Information & Ethics committee  I believe I have answered that question, Mr. Chair. I will get back to the committee after I look into the matter. I still have full confidence in my staff that it didn't occur from our office, but I will look into it.

Information & Ethics committee  A couple of weeks. In a week or two I should be able to get back to the committee on that particular point.

Information & Ethics committee  Mr. Chair, in terms of the member's question on the money being spent, my understanding is that this has come up before, when previous versions of the act came up for review. Each time, Parliament has chosen not to include how much lobbyists are earning or are spending on campaigns.

Information & Ethics committee  Mr. Chair, the newspaper article said the quote came from the Prime Minister's Office. As I read the article, there was nothing in the article that says that our office told the Prime Minister's Office that we were actually looking into this. Is there someone guessing or whatever that we may or may not be looking into this?

Information & Ethics committee  I guess, yes. As I said, I will look into it.

Information & Ethics committee  No, but if I understand the question I'm being asked.... As I've said, I have confidence in my staff and the relationship we have. Whether I'll actually look into whether I have a leak I think is the question.

Information & Ethics committee  I don't have any evidence, with the professional staff I have on board, of any indication of staff having spoken to the PMO. The member is quite correct. If I could comment, I would be reporting to Parliament. I would not be reporting to others.

Information & Ethics committee  Again, Mr. Chair, I have every confidence in my staff, but I will look into this when I get back.

Information & Ethics committee  We have found it curious. As I explained, Mr. Chair, there seem to be some reasons in terms of corporate rationalizations and the fact that the number of firms actually did go up last year. But I have to admit from the complaints coming into the office on different matters that I have no evidence to suggest there is unregistered lobbying occurring.

Information & Ethics committee  Regarding the member's last question about ethics, Mr. Chair, the lobbying legislation in terms of the culture in the U.S. is quite different from that in Canada. They have to report on the amount of money they spend on lobbying activities and sometimes, I believe, on the success of lobbying as well.

Information & Ethics committee  Yes, and in ours we actually have the names of the designated public office-holders who are being lobbied, which they don't.

Information & Ethics committee  That's a good question. But I honestly don't know, nor do members of my staff with whom I've spoken know, where that PMO comment came from.

Information & Ethics committee  Not in my opinion. The law shows that everyone who does lobbying with public office holders has to register.

Information & Ethics committee  That is something we do regularly. Richard Desjardins can perhaps also speak to that. We have a system that includes multimedia tutorials. In view of the changes in regulations and policies, he and his team work with the multimedia tutorials to make the necessary changes. An interpretation bulletin has just been added regarding tax credits.

Information & Ethics committee  First, the Lobbying Act deals with communication between a lobbyist and a public office holder. Mr. Martin was talking about all lobbyists. We sometimes say a public office holder, under the act, that means just about everyone in Ottawa. If there are communications between the two people, the lobbyist has to register with the commissioner.