Council moves ahead with lobbyist registry

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This article was published 27/05/2015 (3812 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Winnipeg city hall is moving ahead with plans to establish a lobbyists registry.

Council unanimously supported a plan to instruct the administration to prepare a report outlining the required legislative amendments that would need to be made to the City of Winnipeg Charter Act.

Coun. Jenny Gerbasi said establishing a lobbyists registry is one step necessary to hold members of council accountable, along with creating the position of ethics commissioner.

A lobbyists registry would be an online data base of individuals — including professional consultants, business and union officials, members of community groups — approaching politicians and senior civic issues on particular issues.

The report is based on a review carried out by the City Auditor’s department, which reviewed lobbyists registries existing in other municipalities and levels of government.

Gerbasi, who presented the report to council, said she is hopeful the province will enact the necessary legislative changes.

“This is a very positive step to restore trust and faith in city hall,” Mayor Brian Bowman said.

 aldo.santin@freepress.mb.ca