Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Ms. Curtis. I was very impressed with your presentation and your point that we should avoid people selling their relationship, but more or less praise people who are selling their expertise.
A number of questions have been raised by this bill, and a number of amendments may come forward at the last minute, I hope. The question is, what is the difference between a former staffer for a political minister working as a lobbyist after leaving the minister's office, with the three- to five-year period, whatever it is, which are covered by this bill, and someone who leaves an opposition member's office and becomes a lobbyist when the government changes? These are real-life examples.
I have tried to illustrate, in questions in the House and other places, that it really doesn't matter where the money comes from, whether from government or the opposition or Parliament or political parties. What really matters is the relationship; if someone has been with a politician who is now a minister but who was an opposition member for ten years, as a campaign worker or a staffer, obviously they have a relationship that is important to the lobby firm. I would like to see something included in the bill that precludes that, for whatever period. I understand what you're saying about three to five years. That's very debatable, as well, I think
Do you agree with me that it's the relationship or connection that the putative lobbyist has with the now-cabinet minister, or the then-cabinet minister, that matters, and not where the money came from?