Alexandra Posadzki
CUP Ontario Bureau Chief
TORONTO (CUP) – The Ontario government is attempting to introduce a new law that will put the public sector on a shorter leash, after it was revealed that several Ontario universities had spent taxpayers’ money on government lobbying.
Bill 122, which is currently undergoing a second reading in the provincial legislature, will require CEOs of universities, hospitals and other publicly funded entities to post their expenses online.
It will also ban them from spending government money on lobby groups.
Andrea Horwath, leader of the Ontario NDP and primary whistleblower
on the university spending practices, says the new legislation contains loopholes that would allow universities to continue hiring lobbyists.
On Oct. 5, Horwath announced to the provincial legislature that nine Ontario universities and colleges, including Laurentian University,
Wilfrid Laurier University and York University, had spent a combined
total of $1 million on professional lobby firms.
The information was acquired through freedom-of-information requests.
“I think the bill provides lots of opportunities for lobbyists to continue
to be hired by post-secondary education institutions [and] hospitals,
because it doesn’t outright ban that practice,” Horwath said.
“It’s basically saying that they could use the dollars that are fundraised or that come not from the public purse, just not public dollars, for lobbyists.”
Horwath said the NDP plans to provide the government with suggestions on how to tighten up the legislation when the bill enters into the committee review process.
“We have some concerns that the bill is not strong enough and has some room for improvement, and we’re always willing to help make those suggestions. Let’s hope the government pays attention to our suggestions and implements them,” she said.
York University spent more money than allthe other Ontario universities, shelling out nearly $500,000 on three companies registered as lobby groups: The Counsel Public Affairs, the Devon Group and EcoNexus.
Alex Bilyk, York’s director of media relations, said the firms were hired not to lobby the government, but as consultants on several projects that York did not have the staff to lead.
The firms were used to assist the university with its medical school initiative, with creating a strategic environmental plan and with its plans to host a portion of the Pan Am Games in 2015.
“Somebody jumped to the conclusion that because these people are registered lobbyists, they’re doing lobbyist work,” said Bilyk.
Bilyk said that if the government implements Bill 122, York would abide by its provisions.
“Ontario universities already operate in a very transparent manner. We comply with all the laws governing our activities, and we will comply with any new provisions that are instituted,” he said.
