Collingwood could have a lobbyist registry in place by January 1, 2020, if the rollout continues as planned.
At a Strategic Initiatives Committee meeting yesterday, members of council voted to begin a public and stakeholder consultation on the lobbyist registry. The vote will still need to be ratified by council, which could take place as early as Nov. 13.
Deputy Clerk Becky Dahl presented the existing lobbyist registry plan to the committee at yesterday’s meeting.
The lobbyist registry is a result of a council request made in 2017 to find ways to enhance accountability and transparency in Collingwood.
In August 2019, the town hired an accountability officer, whose first major task was to research the creation and implementation of a lobbyist registry for Collingwood.
A lobbyist registry would require anyone contacting staff or council person in an attempt to move an item forward for financial return to make their intentions and employer/contractor known in writing.
The registry would be publicly available and include information such as the name of the lobbyist, their title and business information. It would also include notes on the subject matter or issue being discussed and with whom it is being discussed.
A lobbyist is anyone who will be attempting to move an item (such as a purchase or project) forward for financial return (direct or indirect) by contacting the municipality outside of regular approval processes, according to Dahl’s presentation.
Lobbyists can be consultants, or can be employed by a company or business. The registry will also require volunteer or unpaid lobbyists to submit their information.
“The initiative is about being open and transparent about our actions and communications with the public and any interested parties,” said Dahl in her presentation.
She included several examples of lobbying.
A vendor inviting staff or council members to an information session promoting their product over something the town is currently using, a developer meeting with council to discuss the benefits of building a casino in Collingwood, were two examples cited in her report.
CAO Fareed Amin said Collingwood will be the first municipality of its size to undertake the implementation of a lobbyist registry.
“Lobbying isn’t wrong,” said Amin, adding the examples cited in Dahl’s report are examples of things that are “appropriate.”
“The intention is to bring transparency to the process,” he said.
According to the roll-out plan presented at the meeting, the registry will be out for public consultation for November, and council will have the option to approve the registry and bylaw in December.
For the first six months, beginning Jan. 1, 2020 the registry would be fully implemented with no penalties enforced to allow for education.
Proposed penalties are as follows:
- First contravention: prohibited from lobbying for 30 days
- Second contravention: prohibited from lobbying for 60 days
- Third or subsequent contravention: penalty greater than 60 days to be determined by the registrar.
The Collingwood Judicial Inquiry has included evidence and testimony that delves into the lobbying efforts of Paul Bonwick, the former mayor Sandra Cooper’s brother, on behalf of PowerStream and BLT Construction. Both paid Bonwick a fee for his lobbying and both were successful bidders for the town. PowerStream purchased 50 per cent of Collingwood’s electric utility, and BLT Construction was awarded the contract to build Central Park Arena and Centennial Aquatic Centre.
By June 2020, the program will be reviewed and any recommendations from the outcome of the Collingwood Judicial Inquiry could be added.
Under the proposed lobbyist registry plan, anyone holding a public office will be responsible to remind a lobbyist of the requirement to register, and to check the registry periodically to flag unrecorded activity.
Click here to read the full report from town staff on the proposed lobbyist registry.
