Premier's ally faces questions about lobbying

B.C.'s opposition New Democrats say it appears that Ken Dobell — a longtime ally of Premier Gordon Campbell — violated the Lobbyists' Registration Act in 2006 by working as a unregistered lobbyist for months.

The law says any lobbyist must register with the province within 10 days of starting work for a client.

Dobell officially registered in November 2006, but the NDP says he actually began work months earlier, in April.

NDP MLA Jenny Kwan raised the issue publicly in the legislature on Wednesday with a pointed question for Attorney General Wally Oppal.

"Why has the government not undertaken any steps to investigate Mr. Dobell," she asked.

Oppal appeared taken off guard by Kwan's allegations and responded with a challenge for the New Democrats — including the suggestion that they contact David Loukidelis, the head of the Information and Privacy Commission that oversees the registry.

"Make the allegations outside the house, make the allegations to the commissioner, where it will do some good," Oppal told the opposition.

NDP Leader Carole James then did just that, repeating the accusation outside the legislature.

"You can't backdate when you started lobbying and then say, 'Oops, I forgot to register. I'm sorry. Now I'll backdate it and tell you I've actually been lobbying for six months without registering.'"

The Information and Privacy Commission said it appears that Dobell violated the act. Loukidelis plans to raise the issue with the attorney general.

Dobell first worked with Campbell at Vancouver city hall, when the premier was the mayor and Dobell the city manager. He later became Campbell's deputy minister in Victoria.