Information & Ethics committee  Yes. It's a good question. You are all subject to making sure that you're not furthering the private interests of your friends. I think that is important. Who is a friend is a difficult question to answer. I want people to call us so that we can help them navigate it. We have a definition of a close bond.

Information & Ethics committee  Yes.

Information & Ethics committee  That is a very good question. If it's something that this committee thinks I should do, I would definitely consider it. Obviously, there are some serious privacy concerns in getting advice and a reduction. Unless it's in my code that I would make those things public, the individual would need to consent.

Information & Ethics committee  Right now, the guidance doesn't mean very much. Lobbyists can offer hospitality, and if the recipient can accept it, they can give it. Let's not forget that you're not the only ones who are being lobbied and offered hospitality. The senators are, and all the public servants are too.

Information & Ethics committee  If I may correct you first, we are talking about 12 or 24 months, not two months. We considered the following: the current guideline says 5 years or nothing at all. We looked at how things are done elsewhere around the world. What I can say is that it is the people who are lobbied who have to comply with the regulations.

Information & Ethics committee  Yes.

Information & Ethics committee  I do not make regulations pertaining to your role, but you may contact Mr. Dion, your resource person on ethical matters.

Information & Ethics committee  There would be a consequence for the lobbyist. If I conclude from my investigation that the person should not have lobbied you, I report that to Parliament. The only consequence is to the person's reputation as a result of a report to Parliament. There is no penalty though.

Information & Ethics committee  I completely agree with you. When I asked for a legal opinion, I did not limit the question to political activity. I asked a number of questions, and a rule preventing someone from working subsequently does indeed have legal implications relating to the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

Information & Ethics committee  In the world, there are about 11 countries that have codes of conduct. Of course, it will depend on their regime. I've read them all to see if I could get inspired, and for the most part they're very much principle-based. Very often the authorities don't necessarily have the power to investigate and regulate.

Information & Ethics committee  If the individual is a registered lobbyist, they do need to be vigilant about whom they go to help and who they're going to lobby afterwards. They should be calling my office. If I can give you some stats, there have been two elections since 2017, since I've been in my position.

Information & Ethics committee  That's a good question. In the case of a person who is supposed to be in the registry, but is not, I would conduct an investigation. If I have reasonable doubts that the person should have been in the registry, I have to suspend my investigation and report it to the RCMP. The Office of the Commissioner of Lobbying is on the lookout then.

Information & Ethics committee  Yes, definitely.

Information & Ethics committee  With respect to consultants, if they are hired to negotiate a contract for an organization or corporation, they would need to register. Organizations and corporations that follow any public process.... Even if it's not a public process, any contracting is currently not required to be registered under the registry.

Information & Ethics committee  Certainly the pandemic has increased the number of communications, mainly because people needed to be heard, and all of you did open your doors, so the numbers have gone up and continue to go up. One of the requirements under the act is to actually enter every time you have an oral and arranged communication.