Departmental results report 2024-25
Office of the Commissioner of Lobbying of Canada
Commissioner's message
In 2024-25, an average of over 6,000 registrations were active each month in the Registry of Lobbyists, with more than 8,800 active lobbyists throughout the year. Additionally, registrants filed over 31,000 communication reports on oral and arranged lobbying of Canada’s top-level federal government officials, including parliamentarians.
Disclosure through the Registry enables the public to learn who is lobbying federal organizations and officials about federal laws, policies, programs and other matters regulated by the Lobbying Act. This transparency is paramount.
Several updates to the Registry were implemented in 2024-25, including requiring greater transparency in communication reports, enabling online requests for Code rule exemptions, and making it possible for registrants to make corrections to past versions of registrations.
To enhance accurate filing and compliance, I issued new interpretation in September 2024 for identifying who qualifies as a designated public office holder and for clarifying which public submissions are excluded from the Lobbying Act.
Beyond interpretation, many elements of the Lobbying Act need to be reformed so the Registry of Lobbyists and the Lobbyists’ Code of Conduct can be more effective and fully meet their purposes. Modern and rigorous lobbying standards contribute to a healthy democracy.
My team and I continue to identify a number of changes for parliamentarians to consider for a long overdue update of the Lobbying Act, including:
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requiring registration by default of all employers whose employees lobby on their behalf, as is already the case for consultants lobbying on behalf of a client
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introducing new, proportionate enforcement options to deal with non-compliance, including mandatory training, administrative monetary penalties and time-limited lobbying bans
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making everyone who lobbies subject to the Lobbyists’ Code of Conduct, which is not currently the case for some employees of corporations who lobby
I am at the ready to support parliamentarians in considering these and other updates to the Lobbying Act. I am pleased that the Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics intends to study the Lobbying Act and propose updates, as outlined in a motion passed in September 2025.
Recently, in July 2025 I issued new interpretation of the Lobbying Act’s use of the term “significant part” in relation to the registration threshold for employers – effectively requiring any corporation or organization to register after its employees collectively perform 8 or more hours of lobbying in any 4 consecutive weeks. The new interpretation takes effect in January 2026.
I also note that the Treasury Board Secretariat has recently confirmed that it intends to assess the Lobbyist Registration Regulations for possible updates.
As stated in my annual report, my team is available to contribute to the identification of regulatory update opportunities — with a focus on themes including greater transparency, filing efficiencies and reducing complexity.
As always, I am supported by a team of exceptional professionals, with our current resourcing enabling up to 36 full-time employees. I remain grateful for their unwavering dedication to lobbying transparency, ethics and compliance.
I am pleased to present this report, which provides information about our mandate, our results and the administration of the Lobbying Act throughout 2024-25.
Nancy Bélanger
Commissioner of Lobbying of Canada
October 2025
What we do
Our vision
Lobbying of federal officials is done transparently and ethically.
Raison d’être and operating context
Our Office exists to support the Commissioner of Lobbying in regulating lobbying at the federal level in Canada. The Commissioner is an independent agent of Parliament and reports directly to parliamentarians.
Mandate and role
Canada's federal lobbying framework sets requirements and standards for the transparent and ethical lobbying of federal officials.
We support the Commissioner of Lobbying in administering the Lobbying Act and the Lobbyists’ Code of Conduct.
Our primary responsibilities include:
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maintaining and enhancing the Registry of Lobbyists
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developing and offering education and information resources to expand awareness and understanding of the lobbying framework and compliance obligations
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conducting compliance work that supports respect of the Lobbying Act and the Lobbyists’ Code of Conduct
Why transparent and ethical lobbying matters
When done transparently and ethically, lobbying is legitimate work and can support officials in making informed decisions.
Regulated lobbying and the Registry
35+ years of transparency
Since 1989, legislation has required disclosure of regulated lobbying done at Canada’s federal level on behalf of clients or employers.
28+ years of ethical rules
The Lobbyists’ Code of Conduct sets behaviour standards for registered lobbyists and works alongside the ethical frameworks that apply to federal officials.
Regulated lobbying is
Communicating with federal officials
directly (written, oral) or indirectly (appeals to the public)
About a regulated matter
legislative proposal, bill or resolution, regulation
(developing, introducing, passing, defeating, amending)
policy or program
(developing, amending)
applies to lobbying done for a client or employer
grant, contribution or other financial benefit
(awarding)
contract
(awarding)
arranging a meeting between a federal official
and any other person
only applies to lobbying done for a client
For a client
for money or anything of value
- or -
For an employer
in performing work-related duties
Consultant lobbyists
Each consultant must register by default after agreeing to lobby, without exception
In-house / employee lobbyists
Employer registers once collective lobbying reaches the employer registration threshold
Registry of Lobbyists
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the public and searchable database of all registered lobbying
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enables transparency and provides statistics as well as access to reports and customizable alerts
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when filing, consultant lobbyists and employer registrants must:
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provide registration details identifying the full scope and context of the lobbying work, with this information kept current every month whenever it is no longer accurate or comprehensive
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submit filings every month detailing oral, arranged lobbying of designated public office holders (communication reports)
2024-25 results
Results at a glance
The following describes high-level results in relation to priorities, plans and associated costs outlined in our 2024-25 departmental plan.
