Guidelines on lobbyists and Crown corporations

Letter Sent by the Clerk of the Privy Council to Crown Corporations, Departmental Corporations and Certain Shared Governance Organizations

November 13, 2009

In 1985, the Clerk of the Privy Council wrote to the heads of Crown corporations advising them that the Government expected its relationship with Crown corporations to be conducted directly and without the use of paid intermediaries.  The Prime Minister has asked me to convey to you the Government's continued expectations in this area. 

Crown corporations, departmental corporations and shared governance organizations for which the Government of Canada has direct responsibilities or which expend funds reported as Government assets in the Public Accounts of Canada should not engage consultant lobbyists to communicate with the Government of Canada.  Communication between these organizations and the Government about their mandates, operations, funding and other matters are a regular, ongoing aspect of government operations.  The Government believes that accountability and the public interest are best served when its relationship with these organizations is conducted via candid and direct communications between corporate officers and responsible Ministers and their officials, and that the use of consultant lobbyists for this purpose is unnecessary and an inappropriate use of public funds.

Your continued cooperation in this matter is greatly appreciated.

Wayne G. Wouters

Clerk of the Privy Council