Lobbyist Registry

Types of Lobbyists

There are three types of lobbyists that exist in Hamilton:

1. Consultant Lobbyist - an individual who lobbies for payment on behalf of a client (another individual, a business or other entity).
2. In-house Lobbyist - means an individual who is an employee, partner or sole proprietor, and who lobbies on behalf of his or her own employer, business or other entity.
3. Voluntary Unpaid Lobbyist - means an individual who lobbies without payment on behalf of an individual, business or other entity for the benefit of the interests of the individual, business or other entity.

Public Office holders

Public Office holders are:

• any members of City Council and any person on their staff
• any member of the City of Hamilton’s Senior Leadership Team

What is Lobbying?

The term Lobby means to communicate with a public officer holder about any of the following subject matters with the goal of advancing a business or financial interest:

• The development, introduction, passage, defeat, amendment or repeal of a City by-law, bill or resolution on any matter
• The development, approval, amendment or termination of a City policy, program, directive, guideline, including but not limited to a service delivery model
• The purchase of goods, services or construction and the award of a contract by the City
• The approval, approval with conditions, or refusal of an application for a service, grant, planning approval, permit or other licence or permission by the City;
• The award of any financial contribution, grant or other financial benefit by the City;
• The transfer to or from the City of any interest in or asset of any business, enterprise or institution;
• To arrange a meeting between a public office holder and any other person on any of the subject matters listed above

Lobbying is also extended to the cases of the hiring, promoting, demoting, disciplining or terminating of any member of the City’s Senior Leadership Team.

• The Lobbyist Registry is established and maintained by the Lobbyist Registry By-law No.14-244(PDF, 424.7 KB) and provides transparency about the lobbying of the City’s public office holders.
• Lobbyists should file only information that identifies them in their business and/or professional capacity. If personal information forms part of filed information, it may be used and/or disclosed as part of the Lobbyist Registry.
• Despite the Lobbyist Registrar’s responsibility to establish and maintain the Lobbyist Registry, it is always a lobbyist’s responsibility to ensure that all filed information is accurate. The Lobbyist Registrar may, at any time, edit or remove information filed by a lobbyist.
• The City does not make any representation or give any warranty about your use of the Lobbyist Registry, including without limitation that:
  • your transmission requirements will be met
  • your access will be uninterrupted, without delay or failure
  • the information contained in the Lobbyist Registry will be without error
  • no viruses or other technologically harmful material will be transmitted to you
  • no damage will occur to your receiving hardware or software
• The City is not liable for any loss arising from your use of the Lobbyist Registry.
• Lobbyists will require a password to file information. They are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of the password and for all activities that occur under that password. The Lobbyist Registrar is to be informed immediately of any unauthorized use of a password that comes to a lobbyist’s attention. The City is not liable for any loss arising from a lobbyist’s failure to maintain the confidentiality of their password or to report any unauthorized use of their password.

Complete the Lobbyist Registrar Inquiry form, if you would like the Lobbyist Registrar to conduct an inquiry. A $100 fee is required, but is refunded if the inquiry results in a prohibition from lobbying.

Lobbyist Registrar Inquiry Form(PDF, 20.89 KB)

Under the authority of the Municipal Act 2001 c. 223.9 and the City of Hamilton’s Lobbyist Registry By-law 14-244, personal information is collected for the purposes of administering the City of Hamilton’s Lobbyist Registry. Questions about the collection of personal information can be directed to the Program Coordinator, City Hall, 71 Main St. W., Hamilton, Ontario, L8P 4Y5, 905-546-2424 ext. 2190.