Key priorities
Our 2024-25 plans supported good governance and trust in government institutions.
Throughout the year, we continuously strengthened lobbying regulation by:
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maintaining and enhancing the Registry of Lobbyists, the searchable source of regulated lobbying and related information filed in accordance with the Lobbying Act
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providing registration support and sharing appropriate advice with stakeholders
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ensuring stakeholders have access to clear guidance
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expanding awareness and understanding of the lobbying framework and compliance obligations through education
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verifying that registrants, lobbyists and former designated officials are compliant with federal lobbying requirements
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conducting investigations when necessary to determine whether the Lobbying Act and the Lobbyists’ Code of Conduct are respected
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sharing our regulatory expertise with Canadians, parliamentarians and regulatory peers (domestic and international) to help foster effective lobbying standards
In addition, we maintained a work environment enabling excellence and delivering value to Canadians. We nurtured collaboration, innovation and respect and supported our team in being knowledgeable, skilled, engaged and productive.
Highlights for 2024-25
Total actual spending was $6.09 million. Approximately 76% of this spending funded the equivalent of 33 employees working on our mandate and internal services.
Our sole core responsibility — the regulation of lobbying — supports our strategic results, which are as follows:
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lobbyists, registrants, federal officials and the public understand the federal lobbying framework
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registrants report regulated lobbying in the Registry of Lobbyists as required by the Lobbying Act
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regulated individuals respect federal lobbying requirements
To fulfill our core responsibility, we spent $4.22 million (about 69% of total spending) on a single unified program focused on registration, education and compliance. Approximately 86% of the money spent on our core responsibility went towards salaries and benefits for the equivalent of 24 employees to deliver our program. These employees work directly on the Registry of Lobbyists, registration support, education and compliance.
More detailed information is available under Spending and human resources.
| Table 1 — Summary of most notable achievements in 2024-25 | |
|---|---|
| Registration |
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| Education |
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| Compliance |
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More results information is available under Regulation of lobbying.
Regulation of lobbying
Reflecting the Lobbying Act’s mandate, we organize our work around a single core responsibility delivered through one program:
Core responsibility:
Regulation of lobbying
Program:
Registration, education and compliance
Description
The federal lobbying framework sets requirements and standards for the transparent and ethical lobbying of federal officials. The Commissioner of Lobbying with the support of the Office administers the Lobbying Act and the Lobbyists’ Code of Conduct.
Our primary responsibilities include:
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maintaining and enhancing the Registry of Lobbyists
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expanding awareness and understanding of the lobbying framework and compliance obligations through education
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conducting compliance work that supports respect of federal lobbying requirements
Quality of life impacts
Canada’s Quality of Life Framework enables the federal government to identify priorities and to build on previous actions to improve decision making and budgeting.
The framework recognizes the importance of all individuals having their fundamental rights and freedoms respected, being able to participate in civil society, and knowing that their voices are being heard. Having public institutions that are trusted to function effectively and treat all people impartially can help people in Canada feel safe and access the services they need.
Results linked to the regulation of lobbying relate most closely to the framework’s confidence in institutions indicator, under the good governance category.
Results, indicators and targets
Indicators and results — actual and planned — for our 3 strategic results areas :
| Indicator | 2022-23 result |
2023-24 result |
2024-25 target |
Date to achieve |
2024-25 result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Change in level of understanding reported by participants after an educational session (on a 7-point scale) |
2.5 | 2.2 | At least 2 | 31 March 2025 | 2.4 |
| Percentage of participants reporting a high level of understanding after an educational session (5 or more on a 7-point scale) |
89% | 100% | At least 80% | 31 March 2025 | 100% |
| Indicator | 2022-23 result |
2023-24 result |
2024-25 target |
Date to achieve |
2024-25 result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Percentage of new registrations filed on time | 95% | 95% | At least 90% | 31 March 2025 | 95% |
| Percentage of registrations not requiring correction | 81% | 84% | At least 75% | 31 March 2025 | 85% |
| Percentage of communications filed on time | 94% | 94% | At least 90% | 31 March 2025 | 93% |
| Percentage of verified communications not requiring correction | 88% | 85% | At least 90% | 31 March 2025 | 87% * |
* Over-reporting remained the most common inaccuracy identified during 2024-25. No significant difference in the accuracy rate was observed when compared to previous years.
| Indicator | 2022-23 result |
2023-24 result |
2024-25 target |
Date to achieve |
2024-25 result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Percentage of registrants and lobbyists who are not subject to a compliance activity (indicator effective 1 April 2023) |
— | 98% | At least 95% | 31 March 2025 | 98% |
Financial, human resources and performance information for our program inventory is available on GC InfoBase.
