New Developments in Lobbying Law

Lobbying in British Columbia is fraught with legal and reputational risk. The province has one of the most expansive lobbying laws in North America. It also has one of the most aggressive regulators.

Under the British Columbia Lobbyists Transparency Act, lobbying is defined broadly as communicating with a "public office holder" in an attempt to influence a legislative proposal, bill, resolution, regulation, program, policy, directive, guideline, grant, financial benefit, outsourcing decision or privatizing decision.

It also includes attempting to influence "the awarding, amendment or termination of any contract". This broad provision means that many businesses and organizations that sell goods, services, or technology to the provincial government (or a provincial entity) are engaged in regulated “lobbying”.

The regulator has the ability to publish investigatory reports, to impose monetary penalties of up to $100,000, and to prohibit persons from communicating with the provincial government for up to two years. There has been a recent uptick in enforcement activity, following the COVID-19 pandemic. In its last two fiscal years, the regulator has conducted 3,329 compliance reviews, including numerous formal investigations. It also recently levied two of its largest penalties to date, against a pair of Chief Executive Officers who were found to have made inaccurate regulatory filings.

This presentation, delivered by members of our political law group, will provide an in-depth focus on legal and reputational risks. It will help your business or organization ensure it is compliance focused.

Topics

• Lobbyist registration requirements, including requirements related to the disclosure of foreign and domestic government funding
• Regulatory developments, including regulations on gifts and hospitality
• Ethical restrictions on lobbying, including restrictions on political activities, contingency fees, and conflicts of interest
• Enforcement trends, including updates on enforcement proceedings at the municipal, provincial, and federal levels of government

Recommended For

• Lobbyists
• In-House Counsel
• Government Relations Consultants
• Public Affairs Professionals
• Business Executives
• Salespeople

Agenda

• 08:00 AM | Registration & Continental Breakfast
• 08:30 AM | Presentation
• 10:30 AM | Q&A
• 11:00 AM | En