Information & Ethics committee  During the review of the act, that was one of the powers I asked for. The government's response indicated it is looking at that.

Information & Ethics committee  Oh, yes.

Information & Ethics committee  Part of this summer we're sure to be looking at developing the guidance that will go with it. But as I was saying in my opening remarks, certain relationships create more that sense of obligation, so relationships where this is a partner relationship, financial or business dealings, for example, a relative.

Information & Ethics committee  The situation you're describing, to me, would be like a working relationship, where we all have acquaintances and friends. I would think a reasonable person would look at that and say it's not creating a sense of obligation. But a close personal friendship, where there's a close personal bond, almost as if the friend is your relative, I think would be a situation where a reasonable Canadian might question that particular relationship.

Information & Ethics committee  Yes. The conflict of interest commissioner has used a definition. She's defined a close personal friend, in relation to the difference between acquaintances and close personal friends. I find that to be a definition that does make it a little clearer to work with. When I was doing the consultation I actually heard, from some lobbyists, some concerns like the ones you're raising, but also an appreciation that there were certain friends they were not lobbying because they didn't want to put that particular friend in a conflict of interest.

Information & Ethics committee  Yes, I fully agree with that. One of the reasons the rule reads the way it does now, as opposed to the way I had it previously, where it actually referred to friend and relative in the rule, is that I appreciated, in listening to the consultations and upon hindsight, that you don't want to stop good public policy.

Information & Ethics committee  In terms of enforcement powers, if I find that there's a breach of the act and I have reasonable grounds to believe that the act has been breached, then I have to suspend my particular investigation and refer it to the RCMP, who will then look at it.

Information & Ethics committee  Yes.

Information & Ethics committee  What's probably different is we're doing a lot more webinars for first-time registrants on the education front. We're trying to use the website as much as we can continuously to reach out to as many as we can. The biggest thing probably that's different is with the new Lobbyists' Code of Conduct and the strategy that's going to have to go around it.

Information & Ethics committee  Yes, because with my experience, as I've said before to this committee, lobbyists very much want to comply with both the act and the code. I feel it is my job to make sure that they have the necessary guidance and tools to be able to do that. At the time of gazetting I'm looking at having the tools and guidance ready.

Information & Ethics committee  Yes, the segregated network was done so we could better protect the security of the compliance files. But we're also finding an additional benefit in it, in that it's providing a great development environment that's allowing us to replicate the lobbyists' registration system.

Information & Ethics committee  Right now the maintenance is just that. It's what's keeping it running on an ongoing basis, so the normal bugs or fixed things that may come up on a daily basis are there. It's just literally keeping the system running and running well. We've invested a lot over the years, so it's a very robust system.

Information & Ethics committee  I mentioned something while the bill was being reviewed. It depends on the how it is applied according to the 20% rule. Some lobbyists would probably not be covered by the legislation. That may be one of the reasons. If an organization did not have to register initially, it would not have to produce a monthly report, either.

Information & Ethics committee  Lobbyists currently have to produce a report if they are organizing the meeting. If the meeting yields a financial benefit, whether for the public office holder or the lobbyist, that person has to produce a monthly report.

Information & Ethics committee  Yes, my office was informed of those meetings. I always take allegations seriously. I can confirm to the committee that I am looking into the lobbying activities to determine whether there is a problem.