Details on results
Registration
We maintain and continuously improve the Registry of Lobbyists — the searchable source of information about lobbying filed by registrants as required by the Lobbying Act. Through the online Registry, the public can learn about lobbying taking place at the federal level.
| 2024-25 | result |
|---|---|
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In September 2024, enabled registrants to use the Registry to submit Lobbyists’ Code of Conduct exemption requests for gift and hospitality rules. The form guides registrants to provide what information is needed so that we can efficiently evaluate an exemption request. |
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In October 2024, introduced an update requiring registrants to cross-reference the lobbying matters discussed with the subject-matter types when filing communication reports about oral, arranged lobbying of designated public office holders. This builds on a related improvement made to requirements for core registrations that was implemented in 2023-24. |
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In March 2025, added functionality for registrants to submit amendments to certain parts of past versions of their registration (lobbying matter descriptions, subject-matters and government funding), with changes then highlighted as an addendum in the old version. |
Education
Awareness and understanding of the federal lobbying framework and compliance obligations are expanded by publishing educational material and providing information sessions.
Lobbyists, registrants, federal officials and other stakeholders are offered ongoing support and advice — including on how to use the Registry and how to comply with the Lobbying Act and the Lobbyists’ Code of Conduct.
| 2024-25 | result |
|---|---|
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Issued new interpretation for identifying who qualifies as a designated public office holder and for clarifying which public submissions are excluded from the Lobbying Act. |
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Responded to 6,084 calls and emails to support accurate registration and respect of the Lobbying Act and its regulations — an 8% increase compared to 2023-24. |
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Reached 1,099 stakeholders through 119 information sessions. |
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Observed an average 2.4-point increase in understanding of federal lobbying requirements among stakeholders providing feedback following an educational session (on the 7-point self assessment scale). |
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Sent advisory notices to 14 individuals identified in media reports, with a focus on explaining federal lobbying requirements. |
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Sent 82 letters outlining the five-year restriction on lobbying that applies to former designated public office holders, including 64 to members of the House of Commons who did not run in the 45th General Election. |
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Engaged on 62 media inquiries that led to articles about lobbying requirements, compliance activities, the Registry and the Lobbyists’ Code of Conduct — along with 7 interviews with journalists by the Commissioner. |
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Shared information and updates with parliamentarians, with the Commissioner appearing at the Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics on 2 occasions. |
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Published an “Elections and lobbying” webpage to remind stakeholders of obligations under the Lobbying Act and the Lobbyists’ Code of Conduct during an election period. |
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Launched our LinkedIn page in January 2025 to reach a broad audience of professionals, including for-profit and non-profit entities, lobbyists, officials of various governments, journalists, academics and engaged citizens. |
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Established a new subscription list so that the anyone can get bilingual emails about our latest news and updates. GC Notify is the core tool that supports this new service offering. |
Compliance
We enhance respect for federal lobbying requirements through our compliance work, such as verifications to ensure that registrants file information correctly and on time.
Concerns about non-compliance are addressed and we investigate when the Commissioner believes it is necessary to ensure compliance with the Lobbying Act and the Lobbyists’ Code of Conduct; if the Commissioner discovers reasonable grounds to believe an offence has occurred, the matter is referred to the appropriate police authority. At the conclusion of an investigation, findings are reported to Parliament.
| 2024-25 | result |
|---|---|
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Advanced investigative work related to the enforcement of the Lobbying Act and the Lobbyists' Code of Conduct, including
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Monitored 13 registrants for one year following late filing to ensure continued compliance with the Lobbying Act. |
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Sent 16 compliance letters to registrants and lobbyists, 12 of these to support respect of the Lobbyists’ Code of Conduct hospitality rules. |
Key risks
We deliver on our mandate to support ethical and transparent lobbying of federal officials while also meeting government accountability obligations.
With the evolution and growth of federal accountability measures, our capacity becomes more constrained to deliver both our mandate and the same organizational expectations and accountability reporting as government departments many times our size.
Depth of capacity is a primary risk for our organization. While somewhat mitigated by the modest increases to our funding levels in Budget 2021 and Budget 2023, as a small organization our ability to reallocate resources is limited. This raises the risk of failure or delays in key areas such as education, policy, and communications. Similar challenges may develop when we face an increase in the volume or complexity of compliance matters.
Because we do not have the levels of financial resources or the depth of human resources comparable to those of other federal organizations, the unavoidable allocation of program resources to meet organizational accountability measures puts into risk our ability to adequately fulfill our core responsibility.
