The Lobbyist Registry is an accountability and transparency tool that documents communication between eligible individuals who lobby City of Burlington Council Members and senior staff (public office holders) in a centralized registry. This ensures greater transparency in the decision-making process.
Under Burlington's Lobbyist Registration Policy eligible lobbyists are required to:
- Register themselves as a lobbyist
- Submit the subject matter(s) they intend to discuss with public office holder(s)
Lobbyists are required to register their lobbying activity within 15 business days of their meeting with a public office holder.
View our Lobbyist Registry By-Law for more information.
Types of Lobbyists
There are three types of lobbyists that exist in Burlington:
- Consultant Lobbyist - an individual who lobbies for payment on behalf of a client (another individual, a business or other entity).
- In-house Lobbyist - means an individual who is an employee, partner or sole proprietor, and who lobbies on behalf of his or her own employer, business or other entity.
- Voluntary Unpaid Lobbyist - means an individual who lobbies without payment on behalf of an individual, business or other entity for the benefit of the interests of the individual, business or other entity.
Public Office holders are City Council members, Directors, Executive Directors and the City Manager.
Register as a Lobbyist
Complete the online form to register as a lobbyist or determine if you need to register as a lobbyist. All applications will be reviewed and applicants will be notified about the status of their submission.
Register as a Lobbyist...
Registered Lobbyists
Lobbyist Registry Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is lobbying? |
| The term Lobby means communicating with a public office holder by an individual who represents a business or financial interest with the goal of trying to influence legislative action, such as the development, introduction, passage, defeat, amendment or repeal of a bylaw, motion, resolution or the outcome of a decision on any matter before Council or a Committee of Council. |
Why register as a lobbyist? |
| Lobbying is a legitimate activity that benefits not only lobbyists, but public office holders and members of the public as well. The benefits of lobbying are lost, however, when they take place behind closed doors. The nature of lobbying is representing a business or financial interest with the goal to trying to influence legislative action. |
Who should register as a lobbyist? |
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Anyone who engages in lobbying must register. This includes paid employees, partners, or sole proprietors of any organization who lobby on its behalf (in-house lobbyist), individuals who lobby for payment on behalf of a client (consultant lobbyist) and individuals who lobby without payment on behalf of a business or for-profit entity. Who is exempt from registering as a lobbyist?
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