Office of the Registrar of Lobbyists for British Columbia

On any given day in this province and across the country, lobbyists communicate with public office holders to try to persuade them to support certain causes.  Non-profit organizations lobby for increased funding for health care research and treatment, increased social security and changes to the judicial system.  Canadian businesses lobby for economic subsidies and changes to laws, regulations and trade agreements.  Labour organizations lobby for increases to the minimum wage, safer working conditions and changes to wokers' compensation benefits.  Through these conversations, public office holders receive information relevant to their decisions on meeting public policy goals.  Information provided by lobbyists gives a broad spectrum of interest groups the opportunity to have their points of view heard by decision-makers.

Lobbyists play an important role in promoting effective public decision-making.  Through lobbying, citizens and organizations can hire lobbyists to communicate their ideas and concerns to public office holders.  Lobbying can sharpen debate and improve decision-making by giving public office holders a wider range of evidence and advice to inform their decisions and promote the public interest.

The Lobbyists Registration Act recognizes that lobbying is a legitimate activity. The purpose of the Act is to ensure that lobbyists declare their activities and to provide public information about who is lobbying the government, on what subject matters and on whose behalf at any given point in time.

The educational material provided on this site is for guidance purposes only, and is not intended to be, and cannot be relied on, as legal or other advice. It is the responsibility of consultant lobbyists and senior officers of organizations to determine if they or their employees are lobbying, and to register accordingly.