Advocacy Requirements
University employees interface with the federal, provincial, regional and municipal government officials and staff in the course of conducting university business. Many of these jurisdictions have transparency legislation which require compliance from university employees. We are here to help you make sure that you are in compliance with such legislation.
Lobbying requirements vary at the federal, provincial and municipal levels of government.
Any lobbying as defined below MUST be reported to us immediately following the lobbying activity.
Information by Level of Government
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Federal
The federal government defines lobbying as:
Lobbying is communicating, with public office holders, for payment with regard to:
- the making, developing or amending of federal legislative proposals, bills or resolutions, regulations, policies or programs;
- the awarding of federal grants, contributions or other financial benefits
Who are Designated Public Office Holders (DPOH):
The sub-category of designated public office holders (DPOH) includes Ministers, Ministers of State, ministerial staff, senior public officials such as Deputy Ministers, and Associate and Assistant Deputy Ministers (including those of comparable rank), as well as the following prescribed positions:
- Members of Parliament
- Senators
- Any position on the staff of the Leader of the Opposition in the House of Commons or on the staff of the Leader of the Opposition in the Senate, that is occupied by a person appointed pursuant to subsection 128(1) of the Public Service Employment Act
- Chief of the Defence Staff
- Vice Chief of the Defence Staff
- Chief of Maritime Staff
- Chief of Land Staff
- Chief of Air Staff
- Chief of Military Personnel
- Judge Advocate General
- Any position of Senior Advisor to the Privy Council to which the office holder is appointed by the Governor in Council
- Deputy Minister (Intergovernmental Affairs) Privy Council Office
- Comptroller General of Canada, and
- Any position to which the office holder is appointed pursuant to paragraph 127.1(1)(a) or (b) of the Public Service Employment Act
Any lobbying of Designated Public Office Holders as defined and listed above needs to be reported to the Government Relations Office. UOIT is required to file monthly communications reports of all lobbying activity (who was lobbied, about what subject matter and on what date) with the Commissioner of Lobbying. If you have a communication to report or any questions regarding this, please don’t hesitate to contact the Government Relations Office.
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Provincial
The Provincial government defines lobbying as:
Lobbying occurs when a paid individual communicates with a public office holder in an attempt to influence:
- the development of any legislative proposal by any member of the Legislative Assembly;
- the introduction, passage, defeat or amendment of any bill or resolution;
- the making or amendment of any regulation;
- the development, amendment or termination of any policy or program;
- any decision about privatization or outsourcing;
- the awarding of any grant, contribution or other financial benefit by or on behalf of the Crown;
Who are Public Office Holders:
- Cabinet Ministers, Members of Provincial Parliament and their staff;
- virtually all public servants unless otherwise exempted by regulation;
- officers, directors and employees of provincial government agencies, boards and commissions;
- persons appointed to office by Order-in-Council;
- a member of the Ontario Provincial Police;
- an officer, director or employee of,
- Ontario Power Generation Inc. and each of its subsidiaries, or
- Independent Electricity System Operator
Any lobbying of Public Office Holders as defined and listed above needs to be reported to the Government Relations Office. UOIT is required to ensure provincially that our lobbying activities are in compliance with our registration with the Office of the Integrity Commissioner. If you have a communication to report or any questions regarding this, please don’t hesitate to contact the Government Relations Office.
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Regional/Municipal
At present, no registration or reporting of lobbying activities is required in the Region of Durham, Northumberland County or their lower-tier municipalities. If any lobbying is conducted within another municipality, please consult with the Government Relations Office to review any reporting obligations that may exist (e.g. Toronto).
