Information & Ethics committee  That is one of the difficulties with regard to the act as it stands at the moment, as is the concept of influence. The quality or quantity of influence is absolutely impossible to quantify with any precision. So we must make an interpretation and, as it now stands, the interpreta

Information & Ethics committee  The act says “significant part of the duties”. So, in order to enforce the act, if you want to find a guilty person and charge them, you have to be able prove with certainty that this person has violated the act. From an enforcement point of view, we go by what the act says, bec

Information & Ethics committee  If, for some reason, the RCMP decides not to follow up on the file—and the act does indeed prescribe jail terms and fines, so they can be imposed further to an RCMP investigation—the case comes back to us. We can then report to Parliament and make the case public.

Information & Ethics committee  Table.

Information & Ethics committee  She tables an investigation report. The investigation has been completed, and the report is tabled in Parliament for information purposes.

Information & Ethics committee  Actually, those reports are produced following an investigation. In cases where the investigation deals with the act, and not the code, the files or the individuals are initially referred to the RCMP. The RCMP is the only body with the authority to legally go after the parties or

Information & Ethics committee  It's within 30 seconds.

Information & Ethics committee  It's on page 2.

Information & Ethics committee  Could I add a word, please?

Information & Ethics committee  I believe that Mrs. Shepherd did not understand your question. I believe that you were referring to cases where we find that there is a well-founded offense but for which we take measures other than a referral to the RCMP. Was that your question?

Information & Ethics committee  Those measures would be education or information measures, to make sure that the lobbyists have a good understanding of the legislation and of its requirements. Does that answer your question?

Information & Ethics committee  Once again, the prohibition would only apply if there had been a judgment against the person. In the case we are talking about, there has never been such a judgment and so the Commissioner has never had the opportunity to apply that rule.

Information & Ethics committee  I will answer because you are speaking very fast. The word ”actually” simply means that, in cases where there are meetings with designated public office holders that should be reported in the monthly reports, the persons who were present at those meetings are not necessarily ide

Information & Ethics committee  The strategic planning....

Information & Ethics committee  Thank you. First of all, strategic planning is an annual exercise. It is undertaken year-round, not just at a specific point in time. Of course, at the beginning of the year or in planning for it, we arrange a certain number of meetings in order to set priorities and allocate re