Through you, Madam Chair, Democracy Watch's position is that we agree with Mr. Dion's six general recommendations and nine technical recommendations generally.
However, with regard to the recommendations on gifts, he has proposed that each lobbyist be allowed to give a $30 gift annually to each MP. The way this is phrased—and it may be a mistake by the Ethics Commissioner—this means that a big business could have each of its lobbyists, as well as each of its board members and employees, buy a $30 gift for each MP, which would add up to hundreds of dollars of gifts annually, likely mainly in the form of wining and dining.
Given that testing of tens of thousands of people around the world by psychologists in every country has shown that even small gifts and favours influence decisions, the current section 14 on gift rules should be changed instead to prohibit MPs and their staff from accepting any gifts or hospitality from anyone or any entity that has an interest in any federal government decision or action, or that communicates or will communicate with an MP or staff in respect of any of their decisions.
The second—