Session Topic: Leveling the lobbyist playing field - citizen coordination and other strategies
Convenor: Michael Tward
Recorder: Aidan Nulman
Participants: Michael, Aidan, Ari, Grant Lowe
_________________________

Notes:

Coordination can lead to reductions in redudant effort and stronger voices.  Government is selectively accessible without these resources.

Questions Raised:

What factors create inequalities between lobbyists? Which of these factors are democratic, which are not? Which groups are favoured or disadvantaged by these factors?

Potential solution-types:

1. improve the ease with which citizens access the government

2. increase power of citizens through coordination mechanisms

    * Species at Risk Act - two step process
          o first is a rigourous scientific investigation into real risk
          o second is an socio-economic analysis, which, historically
            has had a far more significant impact than the first stage.
    * businesses can be engaged from two directions
          o CSR can improve image towards customers (out-reach)
          o CSR can improve image towards employees (in-reach)
          o google's20% time
    * Problems
          o Transparency is a problem
          o Apathy is a problem
          o Protection for whistle-blowers
          o Trust - 180 degree problem with too much in one section
    * What makes a lobbyist powerful?
          o Maxime Bernier/Julie Couillard -- using "privates"
            "information" to get power
          o Time
          o Information in the issue
          o Votes/Greed?/Size of org. that they're lobbying?
          o Politicians want job security
    * Human nature to think of self first -- if someone approaches them
      and it helps them, there's no accountability
    * Issue 1: specific individuals within government are
      susceptible/motivated by lobbyists -- not a problem if votes
    * Issue 2: lack of communication with public
    * How to c create a system where people organize around an issue,
      connect with someone in government who can help
          o Make easier to access
                + Very specific information that you need money to get to
                + Information still available, just harder to find, lack
                  of clout
          o Connect people
                + To deputy minister: appointed, they're the CEO;
                  minister is chairman
    * System will change for accountability
          o Put interests of public first, not specific interests
          o Prop rep will help a lot
    * Where are the citizen advisory groups?
    * Issue of balance - balancing the rights of all players
          o Polar bear: rights of hunter, rights of ecotourist, rights
            of nature
    * Accountability act wasn't terrible: political figure can't become
      lobbyist until 5 years
    * Conflict of interest guidelines NECESSARY
    *
    * visiblegovernement, sunlight foundation - combine with lobbyist -
      lobbyist accountability

_____________________

What Happens Next?