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In December of 2006, Bill C-2, the Federal Accountability Act, received Royal Assent. The Act will result in substantive change to forty-five statutes and amends well over one hundred others. The Act is the government’s response to a promise made during the last election: to make government more transparent and accountable.

Association executives should now be well aware that the Act prohibits ministers, ministerial staffers and senior public servants from registering and lobbying the Government of Canada for five years after leaving office.

But, more association leaders are raising questions about provisions that will require monthly disclosure by lobbyists to record registrable activities with senior public-office holders.

I spoke about the new Act with Bob Ramsay, President, Motorcycle and Moped Industry Council, a member of CSAE’s Board of Directors and Chair of its Government Relations Committee. When I asked him what advice he’d offer his peers in light of Royal Assent, he was quick to respond. “The first step every association executive should take is to familiarize themselves with the Act. Review and make notes on the increased reporting requirements – this step must be taken by everyone who has even semi-regular contact with the Federal Government.”

Accountability with the Act will rest with the most senior staff person in an association, i.e. the chief staff officer. Even so, Bob suggests that association executives inform their Board of the new requirements and alert them to the impact the reporting requirements will have on staff workloads and resources. While the regulations are still in the developmental phase, it is becoming clear that the reporting requirements will be somewhat onerous and will require time to complete each reporting period.

Inform your members so they, too, are aware of the changes. This is particularly important if your members employ personnel who may be defined as lobbyists under the Act. An industry assocociation comprised of members who manufacture products that must meet Federal standards would be well advised to alert their membership to the new Act. If those members regularly meet with their Federal Ministry to discuss those standards, their representatives at those meetings may well be defined as full time lobbyists under the Act.

The bottom line? Do your homework. Familiarize yourself with the Federal Accountability Act (http://www.faa-lfi.gc.ca/index_e.asp) and the new laws that apply to not-for-profits.

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