Guidance Documents

The Office of the Registrar of Lobbyists (ORL) publishes guidance documents to provide information and promote compliance with the Lobbyists Transparency Act (LTA).

To view specific categories or topics of documents, use the Topic filter to sort by All, General, Consultant Lobbyists, Organizations, or User Guide.

The Glossary of Terms contains definitions to key terms and language found in our guidance materials. The definitions are provided for information only. Definitions provided in an official document, such as an Act or Regulation, will, of course, take precedence. 

Please note these documents are provided for information only and are not considered to be legal advice or other advice by the ORL. Responsibility for compliance with the law rests with each organization and consultant lobbyist.
May 27, 2025 Government Funding General, Consultant Lobbyists, Organization This guidance document is intended to help lobbyists understand what is meant by the term “governmen ... more This guidance document is intended to help lobbyists understand what is meant by the term “government funding” and the associated reporting obligations.
May 27, 2025 Working Together for the Purpose of Lobbying General, Consultant Lobbyists, Organization This guidance document outlines the reporting requirements under section 4(1)(h) of the Lobbyists Tr ... more This guidance document outlines the reporting requirements under section 4(1)(h) of the Lobbyists Transparency Act (LTA). This section requires Designated Filers to report the names and business addresses of clients or organizations with whom they work for the purpose of lobbying and have a direct interest in the outcome of the lobbying activity.
May 27, 2025 Sample Questionnaire for Consultant Lobbyists' Clients Consultant Lobbyists, User Guide This is a template consultant lobbyists or their clients can customize to meet their own circumstanc ... more This is a template consultant lobbyists or their clients can customize to meet their own circumstances. The information in the questionnaire will become public information once the information is entered in a Registration Return submitted to the Office of the Registrar of Lobbyists for BC. Email addresses will not be publicly available unless noted.
May 27, 2025 Sample Questionnaire for Organizations that are Lobbying Organization, User Guide This is a template an organization can customize to meet its own circumstances. Use of this form to ... more This is a template an organization can customize to meet its own circumstances. Use of this form to collect information is not mandatory; however, a tool such as this may form part of the standard of due diligence expected of filers.
May 27, 2025 Non-Profit Organizations General, Consultant Lobbyists, Organization This guidance document is designed to help non-profit organizations better understand their obligati ... more This guidance document is designed to help non-profit organizations better understand their obligations under the Lobbyists Transparency Act (LTA) and accompanying Regulation.
May 27, 2025 Getting Started - Reference Guide General, Consultant Lobbyists, Organization This guide answers common questions about lobbying in BC, including when and how lobbyists need to r ... more This guide answers common questions about lobbying in BC, including when and how lobbyists need to register with the BC Lobbyists Registry. The guide provides a brief overview of the provisions of the current legislation and regulation governing lobbying in BC, together with an explanation of the most commonly-used features of the Lobbyists Registry. You must refer to the provisions of the Lobbyists Transparency Act (LTA) and the Lobbyists Transparency Regulation for the legal requirements.
May 27, 2025 Registration Returns - New and Reactivations Consultant Lobbyists, Organization, User Guide This guide is specifically to help you create and submit a new Registration Return and how to reacti ... more This guide is specifically to help you create and submit a new Registration Return and how to reactivate an inactive (previously ended) Registration Return. This user guide also provides instructions on how to end a Registration Return if lobbying has ceased.
May 27, 2025 Monthly Returns - Registration Return Updates and Lobbying Activity Reports Consultant Lobbyists, Organization, User Guide This guide is specifically to help you create and manage Monthly Returns, including Registration Ret ... more This guide is specifically to help you create and manage Monthly Returns, including Registration Return Updates and Lobbying Activity Reports. For assistance on creating or reactivating your Registration Return, see the user guide Registration Returns - New and Reactivations.
May 27, 2025 Quick Reference Guide for Representatives Consultant Lobbyists, Organization, User Guide Quick Reference Guide for Representatives
May 27, 2025 Funding Returns General, Consultant Lobbyists, Organization, User Guide This user guide provides an overview of the Funding Return requirements for consultant lobbyists and ... more This user guide provides an overview of the Funding Return requirements for consultant lobbyists and organizations with active Registration Returns in the BC Lobbyists Registry. It provides step-by-step directions on creating, reviewing, editing and submitting Funding Returns.
Sep 20, 2024 Political, Sponsorship, and Recall Contributions General, Consultant Lobbyists, Organization This guidance document explains the Lobbyists Transparency Act (LTA) requirements for lobbyists in r ... more This guidance document explains the Lobbyists Transparency Act (LTA) requirements for lobbyists in relation to political contributions, sponsorship contributions, and recall contributions. To promote transparency, the LTA requires that lobbyists must declare political, sponsorship, and recall contributions made by themselves, and by a small group of clients, in specified circumstances.
Sep 20, 2024 How to Report Political Sponsorship and Recall Contributions in the Lobbyists Registry General, Consultant Lobbyists, Organization This guidance document outlines key considerations for lobbyists when reporting political, sponsorsh ... more This guidance document outlines key considerations for lobbyists when reporting political, sponsorship and recall contributions in the Lobbyists Registry, reflecting recent updates to the Registry. It builds on earlier guidance on Reporting political, sponsorship, and recall contributions.
