Lobbying Oversight Programs Are Hot in Canada

When it comes to local lobbying oversight, cities are falling like flies. At least in Canada.

According to an article yesterday on the Vancouver, BC Metro News website, the city council voted unanimously to look into establishing a lobbying registry and hiring an independent ombuds, apparently to run the registry and more. This follows the vote to establish a lobbying registry in Hamilton, and the establishment of lobbying registries in Toronto and Ottawa.

I wish the news were as good in the U.S. Here the best news is that the chapter of my book Local Government Ethics Programs on lobbying (along with a Model Lobbying Code) should be done and online by the end of January, if all goes well.