AG looks at new lobbyist legislation for B.C. as early as fall

British Columbia Attorney General Wally Oppal says he's open to changing the province's laws governing lobbyists and could have legislation for politicians to debate by the fall.

"I have said since I got here that I think the (Lobbyist Registration) Act needs to be reviewed, and I think maybe changes need to be made," said Oppal.

"I would like to think if there is a fall session, maybe we could get something done for the fall or in the spring. It is something that's clearly on my radar."

Oppal was reacting to calls for tough new lobbyist standards by Opposition Leader Carole James in the wake of a guilty plea last week by a former top aide to Premier Gordon Campbell.

Ken Dobell, Campbell's former deputy minister and a civil servant with a clean 40-year record of public service, was granted an absolute discharge after admitting he breached the lobbyist rules by failing to register.

He also avoided being charged with violating federal lobbyist regulations by agreeing to write an essay on being a lobbyist.

James said she'll be introducing a private members' bill within weeks that includes a call for a two-year ban on former government officials and bureaucrats from lobbying the province.

Former ministers currently have such a two-year ban.

"This is an opportunity for government to actually say they care about ethics in government," James said.

James's proposed new law would prohibit all lobbying activities for people convicted of violating the act, expand the investigative powers of the province's Information and Privacy Commissioner, and extend the current conflict of interest laws to cover all government appointees.

The NDP law would also require all public officials to disclose their interactions with registered lobbyists.

"I've really seen that under Premier Gordon Campbell there are two sets of rules — one for the general public and one for his friends and people who work for him.

So I'm not optimistic but I think that it's important that we continue to provide opportunities for government to do the right thing and actually bring back accountability in government."

Oppal rejected most of James's suggested changes, saying the New Democrats did nothing to strengthen lobbyist rules during their tenure as government during the 1990s.

"I have asked for suggestions from the Opposition and so far we have received none," said Oppal.

"We are working with (Information and Privacy Commissioner) David Loukidelis and so far, what he has said is that we need to educate and work with the industry and not stigmatize the idea of lobbying."

Oppal rejected outright the two-year ban on lobbying activities for former government bureaucrats and officials.

"That's really ridiculous," Oppal said.

"When the NDP are saying that, what they are doing is they are criticizing the judge for what he did in the Dobell case. The judge characterized it as a trivial, technical breach, and I would prefer to leave any future conduct to a judge who finds someone guilty of these cases," Oppal said.

"The moment you start putting no lobbying for two years you're introducing inflexibility into the system, and that isn't what we need."

There are many things that can be done to improve that act, "but that isn't one of them," he added.

Violation of provincial lobbyist laws carry a fine of up to $25,000.

Failure to meet the registration provisions of federal lobbyist regulations can result in fines up to $25,000 and or jail sentences of up to six months.

Penalties under the lobbyist regulations can reach $100,000 and or jail sentences of two years.

Under federal rules, people who are paid to communicate with federal public office holders are required to register under the Lobbyist Act, and they have 10 days to report new lobbying activity.

Last May, the B.C. New Democrats filed complaints about Dobell, alleging he violated the federal act three times.