Thank you very much, Chair.
I would like to follow up on some of the questioning of Mr. Barrett.
I really appreciate, Commissioner, that you've said that if it had not been an acceptable gift, it would have been reported on our website in 30 days. It has been 30 days, and nothing has been reported.
I want to pick up on some of the issues that Mr. Barrett outlined in more of a contextual basis.
The last time you were here, we talked about the strange case of five Conservative MPs who took a lavish trip to London in the summer of 2023. Included in the expenses were $600 in bottles of champagne, as well as porterhouse steaks, chateaubriand and smoked salmon. It cost over $6,200 for one night out for dinner. These expenses also included a $360 Uber ride.
Their expenses and their travel were paid for by an organization that was created by one of the MPs, Mr. John Williamson, who was on this trip with them, except that specific MPs' bills were paid by a Hungarian think tank.
At the time, you said that this would “seem to smell” and that you did not like that situation at all. The Lobbying Commissioner also said that this was an issue of concern. Do you still agree that this did not pass the smell test?