A one-time grace period for lobbyists to register in the Canadian territory of Yukon ended on January 13.

On October 15, the Canadian territory of Yukon’s new and first lobbying law came into force with the online Yukon Lobbyist Registry becoming live. All lobbyists were given a one-time only grace period of 90 days to understand their requirements and to register. Both consultant lobbyists and in-house lobbyists are required to register under Yukon’s lobbying law. As of January 12, four consultants and five in-house lobbyists have registered, according to the Yukon News.

Registration is required for individuals communicating with a public office holder, directly or through grassroots communications, in attempts to lobby. Additionally, a consultant lobbyist is required to register when arranging a meeting between a public office holder and any other person for the purposes covered by the Act.

Now, in-house lobbyists must register no later than 60 days after meeting the law’s threshold for registration. Consultant lobbyists must register no later than 15 days after starting an undertaking on behalf of a client.

Penalties for violations of the Lobbyist Registration Act include fines up to $25,000 for the first violation and up to $100,000 for each subsequent violation.

On October 15, the Canadian territory of Yukon’s new and first lobbying law came into force with the online Yukon Lobbyist Registry becoming live. Bill No. 23, the Lobbyists Registration Act, received Royal Assent on November 22, 2018, but only came into effect this year.

Consultant lobbyists and in-house lobbyists are required to register. Registration is required for individuals communicating with a public office holder, directly or through grassroots communications, in attempts to lobby. Additionally, a consultant lobbyist is required to register when arranging a meeting between a public office holder and any other person for the purposes covered by the Act.

There are two revolving door provisions in the Act. For the six-month period after ceasing to be in office, a former public office-holder is prohibited from lobbying as a consultant lobbyist, but he or she is not prohibited from immediately lobbying as an in-house lobbyist. Additionally, a consultant lobbyist is prohibited from becoming an employee of Yukon’s public service for six months after terminating her or her lobbyist registration. Penalties for violations of the Lobbyists Registration Act include fines up to $25,000 for the first violation and up to $100,000 for each subsequent violation.

As of October 16, the lobbyist registry does not have any registered lobbyists.

On October 1, the Yukon Legislative Assembly is scheduled to convene, having recessed in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

On March 19, the legislature adjourned its Spring Session earlier than the scheduled April 16 end-of-session date, while still staying late on its last day to complete consideration of Bill No. 203, a fiscal appropriation act for the territory.

“These are unusual times that call for unusual measures,” said Speaker Hon. Nils Clarke said in his press release.

Sometime in 2019 the Canadian territory of Yukon will have its first lobbying law. Bill No. 23, the Lobbyist Registration Act, received Royal Assent on November 22, 2018, but is not yet in effect. The Act will come into force on a day or days to be fixed by the Commissioner in Executive Council, likely in late 2019.

Upon the Act coming into force, consultant lobbyists and in-house lobbyists will be required to register. Registration will be required for individuals communicating with a public office holder, directly or through grassroots communications, in attempts to lobby. Additionally, a consultant lobbyist will be required to register when arranging a meeting between a public office holder and any other person for the purposes covered by the Act.

There are two revolving door provisions in the Act. For the six-month period after ceasing to be in office, a former public office-holder is prohibited from lobbying as a consultant lobbyist, but he or she is not prohibited from immediately lobbying as an in-house lobbyist. Additionally, a consultant lobbyist is prohibited from becoming an employee of Yukon’s public service for six months after the terminating of his or her lobbyist registration.

Penalties for violations of the Lobbyist Registration Act include fines up to $25,000 for the first violation and up to $100,000 for each subsequent violation.

The Government of Yukon is seeking public input for development of a mandatory lobbyist registry.

On August 6, the government issued a news release stating proposed legislation would cover both consultant and in-house lobbyists. The voluntary public survey is hosted by the Yukon Bureau of Statistics and is available until September 4. The survey is available online or on paper, by request. All public input remains confidential in accordance with the Statistics Act (Yukon).

If legislation concerning lobbying passes, Yukon would become the first Canadian territory with a lobbyist registry. Currently, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut also do not have lobbying laws. The federal government and all provinces in Canada have lobbyist registries.

On October 7, Premier Darrell Pasloski announced Yukon’s general election to elect the 34th Yukon Legislative Assembly will be held on November 7, 2016. Pasloski also directed Yukon’s Commissioner Doug Philips to dissolve the 33rd Legislative Assembly and to issue the writs of election.

The November election period will extend from October 7, the date the writ was issued, to the return date of the writ, which will occur on Monday, November 14.

On May 26, the 2016 spring sitting of the first session of the 33rd Yukon Legislative Assembly adjourned. Neither Bill 104, the Paid Lobbying Act, nor Bill 107, the Act to Amend the Elections Act with Respect to Political Contributions, were passed by the Assembly.

The spring sitting commenced on April 7, 2016. No future session is currently scheduled. The Legislature will likely meet again in the spring of 2017.

Photo of the Yukon Legislative Assembly by US Mission Canada on Wikimedia Commons.

The fall session of the 33rd Yukon Legislative Assembly, which convened on October 23, adjourned on December 18, 2014.

Bill 104, the Paid Lobbying Act, did not progress past the first reading.

The fall sitting of the first session of the 33rd Yukon Legislative Assembly will convene on Thursday, October 23, 2014.

The assembly will adjourn on a date to be determined.

The first session of the 33rd Yukon Legislative Assembly, which convened on March 25, adjourned on May 15, 2014.

The Legislative Assembly is scheduled to reconvene later this year.

The session dates will be announced two weeks before the session begins.

A new bill introduced in the Yukon 33rd Legislative Assembly would create a lobbying law for the territory.

Introduced on April 9 by MLA Liz Hanson, Leader of the Opposition New Democratic Party, the proposed legislation creates a registrar position to establish and maintain the lobbyist registry. Bill 104 mandates a consultant lobbyist must file the first return within 10 days of an undertaking. An in-house lobbyist must file his or her first return within 60 days after becoming an in-house lobbyist. Subsequent returns must be filed biannually.

The bill also creates a cooling off period before former public officials could lobby the government.