Information & Ethics committee  I can start, and I'll ask René to join in. Every December the executive group gets together, and we talk about what the priorities are going to be for the following year. That's what is used to determine the budget. René works with the executives in terms of the process of coming forward with projects.

Information & Ethics committee  Mr. Chair and members of the committee, I am pleased to be here today to discuss the main estimates and to outline my priorities for the coming year. I am joined by René Leblanc, the deputy commissioner and chief financial officer. My mandate is threefold: to maintain a registry of lobbyists, to develop and implement educational programs to foster awareness of the Lobbying Act, and to ensure compliance with the act and the Lobbyists' Code of Conduct.

Information & Ethics committee  I continue to believe that Canada has one of most robust models in the world when it comes to lobbying, but as I said in my opening remarks and during the review of the legislation, I think one of things that would help in terms of giving greater flexibility is a review of the administrative monetary penalties.

Information & Ethics committee  I think the way you said it is correct: the lobbyist would be coming to me to determine whether he or she is in breach of the code or to get good guidance—as I was saying, a number of people are doing that—and the member would be going to my colleague, I assume, to determine whether the relationship is problematic for the member.

Information & Ethics committee  The member would not have to report to me. The guidance I'm giving to the lobbyist is clear: if you have a relationship in which there might be seen to be a sense of obligation, you should not be lobbying that particular individual. If the individual is a minister, you should not be lobbying that minister and/or his or her staff.

Information & Ethics committee  The overall precept that's in rule six is that the lobbyist should always ask himself or herself if the sense of obligation or the preferential access would exist if the lobbyist were to call someone else. To be clear, lobbying is a legitimate activity. It's not to stop someone from lobbying.

Information & Ethics committee  In the guidance I've provided to lobbyists, preferential access occurs when they share a relationship. For example, I've defined “friend” and “family member”. It's also if there are financial dealings. In terms of “friend”, it's where there is a close personal bond of affection that goes beyond simple association.

Information & Ethics committee  During my two-year consultation process, I did hear from public office holders. Before publicizing the guidance, I showed it to my colleague. In terms of the “friend” definition, it is actually based on a definition that was used by my colleague in another report that she had done.

Information & Ethics committee  Well, let me just say right now, because I do talk about budgets, that as I've said in a previous version of this committee, I'm running a lean organization. I have 28 staff, and thanks to them I've been able to operate and make appropriate trade-offs in terms of how much I invest each year.

Information & Ethics committee  There's nothing in the Lobbying Act in terms of conflict of interest, but there is in the Lobbyists' Code of Conduct. As I was saying in my opening remarks, the reason it's in the code and was in the previous code as well since 1997 is to assure Canadians of the integrity of the decisions being made by the government.

Information & Ethics committee  Good morning, Mr. Chair and members of the committee. I am pleased to be here today to discuss the lobbying regime and what might be of interest for the committee to pursue during its mandate. First let me congratulate you on being elected to the House and being named to serve on this committee.

Information & Ethics committee  Our budget was cut by 5%, not 8%. To continue to deliver on my mandate, I have placed the registry in maintenance mode, but, as I said, that situation is not sustainable in the long term. So I am trying to see what I can do to ensure the system's long-term sustainability.

Information & Ethics committee  Actually, in the enforcement regime that I have, I'm very pleased with what the team has been doing in terms of being even more proactive in terms of how we can ensure compliance. For example, I've mentioned before to this committee that we do what I call media monitoring. That might seem simplistic in itself, that you're just checking the media, but it isn't.

Information & Ethics committee  Yes, there are. There are two provinces that have the ability to issue administrative monetary penalties.

Information & Ethics committee  They can issue administrative monetary penalties. They can actually put a sanction appropriate to the breach, so like a late filing, or lesser transgressions that I just—