Information & Ethics committee  A lot of information is available on our website. But we do respond to requests for presentations. Pierre can speak even more.... Just recently he's been in discussions with those who were lobbying and wanted additional clarification. I recently sent out 21 letters to most lobby departments and met with the deputy ministers to talk about the implementation of the act and what's occurring as well as what needs there are.

Information & Ethics committee  The letters were my opportunity to speak to public officer-holders. I'm planning to offer that to the respective leaders as well. But in terms of the lobbyists, one of the things we've done recently...for anybody searching our website, we did a survey of the information available on our website.

Information & Ethics committee  Yes. I was quite pleased in meeting with the deputy ministers that all of them were very well aware of the act, and, depending on the department, had different processes in place to keep track of the meetings, so when I come to verify the information, it's easier for them to respond.

Information & Ethics committee  It takes up a significant portion. If I look at 2009-10 in terms of the program activity of my $4.5 million budget, I have roughly a million for that.

Information & Ethics committee  If I'm understanding the question--

Information & Ethics committee  The act specifically covers those individuals who are lobbying public office-holders. If these individuals that are being lobbied are not public office-holders, then those meetings would not be covered, Mr. Chair.

Information & Ethics committee  Sorry?

Information & Ethics committee  With the new changes to the act, there are more disclosure requirements regarding offices held and whether these people had been what we now call public office-holders. Moreover, the communication entries are showing which of those individuals, if any, are meeting with public office-holders.

Information & Ethics committee  The regulations specifically mentioned oral and arranged meetings. If you were to bump into a member at the gym, an initial registration might be required if it's about a registerable activity. To just bump into someone, that would be oral, the individual would be paid, but the act also required the meeting to have been arranged.

Information & Ethics committee  In terms of education purposes, one of the requirements for filing a monthly return is just that, if the individual communicates with a designated public officer-holder. But there are also other reasons why a person may file a monthly communication, such as new information, he or she is now lobbying another department, additional subject matter, maybe the chief operating officer in the company has changed, or an addition or the termination of the activity.

Information & Ethics committee  They're on the website: one is Mr. Mark Brosens, who was in the minister's office, and Monsieur Guy Bujold, who had been the former president of the Space Agency.

Information & Ethics committee  Mr. Member, to answer the question, what I said to the other member, I meant it. In terms of granting exemptions it's very much that. There will be exceptional circumstances. I very much respect what Parliament passed in terms of wanting to avoid the revolving door and to ensure that those who were in certain positions could not use their contacts or other benefits for lobbying purposes for five years.

Information & Ethics committee  The act is coming up for review in another year.

Information & Ethics committee  Mr. Chair, would the member like me to address the first point, in terms of the reduction of the number of lobbyists or...?

Information & Ethics committee  Thank you. On the question of expanded powers, previously the act talked about the fact that I could look into doing investigations under the code of conduct. It wasn't clear under the act that I actually had the ability to look into infractions of the act. You may recall that, as I mentioned in one of my previous appearances, there was a court case that actually questioned the previous registrar's ability to look into infractions of the act.