Ontario's lobbying watchdog has reported that two lawyers who worked on planning matters tied to the Halton area failed to meet registration obligations under provincial law in 2023.
What the commissioner found
The Office of the Integrity Commissioner, headed by Cathryn Motherwell, posted notices this week indicating that lawyers Isaac Tang and Pitman Patterson were each in "non-compliance" with the Lobbyists Registration Act after not filing a registration related to efforts to secure a minister’s zoning order (MZO).
Both lawyers are partners at the national firm Borden Ladner Gervais and are known for their work in land‑use planning and municipal law. The notices do not provide further detail on whether the unregistered work related to the same client or the same MZO application.
"failed to comply with the (LRA) by failing to file one registration on behalf of one client"
Local context and implications
The matter is linked to planning disputes that have concerned residents in and around Halton, notably the long-running controversy over the future of the Millcroft Golf Course in Burlington. Although the commissioner's brief notices stop short of outlining the full circumstances, the decision to publish the names signals the regulator's choice of public disclosure as its primary enforcement tool.
- Two named lawyers: Isaac Tang and Pitman Patterson.
- Year of the conduct: 2023.
- Alleged breach: failure to file a lobbying registration for activity connected to a minister’s zoning order.
What the office says and next steps
In accompanying commentary, the integrity commissioner's office explained it publishes only the information necessary to enforce the Act or to satisfy reporting obligations. The regulator has limited sanctioning powers under the LRA; traditionally, naming those found in breach has been the principal consequence made public by successive commissioners.
Attempts to contact the two lawyers for comment were unsuccessful before the notices were posted. The public summaries on the commissioner's website are concise and do not detail the lobbying activities, clients or ministers involved. For residents tracking local developments in planning and development, the episode highlights the intersection of legal advocacy and transparency rules that apply when parties seek ministerial interventions.
| Lawyer | Firm | Finding |
|---|---|---|
| Isaac Tang | Borden Ladner Gervais | Failed to file one registration (2023) |
| Pitman Patterson | Borden Ladner Gervais | Failed to file one registration (2023) |
Halton residents with an interest in how large development proposals are pursued at provincial level will likely watch for any further disclosures from the commissioner or subsequent inquiries that clarify the circumstances and any potential impact on pending or past planning decisions.
