A person who lobbies without a return being filed as required by the Act is guilty of an offence.
A person who provides false or misleading information in a return filed or other document submitted to the Registrar is guilty of an offence. The person is not guilty of an offence if the person did not know at the time the information was provided that it was false or misleading and, with the exercise of due diligence, could not have known that it was false or misleading.
A person who is guilty of an offence is liable to a fine of not more than $25,000 for a first offence and to a fine of not more than $100,000 for a second or subsequent offence.
Following an Investigation, if it is determined that a person has committed an offence under the Act, the Ethics Commissioner may, if satisfied that it is necessary in the public interest, taking into account the gravity of the offence and the number of previous convictions or administrative penalties imposed, if any, prohibit the person who committed the offence for a period of not more than two years from lobbying and from filing or having a return filed in respect of the person. The Ethics Commissioner may make public the nature of an offence, the name of the person who committed it, the punishment imposed and, if applicable, any prohibition. If the Ethics Commissioner imposes a prohibition, the information relating to the prohibition shall be entered into the registry by the Ethics Commissioner.
A prosecution for an offence may not be commenced more than two years after the date on which the contravention occurred.