Currently, only lobbyists working more than 28 hours a month are required to publically register with the commissioner of the Commissioner of Lobbying.
https://lobbycanada.gc.ca/app/secure/ocl/lrs/do/guest
A lot of lobbying in Canada is undisclosed.
Let’s say you are a lobbyist for an AI company. The AI minister (yes, that’s a real thing) wants to introduce a bill that you really don’t like.
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You write a letter to the AI minister to invite him for dinner. (1hour)
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You spend one morning to prepare what you will talk about (3hours)
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His office calls you to change the date (15 minutes)
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You call back his office to confirm the date and location (15 minutes).
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You go to the restaurant wisth the minister (3 hours)
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He agrees to meet you one week later in his office to discuss changes to the bill (2 hours).
That’s less than 9 hours and 30 minutes. It’s below the 28 hours threshold so you don’t have to disclose anything.
On January 19, 2026, Canada will become a slightly less corrupt country.
The threshold below which no registration is required will change from 28 hours to 8 hours over a four-week period. More people will be required to register.
The system is still a disaster, but at least it’s an improvement.
I don’t think one dinner would be enough to change my vote on anything unless you’ve got one hell of an argument. If MPs were that cheap, I think their constituents would gladly buy them a meal.
It’s the money.
In the US, there’s congressmen who’ve been bought for less than 6-figures
What if it’s Taco Bell?
Well, why didn’t you say?
I read “dinner” as “negotiating the bribe”