Adam Johnson
Northern News Services
Published Friday, January 11, 2008

YELLOWKNIFE - With the former premier riding into the private sector sunset, one MLA says the NWT needs restrictions on what members can do with their careers post-politics.

"I don't think anybody should be benefiting from knowledge gleaned on the job," said Kam Lake MLA Dave Ramsay.

Former premier Joe Handley has denied accusations that he has moved into "lobbying" with Pacific Western Bank. Regardless, one MLA is looking into legislation that will limit the involvement of former members in lobbying once they leave politics. - Adam Johnson/NNSL photo

He said two sections of the Executive Council and Legislative Assembly Act deal with the issue but don't do enough.

"It's not as solid as it could be." he said.

The act prevents ministers and the speaker of the legislative assembly from getting involved in departments they once had responsibility over for one year after they leave office.

"That doesn't stop them from getting involved in departments they didn't have responsibility for," he said.

"If you're the minister of transportation, you're still in the room (during other discussions)," he said.

Former premier Joe Handley recently took on an advisor role with Pacific Western Bank, an organization he said is poised to do major investment in the North.

Ramsay uses Handley as an example of a politician-turned-lobbyist - something Handley flatly denies.

"I'm not a lobbyist," he said. "I don't really know what a lobbyist is."

Handley said his official title is "special advisor on Northern issues" for the bank, and he will be providing advice on future investment.

"If there's an opportunity, sure they would ask me for advice, ask me to get information," he said.

"I might encourage them to do business, or I might advise them not to do business."

"Advising is a nice word for lobbying," Ramsay said in response."It's amazing what influence a former member (can have)," he said. "(Handley) knows this system very well, he knows who to talk to."

Before his two terms in the legislative assembly, Handley was a deputy minister with the Department of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development (now split into the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment) and deputy minister of Transportation.

Ramsay said he plans to bring the issue before the legislative assembly during its next session in February.

Duff Conacher, co-ordinator for the Ottawa-based watchdog group Democracy Watch, said many provinces base their lobbying restrictions on the federal model, which he said is "flawed."

"It's not a ban on lobbying, it's a ban on becoming a registered lobbyist," Conacher said.

According to the Federal Accountability Act, there is a five-year ban on ministers and senior government officials becoming registered lobbyists. Also, there is a two-year "cooling off period" that prevents ministers from contacting their former colleagues.

There are no restrictions on regular MPs, Conacher said.

However, he said part-time corporate lobbyists and unpaid lobbyists don't have to register, and therefore aren't regulated.

"They can (lobby) the day after they leave office," he said.

"The feds have these loopholes, but they still have the highest standards in the country."