Information & Ethics Committee on Feb. 17th, 2023

[Jean-François Routhier]

The code was adopted in 2004, two years after the Lobbying Transparency and Ethics Act was enacted. The code has never been officially revised. We have focused a lot of our activities on the reform of the act itself, because it contains profound biases and we think that in 2023, it is time to move to the next level of oversight and make sure the gaps are filled.

We could solve some problems by revising the Code of Conduct for Lobbyists, but in my opinion, that are more fundamental issues in the act that have to be fixed first.

[René Villemure, Bloc, Trois-Rivières, QC]

Since 2002, how many times has the act been revised?

[Jean-François Routhier]

There has never been a major revision. The last amendment was in 2019, when the commissioner was given responsibility for the Registry of Lobbyists and for building a new disclosure platform. That responsibility formerly lay with the ministère de la Justice, and this created a two-headed system. Fortunately, that responsibility was transferred in 2019 and today we have a new registry, one that, in my opinion, is an example of best practices when it comes to disclosure of lobbying activities.

[René Villemure, Bloc, Trois-Rivières, QC]

A little earlier, my colleague talked about volunteers acting as lobbyists, at least, around rule 6. Is too much being made of that rule, or is it, rather, a fundamental element?

[Jean-François Routhier]

Again, I think the federal commissioner is trying to eliminate or manage problems that are actually present or are perceived at the federal level. The issue of political involvement, for example, has not come up in the broad discussions in Quebec. If I were asked how to proceed, I would answer that I always advocate the greatest transparency. Transparency is the real solution, not bans. That said, again, I understand very well why the commissioner wants to delineate what her code applies to.

[René Villemure, Bloc, Trois-Rivières, QC]

Thank you.

[The Chair, Conservative, John Brassard]

Thank you, Mr. Villemure and Mr. Routhier.

[Michael Barrett, Conservative, Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, ON]

I have a point of order, Chair.

[The Chair, Conservative, John Brassard]

Go ahead with your point of order.

[Michael Barrett, Conservative, Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, ON]

Chair, could we do a connection test and confirm that Mr. Kurek is able to exercise his rights as a member of this committee? I see that he's changed his devices to another approved House device, and he is still wearing an approved headset from the House.

Can we get confirmation from the technicians and from the interpreters and from you that Mr. Kurek can continue to participate in the meeting?

[The Chair, Conservative, John Brassard]

Thank you, Mr. Barrett.

Madam Clerk, has the test been done with Mr. Kurek? If not, can we do a test to make sure that he's okay?

[The Clerk of the Committee, Ms. Nancy Vohl]

I confirm that it's already here in the chat that Mr. Kurek is properly connected with a Surface Pro and that he has a Jabra headset from the House of Commons.

[The Chair, Conservative, John Brassard]

Okay. Thank you.

[Michael Barrett, Conservative, Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, ON]

On that point of order, Chair, Mr. Kurek completed a connection test before the start of the meeting with the House-approved devices he was using. Can we hear from Mr. Kurek and have confirmation that the sound quality is appropriate so that he can continue?

[Ya'ara Saks, Liberal, York Centre, ON]

I have a point of order, Chair.

[The Chair, Conservative, John Brassard]

Hang on with the point.

Mr. Kurek, are you there? Can you give us a quick test, please?

[Damien Kurek, Conservative, Battle River—Crowfoot, AB]

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I'm joining you all from [Inaudible—Editor] here today.

[The Chair, Conservative, John Brassard]

It sounds much better to me.

[Damien Kurek, Conservative, Battle River—Crowfoot, AB]

Okay. Thank you.

[The Chair, Conservative, John Brassard]

Go ahead, Ms. Saks.

[Ya'ara Saks, Liberal, York Centre, ON]

[Inaudible—Editor] over half the time with the witnesses.

[The Chair, Conservative, John Brassard]

Thank you for that intervention.

Mr. Green—

[Ya'ara Saks, Liberal, York Centre, ON]

There are technicians to take care of it.

[The Chair, Conservative, John Brassard]

Mr. Barrett, just hang on a sec, okay?

Mr. Kurek's test has been done. I am going to go to Mr. Green for six minutes—we don't need to prolong this—and then I'm going to come back and I'm going to give Mr. Kurek his one minute he had left, after Mr. Green. I think that's fair.

[Michael Barrett, Conservative, Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, ON]

It's a question of privilege, Chair.