What is “communication” for the purposes of the Act?
Communication, in the context of the Act, involves verbal (e.g., arranged meetings, phone calls, informal communication, and grass-roots communications) or written (hard copy or electronic format) contact with a public office holder. The reporting regime is intended to be comprehensive and transparent to ensure that the Canadian public knows who communicates with public office holders and which interests they represent. Government-initiated activities that fall within the definition of communication include round-table discussions and other types of advisory and stakeholder consultations on policy proposals. In cases where the communications take place in an open forum in which the subject matters, the names of participants and the name of the government organizations represented are a matter of public record, registration would not be required. With advisory and stakeholder consultations, where industry and other participants exchange views with POHs on broad-based, horizontal issues,
