Mr. Calkins talked about the value or threshold for gifts. It's at $200 and there's a suggestion by the commissioner to lower that to $30.
I want to give you an example of a lobby group and a public office holder and how this can be a real challenge. The Canadian dairy association members always hold their meetings here in Ottawa. They invite MPs to join them for dinner at the Chateau, and it's not cheap—I would say even reaching the $200 threshold. Yet they're an organization, and so I feel they are lobbyists. They're getting paid indirectly as directors for the cost of those trips here and whatnot. Yet it would be unreasonable for me not be there, given that I have dairy farmers in my area. But there isn't a time that I sit with them when they don't talk about supply management. This is the difficulty I'm having. I think they have a right to express their views and I don't think the dinner I enjoy with them and the time out is unduly challenging my decision-making.
Those are the kinds of things that create difficulties when we put rules in place. Are these going to put restrictions on accessibility and free dialogue with constituents or organizations that have particular issues they want to bring forward to their elected representative?