Generally, s. 140-1 defines “lobby” as communication by a lobbyist with a public office holder about subject matters that are the subject of City government decisions.

A.    Development, introduction, passage, defeat, amendment or repeal of a by‑law, bill or resolution on any matter, by Council, a local board (restricted definition), the Board of Health, or a committee, another body or individual under delegated authority.

Subject matters that fall within the definition of “lobby” include, but are not limited to, the following:

1. Development, approval, amendment or termination of a policy, program, directive or guideline.
2. Procurement of goods, services or construction and awarding a contract.
3. Approving, approving with conditions, or denying an application for a service, grant, planning approval, permit or other licence or permission.
4. Awarding any financial contribution, grant or other financial benefit by or on behalf of the City, a local board (restricted definition) or the Board of Health.
5. Transferring from the City, a local board (restricted definition) or the Board of Health any interest in or asset of any business, enterprise or institution.
6. Determining the model and method of delivering a service.

The definition of “lobby” applies with necessary modifications to matters considered by a local board (restricted definition), the Board of Health or another body or individual under delegated authority.

The definition of “lobby” also includes the arrangement of a meeting by a consultant lobbyist or voluntary unpaid lobbyist with a public office holder and any other person.

Section 140-1 defines “communication” as any form of expressive contact, and includes oral, written or electronic communication.  Another form of communication is “grass-roots communication”, which is defined as an appeal to members of the public through the mass media or by direct communication that seeks to persuade members of the public, members of an organization or a special interest group or who have a common or shared interest in a subject matter, to communicate directly with a public office holder in an attempt to place pressure on the public office holder to endorse a particular opinion.  Please read more information in the Office of the Lobbyist Registrar (OLR) Interpretation Bulletin above entitled “Grass-roots Campaigns”.

Certain communications are exempted from the Lobbying By-law , s. 140-5.  Some of these exemptions are addressed in the OLR Interpretation Bulletin above entitled “Exempt Communications”.