Mayor Waffling On Lobbyist Registry

In order to protect his union, social in-activists, environut buddies.......two weeks into the new year and two broken promises.

Also on the agenda for the city's executive committee is Miller's promised revival of the controversial lobbyist registry. The mayor is sticking to his guns about making unions exempt – the thorny issue that killed approval of the registry last year.

A lobbyist registry was recommended by Justice Denise Bellamy after her inquiry into corruption at city hall. But councillors shot it down 22-19, arguing it was unfair to exempt civic unions and non-profit groups.

Yesterday, Miller was asked whether he was trying to use his executive committee to shore up approval for the registry before it goes to council again.

Miller said he doesn't see it that way, adding he doesn't want the registry to "compromise" the city's duty to work with unions on health, safety and labour-relations issues.

"Past that, unions should be subject to the same rules as anyone else seeking to benefit from a procurement issue at the city."