Other ongoing organizational risks relate to adequately maintaining the Registry of Lobbyists, safeguarding the cybersecurity of our systems, relying on other organizations to obtain services that we cannot deliver ourselves because of our small size and minimal resourcing levels, and continuously ensuring the consistent operations of our information technology and information management systems.
Resources allocated
| 2021-22 actual |
2022-23 actual |
2023-24 actual |
2024-25 planned |
2024-25 actual |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spending | $3.14 million | $3.68 million | $4.09 million | $4.44 million | $4.22 million |
| Employees (full-time equivalents) | 21 positions | 23 positions | 23 positions | 30 positions | 24 positions |
Details
In 2024-25, $170,000 (4%) of our core responsibility spending was on services obtained from our federal partners, $382,000 (9%) was spent on contracts for the purchase of goods and services and $50,000 (1%) on other operating items. The remaining $3,616,000 (86%) funded 24 employee positions working directly on the Registry of Lobbyists, registration support, education and compliance.
Detailed financial information and human resources information is available on GC InfoBase.
Related government priorities
United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development
We align with the United Nations’ sustainable development goal on peace, justice and strong institutions (goal 16). We are committed to sharing our expertise in lobbying regulation with provincial and international counterparts to help foster effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels.
In 2024-25, this work included:
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in September 2024 and again in February 2025, taking part in meetings of the Lobbyists Registrars and Commissioners Network to discuss best practices and share updates with other Canadian commissioners and registrars on our respective frameworks
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in December 2024, contributed to the Council on Governmental Ethics Laws conference – with the Commissioner providing an update on Canada’s federal lobbying landscape and moderating a panel on stakeholder education
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in March 2025, participated in the 2025 OECD Global Anti-Corruption & Integrity Forum — with the Commissioner exchanging best practices with others, participating in a working group on integrity indicators and attending the in-person OECD Meeting of Lobbying Commissioners, Registrars and Oversight Entities
Conversations with Canadian and international peers enable the sharing of information on legislation and best practices for lobbying regulation. Common goals of transparency and accountability in the principles of lobbying registration and compliance support the development of open standards that can strengthen democratic systems.
Program inventory
Our core responsibility is supported by our one and only program: Registration, education and compliance.
Additional results information related to our program inventory is available on GC InfoBase.
Internal services
Our ability to deliver on our mandate and fulfill corporate obligations relies on a number of internal services, the majority of which we obtain through paid arrangements with other federal organizations.
Functional area:
Internal services
Results focus:
Team and work environment
Description
As a micro-organization operating with a limited budget, we rely on and pay for a number of services we obtain from federal partners. Our service providers include Public Services and Procurement Canada, the Canadian Human Rights Commission, the Parole Board of Canada and the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada.
Reflecting our operational reality, our internal services include:
- acquisition management
- financial management
- human resources management
- information management
- information technology
- materiel management
- management and oversight
- real property management
Unlike most federal organizations, we allocate communications, legal and a substantial portion of information technology resources directly to our core responsibility. These particular resources are necessary to fulfill our mandate set by the Lobbying Act, and are used to maintain the Registry of Lobbyists, deliver educational services and review compliance with lobbying requirements.
Details on results
Our team and work environment enables excellence and delivers value to Canadians through collaboration, innovation and respect. We support our employees in being knowledgeable, skilled, engaged and productive.
| 2024-25 | result |
|---|---|
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Participated in formal and informal discussions on values and ethics on a continuous basis, including an organization-wide discussion on our values and ethics code and participation in and event held by the Clerk and Deputy Clerks of the Privy Council entitled “What Unites Us, Defines Us”. |
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Increased in-office presence of employees and executives to three days and four days a week, respectively — with all staff having at minimum one common in-office day to facilitate collaborative work. |
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Every year |
Supported the wellbeing of our employees, with particular attention to wellness and mental health initiatives. |
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Encouraged diversity, equity and inclusion through training, awareness products and activities. |
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Reduced and prevented barriers to the accessibility of our program, services and work environment. |
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Supported career development and employee retention through training and mentorship opportunities. |
Resources allocated
| 2021-22 actual |
2022-23 actual |
2023-24 actual |
2024-25 planned |
2024-25 actual |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spending | $1.51 million | $1.54 million | $1.68 million | $1.71 million | $1.87 million |
| Employees (full-time equivalents) | 5 positions | 5 positions | 6 positions | 7 positions | 9 positions |
Details
In 2024-25, $471,000 (25%) of our internal services spending was on services obtained from our federal partners and $389,000 (21%) was spent on contracts for the purchase of goods and services and $11,000 (less than 1%) on other operating items. The remaining $1,001,000 (54%) funded 9 employee positions mainly related to acquisition, finance, information management, information technology, and management/oversight functions.
