Evidence of meeting #80 for Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics in the 42nd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was office.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Bob Zimmer
Thank you, Commissioner.
I want to clarify that the issue of the court case is ongoing. I would ask committee members to avoid questions in that regard because the commissioner will not be able to answer them anyway. I will try to guide that as much as I can, but I'd appreciate it if we just stayed away from the subject.
First up is Ms. Fortier.
Liberal
Mona Fortier Liberal Ottawa—Vanier, ON
Madam Commissioner, thank you for being with us today to present your additional requests.
Could you explain which projects you had to set aside and how that affected your organization's effectiveness? Will you be able to catch up fully if this amount is granted?
Commissioner of Lobbying, Office of the Commissioner of Lobbying
Thank you for your questions.
There are two notable projects. The first concerns the registry system and the second concerns our website. An update is important to improve ease of use and accessibility.
The act exists to require the transparency of lobbying activities so that Canadians and lobbyists, among others, can find this information and to ensure compliance with the act.
It's this project that I put—
Commissioner of Lobbying, Office of the Commissioner of Lobbying
Yes, that's it.
The other project involves information management. The situation has been really stable for several years. There is a lot of information. It's important that the employees have access to the information they need to do analyses, conduct investigations, ensure compliance with the act, and improve the situation of the office. I think that's really important. It's one thing the committee approved when I submitted my departmental plan including all the priorities for this year.
If I received the funds now, I am sure that I could move these projects forward. I repeat that access to the $400,000 I'm requesting today does not involve an increase in my budget. It would instead be a special allocation. It's simply to give us some flexibility, and enable us to establish our priorities and defend the case.
As I said before this committee, I run a lean and effective organization. I don't have the money for this.
Liberal
Mona Fortier Liberal Ottawa—Vanier, ON
As I understand it, according to your departmental plan, you intend to assess your outreach and education program.
Have you already had the opportunity to conduct this study? Is that why you had to put some of your projects on hold?
Commissioner of Lobbying, Office of the Commissioner of Lobbying
We've finished the assessment, and we are in the process of studying the suggestions that would help to improve the situation. The danger is finding something that we should do but can't because of a lack of flexibility within the budget.
Liberal
Mona Fortier Liberal Ottawa—Vanier, ON
Because my questions have already been asked, I'm going to share with Monsieur Picard.
Liberal
Michel Picard Liberal Montarville, QC
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
We won't discuss the details of the case before the court.
Have you used legal services in the past? Is it too periodic to make it a consistency, a provision? Is there a provision in the coming years for this kind of exception?
Commissioner of Lobbying, Office of the Commissioner of Lobbying
That's a good question.
There is no precedent.
Yes, it would be a good thing if it was possible to have money that I could use as needed.
Liberal
Michel Picard Liberal Montarville, QC
Not on a long-term basis, but between two and four years, do you have any...? Besides those issues you wanted to fix, which you were not able to fix because you don't have the money, what is your vision for the next two to four years in terms of the development of your service?
Commissioner of Lobbying, Office of the Commissioner of Lobbying
In terms of moving forward with the lobbyist registration—?
Liberal
Michel Picard Liberal Montarville, QC
In the kinds of services you provide to the public, are there some challenges that you would like to consider on a middle-term basis, for example? Would you like to expand, or do you think that your service is as efficient as it should be and you're satisfied with the way it's going?
Commissioner of Lobbying, Office of the Commissioner of Lobbying
In terms of things like the lobbyist registration system, for years I had put that system into maintenance mode when there was the first budget cut of 5%. It's a robust system, but it's not sustainable in the long term. I've started to put money into the project from the discretionary funds, so that is something that will require investments.
One of the things I was going to be looking at today in this discussion was the legislative review. Depending on what happens with the legislative review, that is something I can see the office will likely need to seek funding for, if not on a long-term basis, on a one-time basis, because there will be a need to put money into education and so on.
I mean, we're doing what we can. I'm very lucky with the office I have that we have found the efficiencies that we can.
I mentioned that before even trying to request the funding or getting access to the funding, I did a strategic resource review, which looked at the fact that things are running tight and there really isn't any movement to move things from one project to another or to stop.
Conservative
Conservative
Peter Kent Conservative Thornhill, ON
Thank you very much, Chair.
Thank you, Commissioner. It's always good to talk to you.
Just about this time a year ago, you said you wouldn't accept an extension, and then circumstances, of course, resulted in another extension. I'm wondering what you see now as your final day in the commissioner's office.
Commissioner of Lobbying, Office of the Commissioner of Lobbying
First of all, if I may, for the record, I think what I had said in the past was that I was not going to seek reappointment. In other words, I was not going to—
Commissioner of Lobbying, Office of the Commissioner of Lobbying
However, I've always said that I am committed to ensuring a smooth transition.
At this point, my extension is scheduled to end on December 29. There is a process under way, and I would have to suggest that you speak with the Privy Council Office as to the status of where things are.
Conservative
Peter Kent Conservative Thornhill, ON
Now in the event that another extension doesn't occur, by whatever means, what is the transition process in the absence of a sitting commissioner? How would your office operate? How would investigations continue? How would all of the reporting and analysis by those who report to your office be processed?
Commissioner of Lobbying, Office of the Commissioner of Lobbying
To be honest, it's hard to speculate at this point. What I can say is that the staff are very professional and very well educated and there are things in place, but in terms of speculating as to what might happen, I'm sorry, I don't have an answer for you.