Evidence of meeting #82 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 internet.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Conservative
David Tilson Conservative Dufferin—Caledon, ON
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Ms. Fortier, I think, was asking questions about what your thoughts are for the future, and I understand that you'd rather wait to talk to people about that, but you must have some philosophy about certain things.
The thought has occurred to me about office-holders and the role of office-holders that there doesn't seem to be any role of office-holders. Lobbyists must register. We meet lobbyists all the time. I meet people who come in. I have never seen them before and I never see them again. I have no idea who they are.
Liberal
Conservative
David Tilson Conservative Dufferin—Caledon, ON
Well, that's an issue. There does not seem to be any role of lobbyists. Should there be?
Nominee for the position of Commissioner of Lobbying, As an Individual
I didn't get the last. Should there be...?
Conservative
David Tilson Conservative Dufferin—Caledon, ON
Should there be a role for lobbyists under the Lobbying Act? For example, should there be an obligation of office-holders, members of Parliament, to determine whether or not someone is legitimately there as a lobbyist?
Nominee for the position of Commissioner of Lobbying, As an Individual
I will first start by saying that I think lobbying is absolutely required. It is a legitimate activity. I think Canadians should feel absolutely better served, knowing that lobbyists are approaching all of you who are making decisions with the options—
Nominee for the position of Commissioner of Lobbying, As an Individual
I'm going to make it to your point.
The Lobbying Act requires lobbyists to register. There is not an obligation, but in the act, there is a requirement for the commissioner to verify with you, public office holders, that the information that lobbyists put on the registry is accurate. If you have never been approached yet, I'm going to be there, possibly in a month from now, but the role of the public office holder is to inform the Commissioner of Lobbying whether the information is accurate. The importance of this is to ensure that Canadians know that each and every one of you who make decisions are making them in the public interest, impartially, objectively, and because the activities that you've been lobbied about are transparent.
Your role will be to respond to the Commissioner of Lobbying, should she ask you whether or not the information is accurate, and that is in the legislation.
Conservative
David Tilson Conservative Dufferin—Caledon, ON
I look forward to your call, because I've never had one.
Nominee for the position of Commissioner of Lobbying, As an Individual
Wonderful. Okay.
Conservative
David Tilson Conservative Dufferin—Caledon, ON
I see a lot of lobbyists.
My other question follows along with what Mr. Cullen was asking on the issue of investigation. You indicated that it appeared to be discretionary as to whether or not a new commissioner could proceed with an investigation.
Nominee for the position of Commissioner of Lobbying, As an Individual
I did not say it was discretionary, quite the reverse. I think that if an investigation has begun and it's a mandatory investigation, it should continue. I'm not sure that I would have the discretion to stop it.
Conservative
David Tilson Conservative Dufferin—Caledon, ON
Do we have your commitment that if you are appointed you will do that?
Nominee for the position of Commissioner of Lobbying, As an Individual
What I will commit to is making sure that I have the authority to continue, and if I do, I will.
I would have to look into whether or not there's a legal issue, and I have not looked into that matter. I don't want to act illegally either, so if I'm not authorized to continue, I won't. If there is nothing stopping an investigation from continuing, there is no reason in my view to stop it.
Conservative
Nominee for the position of Commissioner of Lobbying, As an Individual
I will continue the investigations that are ongoing.
Conservative
Nominee for the position of Commissioner of Lobbying, As an Individual
Absolutely.
Conservative
Liberal
Frank Baylis Liberal Pierrefonds—Dollard, QC
Good afternoon, Ms. Bélanger.
You said in your opening statement that you have young teenagers who keep you grounded. If you can explain how that's done....
Liberal
Frank Baylis Liberal Pierrefonds—Dollard, QC
I'm more than interested, because I've had three teenagers and they've done a lot to me, but—
