Mr. Chair, with respect to the question of “normally”, it's certainly a vague term in law. So there is a vagueness in the use of that word. Given that this is, again, being designed as a discretionary regulation that the Governor in Council would be passing, the Governor in Council could, in the regulation, give more precision to what “normally” means.
That being said, I think it's important that the committee be aware that there may be implications under Canada's trade agreements. Once you get over the $100,000-for-service and the $25,000-for-goods contracts, there are requirements in terms of open bidding, and there are very specific areas where the government is allowed to close off competition. I'm not aware of any area under any of the internal or international trade agreements that would allow the government to close off competition from a lobby firm.