Detailed financial information and human resources information is available on GC InfoBase.
Related government priorities
Accessibility
The Government of Canada aspires to have a public service that is accessible by default for the Canadian public, government institutions and their workforce. This is rooted in the belief that an inclusive public service is more innovative, efficient and productive.
We recognize the importance of eliminating barriers and obstacles to accessibility in order to achieve a diverse workforce, an accessible work environment and an equitable approach to working with Canadians.
Our 2024 progress report outlines work done in 2024-25 in support of our accessibility plan
Contracts awarded to Indigenous businesses
The Government of Canada is committed to economic reconciliation with Indigenous peoples and will contribute to improve socio-economic outcomes by increasing opportunities for First Nations, Inuit and Métis businesses through the federal procurement process.
Our organization is assigned an annual target that a minimum of 5% of the total value of our contracts be awarded to Indigenous businesses, in accordance with Appendix E to the Treasury Board Directive on the Management of Procurement.
The value of contacts we awarded to Indigenous businesses in 2024 25 was 3.4% of all contracts. As shown in the table below, the target was almost doubled in 2023-24. While results in a year can vary based on the specific goods and/or services we procure, the 5% target is effectively met when averaged over multiple years.
| Indicators | 2023-24 result |
2024-25 result |
|---|---|---|
| A. Combined value of all contracts awarded to Indigenous businesses |
$93,000 |
$10,000 |
| B. Combined value of all contracts awarded, including to Indigenous businesses |
$963,000 |
$881,000 |
| C. Value of exceptions applied by the Commissioner |
$0 |
$589,000 |
| Percentage of total value of contracts awarded to Indigenous businesses Formula: [ A / (B-C) x 100 ] |
9.7% |
3.4% |
Details
The amounts in the table are the value of contracts awarded, instead of the amounts spent. While the value of all contracts awarded in 2024-25 was $881,000, actual contract spending was $771,000 ($382,000 on our core responsibility and $389,000 on internal services).
The types of exceptions applied in 2024-25 were also applicable in 2023-24, however they were not applied in that year as we almost doubled our 5% target in 2023-24.
Sustainable development
In keeping with the purpose of the Federal Sustainable Development Act – to make decision making related to sustainable development more transparent and accountable to Parliament – we support goals laid out in the 2022 to 2026 Federal Sustainable Development Strategy through the activities described in our sustainable development strategy.
Our sustainable development vision focuses on actions within our reach and directly in line with our commitments under goals 10, 12 and 13 of the federal strategy. Our strategy is centred on effective actions that we can achieve alongside our regulatory mandate as set by the Lobbying Act.
Spending and human resources
The information that follows provides an overview of our financial and human resources for 2024-25 compared with those of previous years and the upcoming fiscal years.
Amounts indicated in tables and the related explanations are in dollars rounded to the nearest thousand.
In this section
Spending
Actual spending
 |
Table 8A — Text version
| Regulation of lobbying | Internal services |
|---|---|
| $4,218,000 | $1,872,000 |
Spending summary
| Spending | 2024–25 budgetary (Main Estimates) |
2024–25 authorities (Public Accounts) |
2022-23 actual |
2023–24 actual |
2024–25 actual |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Regulation of lobbying | $4,357,000 | $4,442,000 | $3,681,000 | $4,092,000 | $4,218,000 |
| Internal services | $1,599,000 | $1,712,000 | $1,539,000 | $1,675,000 | $1,872,000 |
| Total | $5,956,000 | $6,154,000 | $5,220,000 | $5,767,000 | $6,090,000 |
Details
Relative to 2022-23, spending in 2023-24 increased by $547,000 (10%). For 2024-25, spending increased by $323,000 (5.6%) relative to actual spending in 2023-24. The 2024-25 increase mainly relates to staffing of additional positions enabled by new funding in Budget 2023 and information technology equipment renewal.
Planned spending
| Spending | 2025–26 budgetary (Main Estimates) |
2025–26 planned |
2026–27 planned |
2027–28 planned |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Regulation of lobbying | $4,081,000 | $4,351,000 | $4,085,000 | $4,085,000 |
| Internal services | $2,000,000 | $2,000,000 | $2,001,000 | $2,001,000 |
| Total | $6,081,000 | $6,351,000 | $6,086,000 | $6,086,000 |
Details
Planned spending for 2025-26 includes a carryforward of $270,000 of unspent funds from 2024-25. This carryforward from 2024-25 enables additional spending of $270,000 in 2025-26 along with the $6,081,000 allocated in the 2025-26 Main Estimates.
More financial information is available on GC InfoBase.
