By The Canadian Press

VICTORIA, B.C. - The B.C. legislature is considering proposed reforms to the lobbying act after Attorney General Mike de Jong suggested an overhaul on Tuesday.

The act, which has been virtually untouched since 2002, governs how individuals, business and groups conduct business with the government.

The Liberals promised to strengthen the act in their August throne speech, giving it new investigative and enforcement provisions.

"The bill will significantly strengthen the lobbyist registration regime in B.C. and it will bring it in close alignment with the existing Alberta legislation," de Jong said as he introduced the act.

Proposed changes will expand the lobbying definition to match Alberta's, resulting in only two streams of lobbyists that must adhere to stronger reporting requirements, he said.

The new act will also bar contracting with government and lobbying on the same subject matter, he added, and give the registrar powers to investigate and then report findings to the legislative assembly.

De Jong said it will impose administration penalties of up to $25,000, and, in some cases up to $100,000 for a subsequent offence. The limitation period will be extended to two years.

Violation of provincial lobbyist laws already carry a fine of up to $25,000.

The lobbyist act has been the subject of much criticism, including calls for reform by the Opposition New Democrats and the province's privacy commissioner, David Loukidelis.

Last fall, Loukidelis wrote letters to the NDP and former attorney general Wally Oppal saying the act needed more investigative tools to allow him to properly probe complaints.

Oppal agreed he was willing to make changes to the law, though he rejected most of the suggestions put forward by the NDP at the time.

In May 2008, Premier Gordon Campbell's former deputy minister, Ken Dobell, pleaded guilty to violating B.C. lobbyist laws for failing to register. He was granted an absolute discharge.

He also avoided being charged with violating federal lobbyist regulations by agreeing to write an essay on being a lobbyist.

Under federal rules, people who are paid to communicate with federal public office holders are required to register under the Lobbyist Act, and they have 10 days to report new lobbying activity.

If passed, the new provincial legislation will take effect April 1, 2010.