Information & Ethics committee  It was the advisers in my office who spoke with people in his office.

Information & Ethics committee  Yes, that's correct. I talked about it when we talked about extraordinary gifts.

Information & Ethics committee  It's the latter. I hate to say it, but I really can't see how you can.... When you come to me with a conflict of interest, you basically disclose to me your personal relationship, your financial involvement, your familial situation, or whatever it happens to be, and you'd be surprised how complicated the lives of some people are.

Information & Ethics committee  There's no maximum set out in the act or the code. However, in situations where, as you say, it's an exceptional gift, like a $1-million Ferrari, for example, I always have the option of launching an investigation on my own initiative, if I have reason to believe that there's a problem.

Information & Ethics committee  There are other codes elsewhere that set a maximum amount. First, you asked whether the act should be amended, and perhaps we could do that. Parliament could then decide on an acceptable maximum amount.

Information & Ethics committee  As I said the last time I was here, there should be a provision to appoint an assistant commissioner to make decisions if there is no commissioner or if the commissioner is absent, for example for health reasons. Otherwise, a number of other elements would warrant revisions or amendments.

Information & Ethics committee  Yes.

Information & Ethics committee  Yes.

Information & Ethics committee  That's a decision that will be made by the Privy Council and the Prime Minister. It's not my decision to make.

Information & Ethics committee  That's correct.

Information & Ethics committee  I'll pass you on to Ms. Robinson-Dalpé, who is the person who will give the answer. What would you say to a person like that?

Information & Ethics committee  I feel like I'm repeating myself. As I said in my opening statement, one core principle that makes the system work is confidentiality. Therefore, you as office-holders can come to talk to us in full confidence that whatever you discuss with us will not be disclosed. It's up to you to disclose.

Information & Ethics committee  In your instance, the code for the House of Commons has to look at what the principles are. They have to “fulfill their public duties with honesty and uphold the highest standards so as to avoid real or apparent conflicts of interests, and maintain and enhance public confidence and trust in the integrity of each member and in the House of Commons”.

Information & Ethics committee  Legislation and codes always need to be reviewed, reformed and adjusted based on the current situation. It's now 2024, and it seems to me that a review would be appropriate. The world has changed a lot, and the Conflict of Interest Act and the Conflict of Interest Code for Members of the House of Commons were written before we really understood the digital challenges we face now.

Information & Ethics committee  It's not a question of.... You are trying to get me into income tax issues here. That is not the issue at all. The issue is whether this gift, in any way, puts forward a situation in subsection 11(1), which I have pointed out, and I read it out to you. It's something “that might reasonably be seen to have been given to influence the public office holder”.