Can a lobbyist ever become Canada’s commissioner of lobbying?

An internal hire from within government such as a current assistant deputy minister or promoting from within the current office could be the safest bet, but if the political courage can be found, a former lobbyist may excel at the role, especially with a bureaucracy now firmly established.

Karen Shepherd, right, pictured with The Hill Times' Marco Vigliotti. Her term was set to expire in December but she was extended six months, which means that there was ostensibly no suitable candidate to replace her. Still, Shepherd, to her credit, has not asked for an extension beyond her current one and in order for the office to take the next step, mature and evolve, a new commissioner is needed.The Hill Times photograph by Sam Garcia

Opinion

BY MATT TRIEMSTRA

January 30, 2017

As the Liberal government begins 2017, they were supposed to do so with a new commissioner of lobbying at the helm. Karen Shepherd’s term was set to expire in December but she was extended six months, which means that there was ostensibly no suitable candidate to replace her. Still, Shepherd, to h...

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