Ottawa Sun
Published: Saturday, January 15, 2011

Lobbying for lobbyists

According to Anthony Furey’s Jan. 11 column, to quote his offensive word, as a lobbyist, I’m “retarded.” 

His sophomoric scribbles went on to assert that lobbyists are failed dudes with “no skills” who “ring up cabinet ministers” to encourage them to bend regulations “for the gain of someone’s overseas stock portfolio.” 

For most of my adult life I have worked as a registered lobbyist for taxpayers, the bio-pharmaceutical sector, and corporate clients. My actions — like those of other registered lobbyists who I know (colleagues and competitors) have been ethical and legal. And I’m very proud of the volunteer lobbying and advocacy that I have done on behalf of local hospitals, health charities, and community organizations over the years with a fair degree of financial, program and infrastructure success. 

Contrary to the fiction of Mr. Furey, the conduct of consultant lobbyists or in-house lobbyists who work for corporations, unions, business, industry associations, universities, interest groups and charities is neither salacious nor unethical as he gratuitously generalizes.

A mere minute of research would have directed him to the federal Lobbying Act preamble, which states that “lobbying public office holders is a legitimate activity.” And a cursory comprehension of the history of representative democracy would have led him back in time to the Magna Carta (1215), in terms of the rights of nobles’ vis-à-vis King John or to England’s Bill of Rights (1689), which asserted subjects’ right to petition the monarch.

Representing interests and advocating ideas — whether individually, in a group or by proxy through lobbying — is democracy in action and the manifestation of our constitutional freedoms of expression and association. Canada’s 21st century democracy is far more robust than that of 13th or 17th century England. More than 400,000 Canadians work for the feds across 177 departments, agencies, boards, commissions, and crown corporations. Our parliamentary decision-makers number more than 400. Meanwhile, senior public servants include 25 deputy ministers, 56 chairpersons, 126 assistant deputy ministers, 304 executive directors and at least 520 directors general. So it is understandable, if not inevitable, that citizens and groups — from companies to arts groups to environmental activists — enlist the expertise of lobbyists to help achieve their objectives.

Objectives that range from: Development of legislative proposals; amending bills before the House or Senate; changing regulations, federal policies or programs; awarding of grants or contributions; government procurement; or arranging a meeting with a public office holder. These activities are legal and reportable on a publicly accessible website that lists lobbyists, their clients, and their communications with government officials. 

And this work does not happen in backrooms. Lobbyists devote countless hours to monitoring Question Period or committees, scanning the media, filing Access to Information requests, participating in client strategy sessions, attending issue-specific and/or industry conferences and trade shows along with drafting correspondence, legislative submissions, and media materials.

The fantasy that lobbyists — regardless of their politics or former positions — are opening doors in the corridors of official Ottawa is ludicrous. It’s an insult to Parliamentarians and an odious affront to the independence and professionalism of our public servants whose ethical conduct is the envy of nations the world over. 

Before Mr. Furey writes again, he should base his opinion in something more defensible than delusion and diatribe. But hey, I’m just a failed dude with no skills.

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Walter Robinson is a principal with Tactix Government Relations and Public Affairs and has worked in the lobbying/advocacy sphere for most of his adult life.