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.

Year
Topic
Date Title Topic Summary
May 15, 2023 Government Funding General This guidance document is intended to help lobbyists understand what is meant by the term “government funding” and the associated reporting obligations.
Apr 19, 2023 Monthly Returns - Registration Return Updates and Lobbying Activity Reports User Guide This guide is specifically to help you create and manage Monthly Returns, including Registration Return Updates and Lobbying Activity Reports. For assistance on creating and updating your Registration Return, see the user guides on Consultant Lobbyist Registration Returns and Organization Registration Returns.
Mar 13, 2023 Lobbyist Gifts and Other Benefits General 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.
Feb 07, 2023 Non-Profit Organizations General This guidance document is designed to help non-profit organizations better understand their obligations under the Lobbyists Transparency Act (LTA) and accompanying Regulation.
Oct 27, 2022 How to Report Government Funding in the Lobbyists Registry General This guidance document outlines key considerations for lobbyists when declaring government funding in the Lobbyists Registry, whether updating previously declared government funding or declaring funding for the first time.
Oct 27, 2022 Getting Started - Reference Guide General 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.
Oct 27, 2022 Organization Registration Returns User Guide This guide is specifically to help you create and manage Registration Returns. For assistance on Monthly Returns, including Lobbying Activity Reports, please see the user guide on Monthly Reports and Lobbying Activity Reports.
Oct 27, 2022 Consultant Lobbyist Registration Returns User Guide This guide is specifically to help you create and manage Registration Returns. For assistance on Monthly Returns, including Lobbying Activity Reports, please see the user guide on Monthly Reports and Lobbying Activity Reports.
Oct 06, 2022 Exemption Process for Former Office Holders General 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 General 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 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 This document provides guidance on the term “Provincial entity” as it is used in the Lobbyists Transparency Act (LTA).
Oct 21, 2021 Account Management User Guide 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 21, 2021 Accounts and Registrations from the Previous Registry User Guide This is a guide for the following individuals with an existing account in the new Lobbyists Registry: Each consultant lobbyist who had a registration accepted in the BC Lobbyists Registry between 2010 and May 4, 2020; and the most recent designated filer for an organization that had a registration accepted in the BC Lobbyists Registry between 2010 and May 4, 2020.
Oct 21, 2021 Quick Reference Guide for Consultant Lobbyists User Guide A reference guide for consultant lobbyists.
Oct 21, 2021 Quick Reference Guide for Organizations User Guide A reference guide for organizations.
Oct 21, 2021 Quick Reference Guide for Representatives User Guide Quick Reference Guide for Representatives
Sep 09, 2021 Coalitions General This guidance document explains the Lobbyists Transparency Act (LTA) and BC Lobbyists Registry reporting requirements with respect to coalitions.
Oct 26, 2020 How to Report Political Sponsorship and Recall Contributions in the Lobbyists Registry General 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.
Sep 23, 2020 Guidance for Lobbyists During an Election General This guidance document explains the Lobbyists Transparency Act (LTA) requirements for lobbyists during an election.
Sep 22, 2020 Political, Sponsorship, and Recall Contributions General 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.
May 27, 2020 Registrar of Lobbyists: Guide to Investigations General 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 Sample Questionnaire for Consultant Lobbyists' Clients General 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.
Apr 30, 2020 Tracking Lobbying Activities: Consultant Lobbyists General This is a document to assist organizations with tracking lobbying activities. Use of this form to collect information is not mandatory.
Apr 30, 2020 Sample Questionnaire for Organizations that are Lobbying General 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.
Apr 30, 2020 Tracking Lobbying Activities: In-house Lobbyists General 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 Business Relationships: Affiliates and Others with an Interest in Lobbying Activities General 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 General 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 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 This guidance document explains the Lobbyists Transparency Act (LTA) reporting requirements for relevant codes of conduct.
Feb 06, 2020 Organizations General This guidance document provides an overview for organizations with in-house lobbyists under the Lobbyists Transparency Act (LTA).
Oct 23, 2019 Procurement General This guidance document explains the difference between marketing to government and lobbying of public office holders.
Aug 24, 2016 Payment and Reimbursement General Am I lobbying if I am only being reimbursed for my expenses? Find out in this advisory bulletin.