What is meant by 50 hours per year in reference to in-house lobbyists?

  • Section 6(5) of the LRA defines an in-house lobbyist (organizations) as an employee, and/or group of employees who spend at least 50 hours in a calendar year lobbying on behalf of the organization (not-for-profit entity).
  • The 50-hour threshold applies to time spent lobbying, that is communicating with public office holders in an attempt to influence certain government activities. This can include time spent managing grass-roots communication campaigns.
  • The 50-hour threshold does not include time spent preparing for communications such as developing research papers or other resources. 
  • The 50-hour threshold does not include communications with public office holders that do not trigger a requirement to register under the LRA such as making submissions to a committee of the Legislative Assembly that are a matter of public record, responding directly to written requests for advice or comment from public office holders or seeking information or clarification about the enforcement, interpretation or application of an Act or regulation or, the implementation or administration of any government policy, program, directive or guideline. 
  • When an organization determines that it has reached 50 hours, one registration must be filed on the Ontario Lobbyists Registry under the name of the organization’s senior officer, the highest paid officer. All in-house lobbyists must be listed on the registration form, including the senior officer, if applicable. 
  • The registration must include the activities that lead to the 50-hour threshold as well as subsequent, ongoing activities that contribute to 50 hours within the calendar year. • It is the responsibility of each organization to keep track of the lobbying activities relevant to determining if it has reached the 50-hour threshold.