Member’s Statement: Implementing the NB Lobby Registry

On May 21st, 2014 the Lobbyist Registration Act received royal assent in New Brunswick, however it has not been proclaimed. The federal lobbyist registry has been revealing a large increase in lobbying following the federal election, effectively providing transparency about who is lobbying whom in Canada. When I asked the premier about proclaiming our registry at Estimates committee he indicated that we were working with Nova Scotia on this initiative. We don’t have to reinvent the wheel. Mr. Speaker, the lobbyist registry act went from royal assent to commencement in Nova Scotia in a mere 18 months. It has been 23 months since our legislation has received royal assent. It is time to act.