formal speeches and MLAs who are not candidates will be permitted to ask questions.

The forum will be held in the Chamber of the Legislative Assembly, will be open to the public to observe from the Visitors’ Gallery, and will be televised live across the territory on local community cable stations and direct-to-home satellite services. The caucus has decided the Executive Council, also called the Cabinet, will consist of eight members (the premier and seven ministers).

The Legislative Assembly’s Caucus announced the date and format for the forum on November 14. The swearing-in ceremony for MLAs and the confirmations of the appointments will take place on November 21, the first sitting day of the 5th Legislative Assembly.