Office of the Registrar of Lobbyists for British Columbia

To many people, the term “lobbying” has become something of a dirty word. There is a common and inaccurate perception that lobbying is unethical and damaging to healthy government. The truth is, lobbying is a fundamental part of the political decision making process.

Politicians and public servants cannot be expected to know and understand all of the angles of any issue. Lobbyists bring valuable information and expertise to the decision-making process.Public agencies often seek outside advice and opinion in the form of public consultations, legislative committees and other public forums. The difference with lobbyists is that they provide input on issues of interest to their client or employer, for payment.

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.