News Release

Date: June 30, 2009
Ottawa, Ontario

Prime Minister Stephen Harper Welcomes
new Commissioner of Lobbying

OTTAWA – Prime Minister Stephen Harper today welcomed the appointment of Karen E. Shepherd as Canada's new Commissioner of Lobbying. The appointment was recently approved by the Senate and House of Commons and is effective immediately.

In its Federal Accountability Act and Action Plan, the Conservative Government introduced specific measures to help strengthen accountability and increase transparency and oversight in government operations.

A key component of the Federal Accountability Act, the position of Commissioner of Lobbying was established July 2, 2008, under the Lobbying Act, to ensure that lobbying is transparent and ethical. The Commissioner enforces the lobbyist registration law, conducts investigations and reports to Parliament.

The Federal Accountability Act also:

• reduces the opportunity to exert influence with money by banning corporate, union, and large personal political donations;
• places a five-year lobbying ban on former ministers, their aides, and senior public servants;
• ensures people who see problems in government know they can speak up by providing real protection for whistleblowers; and
• ensures Canadians know how their money is spent by enhancing the power of the Auditor General to follow the money.

Biography of Mrs. Shepherd

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PMO Press Office: 613-957-5555
This document is also available at http://pm.gc.ca