Information & Ethics Committee on Oct. 6th, 2025

[Luc Thériault, Bloc, Montcalm, QC]

Thank you, Commissioner.

We will continue along those lines. This resonates with me because there are important, even essential or indispensable, organizations that are given few resources to carry out their duties to the fullest. So we do a lot with little, but we should be doing more with much more.

The 2025‑26 departmental plan indicates that there are staffing issues, particularly due to competition for specialized resources.

What is the current situation in this regard? How could you be more competitive in attracting people? Are you short-staffed? I imagine that would require a lot more resources.

[Nancy Bélanger]

I think the departmental plan refers to the fact that I received additional funding in 2021 and 2023 to increase my staff from 28 to 37. Since then, I've set that number at 35, and I don't think I can hire two more people because I don't have enough money in my operating budget. Operating costs continue to rise. Each year, I am left with a surplus of less than $200,000. So, I don't have a lot of money.

In short, in terms of staffing, I'd say that we're operating at full capacity. I have 35 employees and I couldn't hire many more because I wouldn't have enough money.

[Luc Thériault, Bloc, Montcalm, QC]

But the needs are there.

[Nancy Bélanger]

Yes, absolutely.

When I took this position, we had 28 employees and a budget of $4.8 million. I submitted two budget requests. The first was approved in full. As for the second, I had requested eight additional employees and was granted four.

This brings me to the budget submission process. It should be independent and not dependent on the government of the day. This is another issue that needs to be addressed.

That said, yes, I would definitely like to have more staff.

[Luc Thériault, Bloc, Montcalm, QC]

It's one thing to revise the Lobbying Act, but a bad law is a law that cannot be enforced. So, if we don't have the resources needed to comply with the requirements of a legislative review and the recommendations that will have to be made, we'll be no further ahead.

[Nancy Bélanger]

When I started working on recommendations in 2018‑19, I carried out a study. There will be more transparency. However, I'm not sure that this will significantly increase the workload of the Office of the Commissioner of Lobbying. More people will be required to register, for sure. I may have to reorganize resources and request more employees. That said, there are no plans to double the number of staff at the Office of the Commissioner. We're quite efficient. I work with highly skilled people. We might need about ten more employees, at most. We're quite capable of doing our job. We've developed great skills and efficiency. Things are going well.

[Luc Thériault, Bloc, Montcalm, QC]

A word to the wise.

You spoke earlier about a range of penalties.

What would be the biggest penalties?

[Nancy Bélanger]

Right now, during an investigation, as soon as I have good reason to believe that an offence has been committed—any violation of the act is considered an offence—I must pass the information on to the RCMP. I have no discretionary power. I send everything to the RCMP.

In my opinion, my colleagues across the country could cover a whole range. We could start with mandatory training. We could then cover financial penalties that would be made public. We could even impose a ban on lobbying for a certain period. The most egregious cases could then be referred to the RCMP.

I really need that flexibility. Right now, I'm speaking to the committee and you want me to talk about penalties, but I can't. I can't discuss them. I refer those cases to the RCMP.

[Luc Thériault, Bloc, Montcalm, QC]

I see.

[Nancy Bélanger]

I suggest that, when reviewing the legislation, you invite RCMP officials to hear their perspective as well.

[Luc Thériault, Bloc, Montcalm, QC]

That was actually one of my questions.

Which partners and stakeholders should be involved in this review and should come talk to us about it, apart from you, of course?

[Nancy Bélanger]

Of course, I would like to be there at the start and at the end. I'll come back as often as you want to hear from me.

You certainly need to also hear from my provincial counterparts, who have reviewed the legislation. In my opinion, the near‑perfect model right now—it may have a few flaws—is the British Columbia model. You should definitely invite my counterpart from British Columbia and possibly RCMP officials as well. My counterpart in Quebec is also very active in reviewing legislation and would be a good person to talk to.

[Luc Thériault, Bloc, Montcalm, QC]

Thank you.

Is my time up, Mr. Chair?

[The Chair, Conservative, John Brassard]

You have five seconds left.

Are you finished?

[Luc Thériault, Bloc, Montcalm, QC]

That's fine. I'll continue later.

[The Chair, Conservative, John Brassard]

Okay. Thank you.

I'm going to take Monsieur Thériault's time.

You mentioned, Ms. Bélanger, that 8,800 lobbyists have been registered in 2024-25. Last time you were here, you had seen a significant spike in registered lobbying. Can you do a comparison—

[Nancy Bélanger]

It was probably an increase of 5%. I think we were at 7,700 the previous year. There seems to be an increase of 5% every year. The monthly communication reports went down from 34,000 to 31,000, but that's normal in an election year. Technically, from January to April this year, there were really a lot fewer monthly communication reports.

[The Chair, Conservative, John Brassard]

Can you supply that to the committee for the period from, say, 2015 to 2025?

[Nancy Bélanger]

Yes, absolutely.

[The Chair, Conservative, John Brassard]

Thank you.

That completes our first round.

Mr. Cooper, you'll start the second round. You have five minutes. Go ahead, sir.

[Michael Cooper, Conservative, St. Albert—Sturgeon River, AB]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Commissioner, on September 19, 2025, The Globe and Mail reported that a real estate executive, a lobbyist and a banker who all happened to very conveniently be Liberal insiders held an exclusive reception for Liberal MPs and cabinet ministers during the recent Liberal national caucus retreat in Edmonton. Liberal MPs and cabinet ministers were invited for a beverage to discuss politics.

To be clear, lobbying rules require lobbyists to report a meeting with public office holders even if they are oral and arranged. Is that correct?

[Nancy Bélanger]

Yes.

[Michael Cooper, Conservative, St. Albert—Sturgeon River, AB]

Under the Lobbying Act, reportable subjects include communicating with a public office holder regarding “the development...of any policy or program of the Government of Canada”; the awarding of any “grant, contribution or other financial benefit”; the “awarding of any contract”; and the “making or amendment of any regulation” or “introduction of any Bill”. It's pretty broad. Do I have it right?

[Nancy Bélanger]

Yes.

[Michael Cooper, Conservative, St. Albert—Sturgeon River, AB]

With respect to this reception, has any return disclosing communications with one or more public office holders on a reportable subject been filed with your office?