Legal regulation of lobbying in Canada

Introduction: according to the lobbying legislation in Canada, lobbying activity describes as a legitimate way to influence on the decision making process. The article contains analysis of lobbying regulation at the Federal and the provincial levels of Canada. Also it includes the Codes of conduct for lobbyists. Purpose: author sticks to the point that lobbying legislation in this country forms one of the most effective modern models of legal regulation of lobbying. Results: the canadian legislators explain lobbying as a legal part of the political democratic process. Author turns to details of their regulations, definitions of lobbying, public office-holders, lobbyists, describes penalties, circumstances and rules of registration. There are two types of lobbyists in Canada - lobbyists-consultants and corporate lobbyists. Author describes the procedure of registration for all types of lobbyists and provides updated statistics of registered lobbyists. Analyzes amendments to the federal lobbying act helped clean up loopholes in regulation. This article provides penalties for illegal or improper lobbying. Conclusions: the Canadian model of legal regulation of lobbying refers to medium-regulated. It describes effectiveness of the Canadian system and possibility to use some of the features to create system of legal regulation of lobbying in Russia.