This amendment deals with the situation to make sure we achieve the objective that has been sought by the government to ensure--as I think the Prime Minister has said--there isn't a revolving door between political office and lobbying offices. This is really to ensure that a revolving door doesn't mean a one-way street. It will treat people in influence appropriately to reach the government's objective in a more balanced way.
In drafting this we have not said that former MPs and their senior staff should be excluded, because, particularly after hearing Mr. Walsh, that could be seen to be impeding upon the autonomy of members of Parliament and the House of Commons. That's why it's limited here to people who are MPs, perhaps, but who are in an official capacity with an opposition party. They should be covered by the same limitation--whether it be five years, three years, or whatever--as former staff and former ministers.