Bill 192: Stronger Regulation of Lobbyists Act

This bill directly affects professional lobbyists — both consultant lobbyists who are paid to lobby on behalf of clients, and in-house lobbyists employed by companies, associations, or organizations to advocate to government — operating in Nova Scotia. Businesses that hire or employ lobbyists to influence provincial government decisions (such as procurement, regulation, or policy) will need to adjust how their lobbying activities are conducted, particularly around gift-giving to senior officials like ministers, deputy ministers, and Crown corporation CEOs. Former senior public-office holders who move into lobbying roles face a mandatory cooling-off period of 12 to 24 months before they can lobby in Nova Scotia. Non-compliance can result in fines up to $100,000 for repeat violations and a ban of up to two years from lobbying, making compliance a serious operational concern for any firm that relies on government relations work.