The Harper government is vowing to "clean up" lobbying by federal agencies, but critics see the move as a damage control effort to blunt questions surrounding a lobbyist-organized fundraiser for a senior cabinet minister.

Treasury Board President Vic Toews told the House of Commons yesterday that an edict was issued to all federal agencies warning them not to hire outside companies to lobby the federal government. He said the move would save tax dollars.

"These interactions should be conducted directly and without use of publicly funded lobbyists," said Mr. Toews, who did not answer reporters' questions afterward.

However, responses from the minister's office suggest the move will not be a big money-saver.

Mr. Toews's office said the warning, sent by the Clerk of the Privy Council to 91 Crown corporations and "shared governance" organizations, is not a new policy. Rather, it was a reminder to agencies like port authorities that were created after a similar edict in 1985.

"In general, since the issuance of the [1985] original letter, organizations have complied," said Christine Csversko, a spokeswoman for Mr. Toews. She noted that some recent entries on the Registry of Lobbyists show that Crown corporations or other federal agencies are hiring outside lobbyists.

In the House of Commons, opposition MPs said the government's edict had more to do with questions over a fundraiser for Natural Resources Minister Lisa Raitt.

Liberal MP Paul Szabo has filed a complaint with the federal Ethics Commissioner because a staff member of the Toronto Port Authority used her work e-mail account to send out invitations to a September political fundraiser for Ms. Raitt. As well, Mr. Szabo and NDP MP Olivia Chow have objected to the fact that one of the event's organizers was Michael McSweeney, vice-president of the Cement Association of Canada, who is registered to lobby Ms. Raitt.

The opposition politicians said Mr. Toews's directive to the federal agencies would not address the complaints, and is merely an attempt to show that the government is tough on lobbying.

On Oct. 9, Ms. Raitt issued an official statement under the Conflict of Interest Act stating that she has agreed not to participate in matters involving the Cement Association of Canada or Mr. McSweeney, "to prevent any conflict of interest."

Ms. Raitt, a former president of the Toronto Port Authority, has also faced opposition accusations in the House that she did not follow all the authority's rules for approving expenses.

Mark McQueen, the chairman of the authority's board of directors, has asked Auditor-General Sheila Fraser to examine the authority's books to counter the criticism.

Ms. Raitt's office did not answer a request for comment.