Pembroke, ON – Cheryl Gallant, Member of Parliament (Renfrew-Nipissing-Pembroke) will kick off debate today on her legislation to defend Canadian policies from foreign interference.
“Whether it is foreign competition trying to block a pipeline, or foreign State-Owned Enterprises trying to build a pipeline, Canadians are increasingly being subjected to sophisticated public lobbying campaigns funded by these foreign interests,” said MP Cheryl Gallant.
Bill C-278, The Foreign Lobbyist Transparency Act, will require lobbyists to disclose when registering the originating source of funding for their lobbying activity, and report the use of a public lobby campaign aimed at having Canadians pressure their politicians.
“When lobbyists want to meet with politicians, they must register. However, when they launch a campaign to ask the public to do the lobbying on their behalf, they do not have to disclose anything. The Foreign Lobbyist Transparency Act will close that loophole,” said MP Gallant.
MP Cheryl Gallant will launch the first hour of debate for her Private Members Bill this evening. Following a second hour of debate sometime in late April or early May, the House of Commons will vote on whether to send the bill to committee for study.
“It is my hope that Members of Parliament from all parties will come together and support passage of The Foreign Lobbyist Transparency Act,” said MP Gallant.
At the start of each new Parliament, Members are chosen by random lottery to present a bill or motion to be debated and voted on. During the last Parliament, MP Cheryl Gallant’s bill, The Disability Tax Credit Promoters Restrictions Act, was passed with the unanimous support of all parties.