Information & Ethics committee  Yes.

Information & Ethics committee  Given the importance of education, I'm not sure that I see it diminishing. It may expand, or I may want to change the way we're getting the message out. I think we can always improve.

Information & Ethics committee  I would say it's part of the education mandate. As I indicated, I always appreciate the importance of educating as the best way to ensure compliance. The developing of these training programs is getting the message out, yes—it's talking about the lobbying legislation—but it's educating.

Information & Ethics committee  I'm not great with percentages, but I can tell you from the RPP, the report on plans and priorities for next year, that of my budget of $4.5 million a little over $1 million is being allocated to education and research.

Information & Ethics committee  Having been in a position where I was lobbied, or people were coming to me to provide ideas to change legislation or improve a program, I can say that as a public servant and someone in policy, you benefit from having all of the best information among your resources. There is a role that lobbyists play in the policy field.

Information & Ethics committee  The act is very specific again as to what constitutes lobbying, and one of the things the Lobbying Act put into place was a five-year prohibition for those who are occupying designated positions.

Information & Ethics committee  At this point, the lobbying legislation has only been there for ten months. I don't have an answer, but that is something I can look at in preparing something for when the act comes up for review. I don't have an answer for it right now.

Information & Ethics committee  The Lobbying Act, which has been in force for approximately ten months, is pretty specific as to which activities constitute lobbying. In terms of meetings, the act introduced the new requirement of monthly reporting. If communication is on a lobbying activity and has been arranged by the lobbyist, that meeting would be reported, and given the volume we are seeing coming into the registry, I think so far the Lobbying Act is showing that this new development seems to be working.

Information & Ethics committee  To be honest, I find that ten months is still early to see how the five-year prohibition on other activities will be. That is something I would look at, yes.

Information & Ethics committee  It was Dave Penner, from the Prime Minister's Office.

Information & Ethics committee  I have never been a member at any level of any political party.

Information & Ethics committee  The majority of administrative reviews or fact-finding cases are issues of individuals who have not registered. There are some cases we look at in terms of improper reporting or they may not have disclosed everything they should have. That tends to be the type of genre of cases.

Information & Ethics committee  Sorry, I don't know that I mentioned three. If I did in my remarks, I apologize. I don't believe I mentioned a specific number. I don't have that number in terms of how many of the administrative reviews I have on file actually deal with a breach of the code. But I'd be pleased to come back.

Information & Ethics committee  Not as yet.

Information & Ethics committee  Yes, they have. They were initiated under the previous regime.