Information & Ethics Committee on Nov. 27th, 2020

[Nancy Bélanger]

I can tell you the only time...and it has happened. I've ceased an investigation, because the law permits me to do so. It's when it becomes extremely clear that we began possibly under a false assumption. For example, we'll start an investigation because we believed someone arranged a meeting. We start it, and then clearly find that no arranging of a meeting occurred. I will cease it. There is no point in pursuing something and possibly reporting to Parliament on something that really wasn't happening.

It doesn't happen very often, but it does happen. With the staff and resources that I have, when it's not worth it because clearly there is nothing there—when the foundation from which we started is not longer there—I will cease it.

[Chris Warkentin, Conservative, Grande Prairie—Mackenzie, AB]

If a company ceased to exist that had been paying a lobbyist you were investigating, would you cease it then?

[Nancy Bélanger]

No.

[Chris Warkentin, Conservative, Grande Prairie—Mackenzie, AB]

That's very helpful.

In terms of trying to weed through, if a company is being paid by one organization to benefit an affiliate that—

[Marie-Hélène Gaudreau, Bloc, Laurentides—Labelle, QC]

I have a point of order, Mr. Chair.

[Chris Warkentin, Conservative, Grande Prairie—Mackenzie, AB]

Pardon me, I think something's wrong with my—

[Marie-Hélène Gaudreau, Bloc, Laurentides—Labelle, QC]

Mr. Chair, if the microphone is not properly positioned, close to the mouth, the interpretation volume is very low and it's impossible to hear what is being said.

[Chris Warkentin, Conservative, Grande Prairie—Mackenzie, AB]

I'm going to give it a shot here.

[Marie-Hélène Gaudreau, Bloc, Laurentides—Labelle, QC]

Thank you.

[Chris Warkentin, Conservative, Grande Prairie—Mackenzie, AB]

Let's test that. No, it's still doing it, Mr. Chair.

It's probably best that I discontinue, then.

[The Chair, Conservative, David Sweet]

Thank you very much, then, Madame Bélanger. We appreciate your taking the time to testify before the committee.

I have a brief announcement. I was thinking about something with regard to your training staff, etc. As you were talking to my colleagues, I thought maybe when I confirm appointments, I will put at the bottom of the confirmation email that if you're a lobbyist and you haven't registered with the Commissioner of Lobbying, you could be committing an offence.

Would you welcome something like that on an email confirming a meeting?

[Nancy Bélanger]

That will certainly scare people. Absolutely.

[The Chair, Conservative, David Sweet]

It's serving them due notice.

[Nancy Bélanger]

Absolutely.

[The Chair, Conservative, David Sweet]

Thank you very much, again, Madame Bélanger.

Colleagues, we're going to adjourn, but I want you to know that we will begin our meeting at noon on Monday, not at 11. We only have one witness, so I figured that rather than starting at 11 and going till noon, we'll start at noon and go till 1:00. That'll give those of you who travel to Ottawa an extra hour for your travel.

We'll begin then with our single witness that we were able to.... We've done everything we could. Kudos to the clerk for trying to cajole and encourage them, phoning back and emailing repeatedly, but that's all we were able to do for Monday. We do have our meeting starting at noon on Monday.

Have a great weekend. Please be safe.

Have a good day.

The meeting is adjourned.