Belleville doesn’t have a lobbyist registry

Municipal lobbyist registries are optional in Ontario, but a growing number of municipalities have implemented one to provide a public record of meetings or communications that interested parties have had with government officials and/or senior staff members about a subject that they have an incentive to influence.

Implementing a registry is of Councillor Carr’s priorities for 2022-2026:

Reintroduce my motion for the creation of a Lobbyist Registry to ensure transparency at City Hall.

Councillor Carr

October 23, 2017 – Mayor Christopher apologizes to Councillor McCaw, Councillor Carr and Councillor Panciuk for suggesting theyr had been illegally lobbied

Councillor Panciuk rose on a point of personal privilege and was recognized by the Chair. Councillor Panciuk was addressing comments from the previous Council meeting dealing with a Lobbyist registry made by His Worship Mayor Christopher that seemed to imply that Councillor
Panciuk and Councillor McCaw suggested Councillor Carr had been illegally lobbied and/or that they had been illegally lobbied. Councillor
Panciuk sought a ruling that this was a point of personal privilege and asked for an apology from His Worship Mayor Christopher. The Chair
recognised the point of personal privilege but stated there would be no apology as an apology was not warranted. Councillor Panciuk challenged
the ruling of the Chair. A brief discussion on procedure ensued. The Chair retracted his earlier comments and a 60 minute recess was called. Upon returning from the recess, His Worship Mayor Christopher issued an apology to Councillor McCaw, Councillor Carr and Councillor Panciuk.

October 10, 2017 – Belleville City Council rejects lobbyist registry

Belleville rejected considering the addition of a lobbyist registry in a motion raised to ask staff to investigate forming a lobbyist registry to track what groups or businesses are approaching council, was defeated 5-4.

Councillor Denyes noted that of more than 444 municipalities in Ontario, only 4 had registries.

MOVED by Councillor Carr

WHEREAS a Lobbyist Registry is a tool that provides accountability and transparency to lobbying activities by giving the public access to
information about who is communicating with public office holders;

AND WHEREAS section 223.9 of the Municipal Act, 2001 authorizes the City of Belleville to establish and maintain a Lobbyist Registry in
which shall be kept registrations and returns filed by persons who lobby the City of Belleville public office holders;

AND WHEREAS section 223.11 of the Municipal Act, 2001 authorizes the City of Belleville to appoint a Lobbyist Registrar who is responsible
for performing in an independent manner the functions assigned by the City of Belleville with respect to the Lobbyist Registry;

AND WHEREAS section 8, 9 and 10 of the Municipal Act, 2001 authorizes the City of Belleville to pass by-laws necessary or desirable for municipal purposes, and in particular paragraph 2 of subsection 10(2) authorizes by-laws respecting the accountability and transparency of the municipality and its operations;

AND WHEREAS the Council of the City of Belleville is committed to good governance and to continually act in the best interest of all residents, abiding by our Mission Statement and Core Values,

NOW THEREFORE, the Council of the City of Belleville supports the establishment and maintenance of a Lobbyist Registry to provide transparency about persons who lobby the City of Belleville; and,

The Council of the City of Belleville directs staff to draft a report for Council’s consideration no later than the second regular Council meeting in November 2017 that clearly explores a range of options for the regulation of lobbying activities with the goal of selecting the model best suited for the City of Belleville; and, That each option identify the timeframe to successfully implement the Lobbyist Registry and the resources required.

Members of Council spoke on this resolution and a Recorded Vote was requested.

YEAS:
Councillor Boyce
Councillor Carr
Councillor McCaw
Councillor Panciuk

NAYS:
Councillor Denyes
Councillor Graham
Councillor Miller
Councillor Thompson
Mayor Christopher

YEAS: In total number of (4) four
NAYS: In total number of (5) five
The resolution – FAILED –