Funding
 |
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| Year | 2022-23 | 2023-24 | 2024-25 | 2025-26 | 2026-27 | 2027-28 |
| Statutory | $447,000 | $530,000 | $595,000 | $634,000 | $635,000 | $635,000 |
| Voted | $4,773,000 | $5,237,000 | $5,495,000 | $5,717,000 | $5,541,000 | $5,541,000 |
| Total | $5,220,000 | $5,767,000 | $6,090,000 | $6,351,000 | $6,086,000 | $6,086,000 |
Details
In recent years, our planned and actual spending levels have varied due to adjustments that include:
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in Budget 2021, an additional $590,000 for 2022 23 and future years
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in Budget 2023, an additional $278,000 for 2023-24 and $400,000 for 2024 25 and future years
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lower actual spending than allowed by approved funding in 2022-23 and 2023-24 because we could not staff some positions despite ongoing staffing efforts
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for 2024-25, a carryforward of $242,000 of unspent funds from 2023 24
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for 2025-26, a carryforward of $270,000 of unspent funds from 2024-25
The amounts above reflect actual spending between 2022-23 and 2024-25, as well as approved spending for 2025-26 and future years.
Further spending information is available in the Public Accounts of Canada, and information about our approved funding is available in the 2025-26 Main Estimates.
Financial information
Financial statements
Our audited financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2025 are prepared using the Government of Canada's accounting policies. The Office of the Auditor General of Canada audits our financial statements annually.
Highlights
Planned financial results information for 2024-25 and related notes are found in our 2024-25 future-oriented statement of operations.
Information in the following 3 tables is extracted from our audited financial statements, which are prepared on an accrual basis of accounting instead of on a government funding basis of accounting. Note 3 to our audited financial statements provides a reconciliation of the differences.
| Results | 2024–25 actual |
2024–25 planned |
Difference: actual minus planned |
|---|---|---|---|
| Expenses | $6,786,000 | $7,166,000 | ($380,000) |
| Revenues | — | — | — |
| Net cost of operations | $6,786,000 | $7,166,000 | ($380,000) |
Details
The amounts summarize the 2024-25 net cost of our operations before government funding and transfers. The difference of $380,000 (5%) related mainly to lower actual spending on salaries and other operating expenditures than planned.
| Results | 2024–25 actual |
2023-24 actual |
Difference: 2024-25 minus 2023-24 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Expenses | $6,786,000 | $6,755,000 | $31,000 |
| Revenues | — | — | — |
| Net cost of operations | $6,786,000 | $6,755,000 | $31,000 |
Details
Actual spending for 2024-25 compared with 2023-24 increased by 0.5%.
| Results | 2024–25 actual |
2023-24 actual |
Difference: 2024-25 minus 2023-24 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total net liabilities | $805,000 | $984,000 | ($179,000) |
| Total net financial assets | $453,000 | $596,000 | ($143,000) |
| Net debt | $352,000 | $388,000 | ($36,000) |
| Total non-financial assets | $1,411,000 | $1,462,000 | ($51,000) |
| Net financial position | $1,059,000 | $1,074,000 | ($15,000) |
Details
Table 10C is a snapshot of our liabilities (what is owed) and assets (what is owned) in 2024-25 and 2023-24.
The decrease in net liabilities relates to having fewer outstanding payments at year-end, including lower vacation and compensatory leave payouts. The decrease in net financial assets relates to lower amounts due from, and owed to, the Consolidated Revenue Fund.
The normal amortization of existing assets and the acquisition of new assets, offset by higher prepaid expenses, reflect the decrease in non financial assets.
Human resources
Actual
| Employees (full-time equivalents) |
2022–23 actual |
2023–24 actual |
2024–25 actual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regulation of lobbying | 23 | 23 | 24 |
| Internal services | 5 | 6 | 9 |
| Total | 28 | 29 | 33 |
Details
During 2022-23 and 2023-24, staffing efforts proved challenging given labour market conditions and competition for specialized resources. In 2022-23, we were resourced for 33 positions. By the end of 2023-24, our actual utilization was equivalent to 29 positions.
With funding made available through Budget 2023, we planned for 37 positions in 2024-25, and our actual utilization was equivalent to 33 positions by the end of 2024-25.
Staffing and recruitment are a continuous top priority for management. As a micro organization that is minimally resourced, every departure and unfilled position has a real impact on our ability to fulfill our core responsibility and deliver on the wide range of organizational responsibilities that apply to all government departments, regardless of department size or resourcing.
Planned
| Employees (full-time equivalents) |
2025–26 planned |
2026–27 planned |
2027–28 planned |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regulation of lobbying | 27 | 27 | 27 |
| Internal services | 9 | 9 | 9 |
| Total | 36 | 36 | 36 |
Details
Effective April 2025, we are resourced to staff 36 positions. Compared to our 2024-25 plans that anticipated the equivalent of 37 positions, our planning for 2025-26 and onwards considers operating cost increases in recent years.
