Earlier, we reported Alliance of Beverage Licensees of B.C. past president Dave Crown name isn't on the lobbyist registry - even though has spoken with government about dropping alcohol prices for his members. The reason: unpaid lobbyists don't need to register. But that's not the only loophole in the Lobbyists Registration Act - which was passed as part of the Liberal's 2001 election promise to run the most open and accountable government in Canada. Government relations professionals who spend less than 20 percent of their work hours each month arm-twisting politicians and bureaucrats don't have to register either. That may soon change, though.

Mary Carlson, director of the office of the information and privacy commissioner, tell us her boss wrote to Attorney General Wally Oppal on January 4 recommending his ministry "as soon as possible, undertake a full review of the Lobbyist Registration Act itself. The Act has been in force for four years and questions arise about its current state and whether it is consistent with current national legislative trends respecting lobbying activities" - a reference to the federal government, which maintains a more robust lobbyist registry.