The head of the group representing lobbyists across the country says recent directives from Lobbying Commissioner Karen Shepherd regarding lobbyist-hosted receptions could negatively affect an important source of input for government officials.
This lobbyist said that the giving of gifts to government officials, for the most part, is a throwback to 1950s-style lobbying. Yet, he said buying someone a coffee or a meal, or things that are “standard business courtesy,” should not be restricted.
“If I invite you for coffee and pay for the coffee, that’s just common courtesy,” he said. “No one’s going get bought off a coffee; it’s stupid.”
It’s not supposed to make sense. It’s supposed to demonstrate that no one trusts lobbyists, “gov’t officials” or politicians.
As a side note, the headline writer should be taken out back of the wood shed for using the word, ‘czar’.
It’s a lot like gilding a lily. Canada already has the world’s most stringent rules about lobbying, gifts and the like. Albinati is right; the notion that a government legislator can be bought for attendance at a reception is absurd.
Unlike most other countries, Canada already has rules in place that require all lobby organizations AND individuals to register AND to identify all meetings with government officials AND the topics discussed. The United States and the EU are sinks of invisible corruption by contrast.
It should also be noted that there are no constraints on government to lobby for their pet causes. As shown by the command performance by Alberta oil industry execs lining up behind the Premier last month to ‘celebrate’ Alberta’s new global warming initiatives.
And yes, importing the American slang ‘czar’ is an abomination.
The name “lobby” is nothing more than a synonym for “special interest” That’s why there should be even stricter directives on them, especially when they speak to that other sewer of special interests called government. Follow the bucks.
It isn’t just coffee is it? It’s junkets and fishing trips and god knows what else. There needs to be zero tolerance.
Thank you the net for letting us recognize what is taking place locally and internationally. We mistakenly blame our forefathers for supporting the dastardly regime however they do not have the benefit of the internet and they had been fed rubbish, spins, lies and slanders by the past media.