Ottawa’s lowered lobbying registration thresholds will reshape government relations

The implications are profound. Thousands of businesses and non-profits that were not registered will now fall under the federal lobbying regime.

Lobbying Commissioner Nancy Bélanger. The change to the 20-per-cent rule permits employees to spend significantly less time lobbying before registration is required, write Suzanne Sabourin and Michael Walsh.The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Opinion

BY SUZANNE SABOURIN, MICHAEL WALSH

January 26, 2026

As of Jan. 19, Canada’s federal lobbying landscape underwent its most significant shift in years. The decision of the Commissioner of Lobbying to lower the registration threshold from the long-standing “20 per cent rule” to a mere eight hours of lobbying activity in an...

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