Dear Lobbyist Registrar: Stand up for our law

Dear Madam Lobbyist Registrar,

I am writing this open letter to ask you to stand up for the registry that you have been entrusted with on behalf of Torontonians, the by-law [PDF] you have the duty to enforce and, of course, yourself.

Thanks to Councillor David Shiner, I found out in today’s Toronto Star that Pattison Outdoor Advertising invited city councillors to attend a posh horseracing event at Woodbine racetrack. According to the newspaper, councillors were to be treated to a “sumptuous gourmet buffet” while inside an exclusive tent. This obviously contravenes our city’s laws on lobbying.

To be clear, I acknowledge that you advised Councillor Shiner that the invitation “on its face would contravene these provisions (on gift giving) of the Lobbyists’ Code of Conduct.” That’s all nice and well, and I know that Pattison has claimed the ignorance defence, but you must protect the integrity of this by-law — that is your duty.

You might not be aware of this but Pattison Outdoor Advertising appears to be in a fight for its fiscal life. With the work of grassroots groups IllegalSigns.ca and the Toronto Public Space Committee, outdoor advertising has become less profitable in Toronto. And with those same community organizations dedicated to making systemic change to the antiquated outdoor ad industry through the process now underway to redesign the City’s signs by-law, there’s no telling how much Pattison’s profit margins will shrink. In fact, one of Pattison’s competitors has estimated that IllegalSigns.ca is responsible for it losing $1 million.

Pattison is so concerned about their bottom line they’ve hired their own bagman, Paul Christie, a former Metro Toronto politician who served as the chair of the TTC and as the Ernie Eves-appointed supervisor of the Toronto District School Board. I don’t begrudge Pattison for hiring one of City Hall’s quintessential backroom boys from the Lastman-era to do their bidding but, you see, Christie, who is often seen huddled in the back of committee rooms and council chambers, is one who knows his trade well and, you can be certain, knows all of the rules for lobbyists because he has registered as lobbyist in your fine, if under-funded, registry.

Now that you see the strong financial incentive for Pattison to try to skirt the law of this city (I might add that Pattison is known for skirting and attempting to skirt other laws, too) and that you know of Pattison’s knowledgeable consultant lobbyist who, a reasonable person would assume, knows and advises on all government relations activities Pattison undertakes at the City of Toronto, there’s no way you can sit back and allow Pattison to laugh at the accountability mechanisms City Council adopted to stop exactly what this unscrupulous billboard company attempted to do. You must charge Pattison Outdoor Advertising under the powers granted to you in Chapter 140 of the City of Toronto Municipal Code. And, given the money involved, you ought to be compelled to seek the (paltry) maximum fine for a first time offence, $25, 000.

Though you’ve told me that according to Chapter 140 (the lobbyist registry by-law) you can’t discuss whether an investigation is or is not being conducted, I am optimistic that you will do what is right by the residents of Toronto and enforce this law.

Sincerely,

Adam Chaleff-Freudenthaler

Photograph by Lexnger.