Saskatoon committee says city doesn't need to track people who are trying to influence decisions

Saskatooncity councillors haveunanimously agreed that the city should not create a lobby registry totrack people and groups trying to shape policy.

The city'sadministrationhad recommended the city should not create alobby registry. On Wednesday, the city'sgovernance and priorities committee voted in favour of thatsticking with the status quo.

The admin report presented to the committee, which iscomprised of the mayor and city councillors,defined lobbying as "the act of communicating with public office holders in an attempt to influence policy and other decisions."

A registry would require people or groupswho want to influence policy to register, which means theirlobbying activity would be tracked publicly.

The administrationsaid that if the city decided to create a registry, there would be a$100,000 startup feeand an annual cost of $115,000 per year to operate it.

Ward 5 Coun. Randy Donauer says council is held accountable through other city policies,like itspurchasing policy and code of conduct which admin also outlines in the report as a method of tracking those trying to wield influence.

"I don't think I've ever had anybody that I would call a lobbyist contact me," said Donauer.

"Of course, I'm talking to people all the time, and I'm always dealing with people that do have interests in the decisions that were being made, but I think there's a difference between that: being a resident and being a lobbyist."

The "status quo" recommendation will go on to a city council meeting at a later date for a final decision.

The report from administration said there is already federal and provincial legislation in place for lobbyist registries. It noted there are some communities in other provinces that have registries, but they are based on the provincial legislation.

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There is no provincial legislation for municipal lobbyist registries here in Saskatchewan.

However, in 2014the provincial government did pass Bill 120 or the Lobbyist Act. According to the Office of Registrar of Lobbyists Saskatchewan's (ORLS) website, "the Lobbyist Act for Saskatchewan serves to increase government transparency and accountability."

ORLS's website allows the public to view andtrack all lobbyists and public office holders in provincial government.