<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="e3adf2bee1b23274baad921dc6f4bced9">emails;</li><li data-list-item-id="edfd7a3f0d79fcebfd7acddc3283a778b">letters;</li><li data-list-item-id="e96bfef7dfd28ed7dc585bf983b1ee7e5">telephone;</li><li data-list-item-id="e8154c842e38cae922fb24c2c02b714a0">fax;</li><li data-list-item-id="e78dd09a1e22b3f806adea1bad346183d">in-person meetings;</li><li data-list-item-id="e73aa6567251d3a530a5107568f7ec39f">formal or informal encounters; and&nbsp;</li><li data-list-item-id="e98f37a41f30fb50e9230b43828904531">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="ed237e703118fb6a18dd1639777c998e4">Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs);</li><li data-list-item-id="ef7ed53b7c8d157e1d1639d49754cc618">Premier, Ministers, Cabinet office staff and caucus staff;</li><li data-list-item-id="e8854cf7c800bfd99277989dd3eccce73">MLA staff; and</li><li data-list-item-id="e76874e0b387a109d94aeac20354f1a03">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>