Mr. Chairman, this amendment of Mr. Owen brings a smile to my face. I will read it and you will tell me if I am wrong. The idea is to add the following paragraph:d) the leader, deputy leader, house leader or whip of a party and any senior staff employed in his or her office, including any unpaid senior advisors.
This would mean that staff working in the office of the Bloc québécois or NDP whips would be covered, but that a Conservative MP would not be.
Let me give you an example. Let us say that the Conservative MP for Simcoe-North tables a bill and that he is the owner of a hotel. The bill that he brings forward is asking the federal government to carry out a feasibility study in order to increase tourism in the region where he owns a hotel. His family has owned this hotel for five generations, since 1884. I simply wonder why this MP would not be covered.
I would be prepared to vote in favour of this amendment, but on condition that everyone on Parliament Hill be included. I fail to understand why a receptionist--I have great respect for these people--in the office of the whip for the Bloc or the leader of the Bloc québécois should be covered by this legislation, whereas an MP's staff would not be.
Even senior staff are covered. There are people here who are senior staff members and who are working with us on our study of Bill C-2. If they wish to get into lobbying down the road, I believe that nothing should prevent them from doing so because they are not privy to any government secrets. Therefore, if the staff of the whip's office or the leader's office is included, it seems to me that we should also include all members of the governing party. I believe my example is a good illustration of what a member of the party in power is able to do.
Thank you very much.