<h2>What is lobbying?</h2><p>Lobbying is when a person or organization communicates with a public office holder, either directly or by means of grass-roots communication, for the purpose of attempting to&nbsp;influence the outcome of a government decision.</p><p>Communication methods include, but are not limited to:&nbsp;</p><ul><li data-list-item-id="e9e67b29e947a89493ad633ef83ef41bc">emails;</li><li data-list-item-id="e9c0e307c30ba01f3ac872a93adcbf9a4">letters;</li><li data-list-item-id="e4499bdc44884a472efc54c3187d38dd4">telephone;</li><li data-list-item-id="e52e1a6cff86d6f72308b4c968cf4bdf9">fax;</li><li data-list-item-id="e696ed412d78374a37e0864aaf69965f2">in-person meetings;</li><li data-list-item-id="ee1b7c6e7a575dce1c3c81060b6d1263c">formal or informal encounters; and&nbsp;</li><li data-list-item-id="edd61af8c7aeb4fa580774e052be1f97e">grass-roots communication, which refers to initiating petitions or using social media to encourage the general public to contact a public office holder to support or oppose a policy, law, program, funding or provision of government services.</li></ul><p>An attempt to influence a government decision is the key difference between routine communications which are not lobbying, and attempts to persuade a public office holder. For example, if you provide feedback to the government on a public engagement, that is not lobbying. An example of lobbying would be requesting a meeting with a Minister to propose changes to how the government delivers services or programs to the public.</p><h2>Who is a public office holder?</h2><p>Public office holders include:&nbsp;</p><ul><li data-list-item-id="eb9ad7bd4eea29b38e3b27a6f27835393">Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs);</li><li data-list-item-id="e923762882e801c6dc046ebc9342774a5">Premier, Ministers, Cabinet office staff and caucus staff;</li><li data-list-item-id="ed6b6fe513be92809e951ea1f88a47420">MLA staff; and</li><li data-list-item-id="ed071297e36a9d982788331842f0c5e73">Government of Yukon’s public service employees.</li></ul><h2>The difference between advocacy and lobbying</h2><p>Advocacy seeks to get public support for, or make the public aware of a particular issue. Advocacy becomes lobbying when there is an intent to influence public office holders to support or oppose changes in policy, law, program, funding or providing government services.</p><h2>Why we have a Lobbyist Registry</h2><p>The Yukon Lobbyist Registry exists to make information about who is lobbying the Government of Yukon available to the public. The&nbsp;<a href="https://legislation.yukon.ca/acts/lobreg_c.pdf"><em>Lobbyists Registration Act</em></a><em>&nbsp;</em>is not intended to impede communication with public office holders. The goal is to make interactions between lobbyists and public office holders more open and transparent for the public.&nbsp;</p><p>The&nbsp;<em>Lobbyists Registration Act</em>&nbsp;establishes a lobbyist registry in Yukon and makes registration mandatory. The <em>Act</em> came into effect on October 15, 2020.</p><p>Lobbyists are responsible for disclosing their activities through the lobbyist registry based on criteria identified in the&nbsp;<em>Act</em>.&nbsp;</p><h2>Conflict of Interest Commissioner</h2><p>The <a href="https://conflictofinterestyukon.ca/">Conflict of Interest Commissioner</a> is the registrar of the Yukon Lobbyist Registry. The Commissioner oversees and monitors the lobbyist registry. The Office of the Yukon Lobbyist Registry, also known as the Lobbyist Registry&nbsp;Administrator, supports these responsibilities and will respond to inquiries from lobbyists or the public on behalf of the Commissioner.</p>