Government Operations committee  No, I understand. We went through this as there were these allegations that I was using my wife's office in an improper way, and as I've said, we've said that this is not true. I could recollect--

Government Operations committee  No, you're mistaken, Mr. Guimond--very mistaken, actually.

Government Operations committee  Yes.

Government Operations committee  Yes, I was.

Government Operations committee  That's still a question that has to be answered. I think many things have happened since the 2008 election that lead me to believe, as I said, that the Conservative Party of today is not the same party that I worked so hard to develop. The treatment of my wife, disregarding grassroots democracy---this was the pillar of the Reform Party and subsequent parties to respect grassroots democracy and their choice as to who they choose as their candidate and who they send to Ottawa at a subsequent election.

Government Operations committee  He said it would be tough. He said, “I know as the chair of caucus you're exempt from the Lobbying Act, so you're one of those public officials who could lobby.” This is when I volunteered the information, and I said, “I'm not comfortable with it.” He said, “You're right to probably avoid it.”

Government Operations committee  He agreed with me.

Government Operations committee  As I said, Mr. Lauzon, we followed the spirit and the letter of the law. We didn't take...the Lobbying Act—

Government Operations committee  Sorry, can you be...?

Government Operations committee  As I said, my partner is a lawyer, and he knew the law. He advised that unless we take money for any activities or talking to government, there's no need to register.

Government Operations committee  But I just told you we never took any money to lobby, so why would we register?

Government Operations committee  Mr. Lauzon, I have to disagree with you because what you're alleging is that I have lobbied, and I haven't.

Government Operations committee  But that would have been dishonest, Mr. Lauzon. I wasn't a lobbyist. I didn't want to lobby. I didn't want to register as a lobbyist. That's why I didn't take any money from my business to lobby.

Government Operations committee  Again, let me clarify, and I'm sorry if I've created confusion. My intention was never to lobby. Therefore, we did not take any contracts for lobbying. We didn't register as a lobbyist. That hasn't changed.

Government Operations committee  I'm looking forward to the lobbying commissioner's report on that. I think she will clarify a number of factors that I think are confused by many people about what lobbying means. So I would refer to her expertise on that.