TheStar.com, 10 February 2008

The curtain is finally being lifted on decision-making at Toronto City Hall as a long-awaited lobbyist registry is scheduled to become operational tomorrow, 2 1/2 years after Madam Justice Denise Bellamy recommended it in a landmark probe of municipal corruption.

With a few clicks of a computer mouse, residents will be able to see who is talking to decision-makers and what they are talking about.

"It's a brave new world for municipalities," says lobbyist registrar Marilyn Abraham. And that new world should be welcomed.

Lobbying is, of course, still allowed, as it should be. But it will no longer be concealed.

Residents lobbying on neighbourhood concerns, or matters concerning their own homes, need not register. Also exempt are non-profit groups, unless they are lobbying for a grant or on behalf of a business. And unions don't have to register either, as long as they're dealing with labour relations issues. While a case could be made to include them, there are practical reasons for these exemptions.

As the first lobbyist registry in Canada operated and administered by a municipality, this marks a significant step forward for Canada's sixth largest government.