A cost allocation review also led to a slight shift in the distribution of human resources between our program and internal services. Compared to the 80/20 distribution of positions (30 program and 7 internal services) we planned for in 2024-25, we are now planning for a 75/25 distribution (27 program and 9 internal services).
Reference information
Organizational profile
| Official name | Office of Commissioner of Lobbying of Canada |
| Institutional head | Nancy Bélanger, Commissioner of Lobbying of Canada |
| Enabling instrument | The Lobbying Act establishes the Office of Commissioner of Lobbying and gives the Commissioner powers for regulating the lobbying of the federal officials in Canada. |
| Year commenced | 2008 |
| Ministerial portfolio | Treasury Board |
| Other | For administrative purposes, the President of the Treasury Board tables our departmental plans and departmental results reports in Parliament. |
Contact information
| Mailing address | 410 Laurier Avenue West, Suite 810 Ottawa ON K1R 1B7 |
| Telephone | 613-957-2760 |
| Fax | 613-957-3078 |
| info@lobbycanada.gc.ca | |
| Website | lobbycanada.gc.ca |
Additional information
Supplementary information tables:
Other organizational plans and strategies:
Federal tax expenditures
This report does not include information on tax expenditures.
The Department of Finance Canada publishes cost estimates and projections for government-wide tax expenditures each year in the Report on Federal Tax Expenditures. It provides detailed background information on tax expenditures, including descriptions, objectives, historical background and references to related federal spending programs, as well as evaluations, research papers and gender-based analysis plus.
Definitions
- core responsibility (responsabilité essentielle)
- A function or role performed by a federal organization. What an organization wants to achieve for a core responsibility is shown through one or more specific results it aims to contribute to or influence.
- departmental plan (plan ministériel)
- A document submitted to Parliament that sets out priorities, programs, expected results and associated resource requirements, covering a three year period.
- departmental results report (rapport sur les résultats ministériels)
- A report submitted to Parliament on actual performance in a fiscal year against plans, priorities and expected results set out in the departmental plan for the same year.
- full-time equivalent (équivalent temps plein)
- The standard for how much of an employee’s work counts as a full year of work for budgeting, calculated by comparing the hours assigned to work with standard full-time hours set in collective agreements.
- gender-based analysis plus (analyse comparative entre les sexes plus)
- An analytical tool used to support the development of responsive and inclusive policies, programs and other initiatives.
- indicator (indicateur)
- A measure that provides a means to quantify progress on a result.
- plan (plan)
- A strategic choice made to reach one or more goals. A plan usually shows why certain strategies were chosen and focuses on the actions that will help achieve the expected results.
- planned spending (dépenses prévues)
- Refers to funding shown in the Main Estimates, including any unused money allowed to be carried over from the previous year. An organization is responsible for determining its planned spending and must be able to explain the amounts reported to Parliament.
- priority (priorité)
- A plan or project focussed and reported on during the planning period. Priorities represent the things that are most important or what must be done first to support the achievement of the planned results.
- program (programme)
- Individual or groups of services, activities or combinations thereof that are managed together and that focus on a specific set of outputs, outcomes or service levels.
- program inventory (répertoire des programmes)
- An inventory of programs that describes how resources are organized to carry out core responsibilities and achieve expected results.
- result (résultat)
- An external consequence or outcome attributed, in part, to an organization, policy, program or initiative. Results are not within the control of a single organization, policy, program or initiative; instead, they are within the area of the organization’s influence.
- statutory (législative)
- Spending that Parliament approves through legislation other than appropriation acts.
- target (cible)
- A measurable performance or success level that is planned to achieve within a specified time period. Targets can be quantitative or qualitative.
- voted (votée)
- Spending that Parliament approves annually through an appropriation act.
Annex: The 2024-25 year in review
In this section
Registry filing trends
8,884
individuals identified as lobbyists at least once during the year
1,670 consultant lobbyists
third-parties lobbying for a client for money or anything of value
2,924 corporate lobbyists
employees who lobby for the corporation that employs them
4,290 organizational lobbyists
employees who lobby for the organization that employs them
8,826
registrations active in the Registry at least once during the year
5% increase compared to 2023-24
in number total number of registrations active at some point during the year, compared with 2023-24
approximately 6,000 active on average each month
similar combination as recent years
-
84% consultant registrations
-
9% employer registrations by organizations
-
7% employer registrations by corporations
3,702 distinct entities identified as a client and/or employer of lobbyists
-
631 represented by consultants and employees
-
799 represented only by employees
-
2,272 represented only by consultants
31,058
filings of oral, arranged lobbying of designated public office holders
10% less than 2023-24
likely attributable to prorogation of Parliament in January followed by the 45th general election in April
4,509 filed for October
new record for the most entries filed for a single month
 |
|||||
| Year | 2020-21 | 2021-22 | 2022-23 | 2023-24 | 2024-25 |
| Lobbyists | 6,369 | 6,598 | 6,941 | 7,219 | 7,397 |
| Registrations | 4,685 | 4,931 | 5,318 | 5,798 | 6,077 |
 |
|||||
| Year | 2020-21 | 2021-22 | 2022-23 | 2023-24 | 2024-25 |
| Actual entries | 29,044 | 24,689 | 30,690 | 34,494 | 31,058 |
election year |
election year |
||||
Registry enhancements
Several Registry of Lobbyists updates were implemented, including:
Online requests for Code rule exemptions
As of September 2024, registrants can use the Registry to submit Lobbyists’ Code of Conduct exemption requests for gift and hospitality rules. The form guides registrants to provide what information is needed so that we can efficiently evaluate an exemption request.
