Corporations will have to pull back curtain on who’s lobbying feds

OTTAWA – Mining giant Barrick Gold won’t say which of its people placed calls this year to Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s right-hand man.

But soon companies won’t be able to shield the identity of all those involved in lobbying government officials.

The government says it will change lobbying rules so that the name of every in-house corporate lobbyist who communicates with a public officer holder is publicly listed.

The House of Commons ethics commissioner is currently investigating three calls placed by one or more Barrick Gold officials to Nigel Wright, Harper’s chief of staff.

Wright has a personal relationship with Barrick founder and chairman Peter Munk and his son Anthony Munk, who sits on the firm’s board.

Only the name of the person who files reports to the lobbying commissioner is currently disclosed, even if that person was not part of a meeting or phone call.