Lobbyist Registration ActFor-profit corporations and larger non-profit groups often appoint official lobbyists skilled in the ways and means of influencing government. These lobbyists must register in accordance with the Lobbyist Registration Act. Amendments to the Act made in early 1996 keep closer tabs on lobbying activities and define more clearly when periodic pressuring by interest groups becomes formal lobbying. To aid in drawing this line, the Act differentiates among three types of lobbyists: paid individuals who lobby on behalf of clients, called Consultant Lobbyists; employees of corporations who lobby as a significant part of their duties, called In-House Lobbyists (Corporate); and senior officials of organizations who spend a significant part of their time lobbying, called In-House (Organization). Significant is defined as anything greater than twenty percent. As long as your interest group or company does not pay an in-house or out-of-house individual to lobby on your behalf, or if you do not have an individual who spends more than twenty percent of their time lobbying, you are not required to register. For more information on lobbyist registration requirements, visit the Lobbyist Registration section of Industry Canada's Strategis Web site at http://strategis.ic.gc.ca/sc_mrksrv/lobbyists/engdoc/homepage.html.
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