Brampton launches lobbyist registry

Bramptonguardian.com
Jan. 5, 2016
By Peter Criscione

Brampton City Hall has launched a new municipal lobby registry to make public who is paid to influence City decisions.

The City’s new lobbyist and gift registry officially took effect Jan. 1 and will provide a record of people lobbying members of council and City staff. It will also provide as an official log of gifts, benefits and hospitality of $50 or more.

The lobbyist registry places Brampton among a handful of municipalities in Canada to have such a registry (Ottawa and Hamilton are also have such lists), and fulfills a key election promise for Mayor Linda Jeffrey.

“Since taking office, this council has strived to make Brampton more transparent and accountable to its citizens,” said Jeffrey in a media release, adding the lobbyist and gift registries underline council’s “commitment to conducting city business in an open manner.”

The City’s Integrity Commissioner, Robert Swayze, will serve as the interim lobbyist registrar.

Under new guidelines, the registrar has the power to approve or deny registrations, investigate complaints and sanction lobbying activity that breaks the rules.

So far, the City has received no registrations. According to staff, once an application is received it will take three to five business days for approval and public posting.

Members of council will receive an annual report from the registrar summarizing complaints, investigations, advice and recommendations for improvements to the accountability process.