On December 9, the Legislative Assembly of Ontario passed an omnibus bill that includes changes to the province’s Lobbyists Registration Act, 1998.

Schedule 8 of Bill 8, the Accountability and Transparency Act, gives the Ontario Integrity Commissioner as Lobbyist Registrar more enforcement power for violations. Individuals found in violation can be prohibited from lobbying for up to two years. Among other changes, the bill creates a 50 hour per year threshold of lobbying activity to meet the Act’s definition of in house lobbyists.

Schedule 8 comes into force on a day to be named by proclamation of the Lieutenant Governor.

Photo of the Ontario Legislative Assembly Building by Andrijko Z. on Wikimedia Commons.