Lobbyist Registry Survey

The City of Burlington is seeking input from the public on the future of a City lobbyist registry. The lobbyist registry is currently a voluntary list of businesses, individuals or groups who discuss matters with Council outside of Committee or Council meetings. The registry provides insights and accountability into which public partners have met on topics that may be relevant or impact Council’s decision making.

The current registry was established as a trial in 2022. Data from this trial, along with your valued input, will help determine how to shape and continually improve the registry and accountability measures of Council over the next four years. A report to Council to decide on the continuation of the lobbyist registry is anticipated for early Spring 2023.

Your participation in this survey is voluntary and individual responses will be kept confidential. Non-identifiable summaries of responses may be developed and shared publicly. For question regarding the collection, use and disclosure of this information, please contact kevin.klingenberg@burlington.ca You may read the Get Involved Burlington Protocols Privacy and Collection of Data Policy. Printed copied of the survey are available by contacting getinvolved@burlington.ca

Please let us know your level of agreement in the following questions or statements:

The City of Burlington should have a lobbyist registry based on how much the public will use the registry.

A lobbyist registry is important for local governance accountability and it does not matter if it gets used or not.

A lobbyist registry should list a business, group, or individual after they have met with a Council member to influence Council’s decision making.

A lobbyist registry should list a business, group, or individual before they have an interest in meeting with Council members to influence Council’s decision making.

Impacts of the Lobbyist Registry

Which statement best reflects how a business, group or individual should register with the lobbyist registry prior to meeting a Council member about matters that may influence a Council member’s decision at Council?

Voluntary with no enforcementVoluntary with a request for lobbyist to registerMandatory with lobbyist self-enforcementMandatory with enforcement

What level of staffing do you feel a lobbyist registry should have?

Reduce existing staff resources which will keep an internal registry available upon requestKeep existing staff resources which will allow a chart or spreadsheet to be posted to open data websiteIncrease existing staff resources which will allow a chronological list embedded into webpage Add staff resources which will allow for a website database that can be fully sorted, searched, and filtered

Which statement best reflects how a lobbyist registry should be administered when City staff or a Council member is approached by a lobbyist to have a meeting?

Administered by Council member(s)Administered by Council member’s officeAdministered by City staffAdministered by dedicated staffing to administer the registry

Please tell us your level of agreement. Do you think a lobbyist registry should list a business, group, or individual who have an interest in meeting with City staff to influence the use of city resource or staff recommendations to Council?

Subject Matter in a Lobbyist Registry

10.

Please tell us your level of agreement on whether the lobbyist registry should have the ability to classify different types of lobbyists, e.g. consultant lobbyist (payment on behalf of a client), in-house lobbyist (owner or employee on behalf of business) or voluntary unpaid lobbyist (without payment for their own, business, or an organizational benefit).

11.

Which statement best reflects how often a lobbyist should register when they meet a Council member?

Register each time they meetRegister once and indicate number of times met on that topicRegister once over an extended period up to a year on multiple topics

12.

Please tell us your level of agreement. Do you think dedicated financial resources and administrative staffing support should be allocated to administering a lobbyist registry?

13.

Which statement best reflects the level of detail a lobbyist registry should state?

Lobbyist choice – as broad or narrow subject as the lobbyist decidesStaff choice - Preset topics from a drop-down menu to selectStaff review – specific, clear, detailed topic of meeting required

14.

Please tell us your level of agreement. Do you think technology investments should be allocated to administering a lobbyist registry?

15.

Please tell us your level of agreement. Do you think a lobbyist registry should state if a Council member is being lobbied as a member of regional council, city council, mayor or deputy mayor, external or advisory committee/board member?

17.

Do you have any other comments or concerns about a lobbyist registry?