Jun 07, 2024 Lobbyist Gifts and Other Benefits General, Consultant Lobbyists, Organization This guidance document explains the gift-giving prohibition in the Lobbyists Transparency Act (LTA), ... more This guidance document explains the gift-giving prohibition in the Lobbyists Transparency Act (LTA), the limited exception to this prohibition, and the reporting requirements related to gifts.
Mar 05, 2024 Guidance for Lobbyists During an Election General, Consultant Lobbyists, Organization This guidance document explains the Lobbyists Transparency Act (LTA) requirements for lobbyists duri ... more This guidance document explains the Lobbyists Transparency Act (LTA) requirements for lobbyists during an election.
Feb 06, 2024 Account Management Consultant Lobbyists, Organization, User Guide This guide is specifically to help organizations file their Registration Returns. For information on ... more This guide is specifically to help organizations file their Registration Returns. For information on re‐activating an account from the previous Lobbyists Registry, please see the user guide on Re‐activating an Account and Registration from the Previous Lobbyists Registry.
Oct 06, 2022 Exemption Process for Former Office Holders General, Consultant Lobbyists, Organization This guidance document outlines what the Registrar will consider when adjudicating applications for ... more This guidance document outlines what the Registrar will consider when adjudicating applications for exemptions from the lobbying prohibition for former public office holders under section 2.3 of the Lobbyists Transparency Act (LTA).
Sep 07, 2022 Accessing Information in the Lobbyists Registry Consultant Lobbyists, Organization, User Guide Citizens, journalists, organizations, and members of the public can find a wealth of freely accessib ... more Citizens, journalists, organizations, and members of the public can find a wealth of freely accessible information in the Registry. This guide helps readers understand what information is available in the Registry and provides examples on how to search the Registry to access that information.
May 05, 2022 Public Office Holders and the Lobbyists Transparency Act General, Consultant Lobbyists, Organization This guidance document answers some common questions public office holders have about lobbying in BC ... more This guidance document answers some common questions public office holders have about lobbying in BC, explains some of the prohibited lobbying activities, and provides best practices for public office holders engaging with lobbyists.
Dec 10, 2021 Provincial Entities General, Consultant Lobbyists, Organization This document provides guidance on the term “Provincial entity” as it is used in the Lobbyists Trans ... more This document provides guidance on the term “Provincial entity” as it is used in the Lobbyists Transparency Act (LTA).
May 27, 2020 Registrar of Lobbyists: Guide to Investigations General, Consultant Lobbyists, Organization This guide outlines steps that the Office of the Registrar of Lobbyists (ORL)1 takes under the Lobby ... more This guide outlines steps that the Office of the Registrar of Lobbyists (ORL)1 takes under the Lobbyists Transparency Act (LTA) in conducting investigations of apparent non-compliance with the LTA and the Lobbyists Transparency Regulation.
Apr 30, 2020 Tracking Lobbying Activities: Consultant Lobbyists Consultant Lobbyists, User Guide This is a document to assist organizations with tracking lobbying activities. Use of this form to co ... more This is a document to assist organizations with tracking lobbying activities. Use of this form to collect information is not mandatory.
Apr 30, 2020 Tracking Lobbying Activities: In-house Lobbyists Organization, User Guide This is a document to assist in-house lobbyists with tracking lobbying activities. Use of this form ... more This is a document to assist in-house lobbyists with tracking lobbying activities. Use of this form to collect information is not mandatory.
Apr 22, 2020 Procurement General, Consultant Lobbyists, Organization This guidance document explains the difference between marketing to government and lobbying of publi ... more This guidance document explains the difference between marketing to government and lobbying of public office holders.
Apr 22, 2020 Business Relationships: Affiliates and Others with an Interest in Lobbying Activities General, Consultant Lobbyists, Organization This guidance document explains the reporting requirements set out in the Lobbyists Transparency Act ... more This guidance document explains the reporting requirements set out in the Lobbyists Transparency Act (LTA) that require lobbyists to declare information about third parties that may be influencing the lobbying activities of a client or organization.
Mar 03, 2020 How to Register and Report Your Lobbying Activities Consultant Lobbyists, Organization, User Guide If you are paid to lobby BC public office holders , you must register your lobbying activities in th ... more If you are paid to lobby BC public office holders , you must register your lobbying activities in the Lobbyists Registry at the Office of the Registrar of Lobbyists. Follow the steps below to register.
Feb 20, 2020 Glossary of Terms General, Consultant Lobbyists, Organization This glossary of terms contains definitions of commonly used terms within the Lobbyists Transparency ... more This glossary of terms contains definitions of commonly used terms within the Lobbyists Transparency Act (LTA) guidance documents and the new BC Lobbyists Registry.
Feb 06, 2020 Codes of Conduct General, Consultant Lobbyists, Organization This guidance document explains the Lobbyists Transparency Act (LTA) reporting requirements for rele ... more This guidance document explains the Lobbyists Transparency Act (LTA) reporting requirements for relevant codes of conduct.
Feb 06, 2020 Organizations General, Organization This guidance document provides an overview for organizations with in-house lobbyists under the Lobb ... more This guidance document provides an overview for organizations with in-house lobbyists under the Lobbyists Transparency Act (LTA).
Aug 24, 2016 Payment and Reimbursement General, Consultant Lobbyists, Organization Am I lobbying if I am only being reimbursed for my expenses? Find out in this advisory bulletin.