More transparency in communication reports
As of October 2024, registrants must cross-reference the lobbying matters discussed with the subject-matter types when filing communication reports about oral, arranged lobbying of designated public office holders.
Enabling corrections to past versions of registrations
As of March 2025, registrants can submit amendments to certain parts of past versions of their registration (lobbying matter descriptions, subject-matters and government funding). Any changes, with the date of the change, is then highlighted as an addendum in the old version.
Education
Registration and advisory services
3,104
calls
2,980
emails
Sources of calls and emails
-
90% registrants / lobbyists
-
6% officials (current, former)
-
4% public / other
Presentations
119
presentations
87 to registrants, lobbyists, etc.
12 to officials
20 to other interested parties
1,099
stakeholders reached
New or updated resources
2
new interpretation bulletins
1
primer on the Code
1
timeline
Notices
14
advisory notices
sent to individuals identified in media reports as working in functions that may involve lobbying, to inform them about Lobbying Act requirements
82
five-year lobbying restriction reminders
sent to newly former designated officials, including 64 members of the House of Commons who did not run in the 45th General Election
Media relations
62
media inquiries
7
interviews with Commissioner Bélanger
Compliance
On-time filing
14,215
registrations submitted
includes new, updates and reactivations
13,167
93% were filed on time
1,048
7% were filed late
852 (81%) were late updates
154 (15%) were late new registrations,
151 of these by consultant registrants
32,293
communication reports filed
for oral, arranged lobbying involving designated public office holders — includes 31,058 filed for 2024-25 and late filings for previous years
30,173
93% were filed on time
2,120
7% were filed late
1,443 (68%) were 1 to 30 days late
677 (32%) were over 30 days late,
310 of these remarkably more than 90 days late
Review and accuracy of filings
14,215
registrations reviewed
includes new, updates and reactivations
1,185
average registrations reviewed per month, a 31% increase compared to 2023-24
15%
2,143 were sent back to the registrant for correction, 362 of these sent back more than once
1,064
communication reports verified
about 3% of entries filed — a slight reduction compared to recent years because we temporarily reallocated resources to support implementation of Registry changes in the fall
87%
930 confirmed as accurate by designated officials
13%
134 identified as inaccurate by designated officials, to then be amended by the registrant
109 had inaccuracies, like listing designated officials not in the meeting
18 entries could not be confirmed by the designated official(s) identified in the entry
4 did not involve oral, arranged lobbying
2 were duplicate entries
1 did not involve a regulated lobbying matter
Preliminary assessments and investigations
25
new preliminary assessments
18 identified through our monitoring work
7 identified through concerns shared with us
21
preliminary assessments closed
7 no evidence of lobbying haven taken place
7 no evidence of the employer registrationthreshold having been met
3 no evidence of missing or incorrect information in a registration
4 no investigation needed to ensure compliance with the Lobbyists’ Code of Conduct
3
investigations ceased
following the RCMP returning 3 files without laying charges
1
investigation referred to the RCMP
On 31 March 2025…
25 ongoing preliminary assessments
2 ongoing investigations
4 suspended files
(3 with the RCMP, 1 involving a parallel investigation)
Monitoring
16
compliance letters issued
to registrants and lobbyists, 12 of these to support respect of the Lobbyists’ Code of Conduct hospitality rules
13
registrants monitored
for one year following late filing to ensure continued compliance with the Lobbying Act
Exemption requests
Five-year lobbying restriction
16
exemption requests from former designated public office holders
-
2 carried over from 2023-24
-
14 new applications
5 exemptions granted
6 exemption requests denied
4 applications withdrawn
1 application carried over to 2025-26
Copyright statement
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For permission to reproduce information in this publication for commercial redistribution, please email info@lobbycanada.gc.ca.
© His Majesty the King in Right of Canada
as represented by the Commissioner of Lobbying of Canada, 2025
Catalogue no. Lo2-5
ISSN 2564-4637
Aussi offert en français sous le titre :
Rapport sur les résultats ministériels 2024-2025 (Commissariat au lobbying du Canada)
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