Information & Ethics committee  I think you have answered the question, which is that there's already an existing limit. It is on you to say you have to disclose everything over $200. That should stay in place. The onus shouldn't be on us to keep an eye on what you're consuming at events, that wining and dining.

Information & Ethics committee  If you take into consideration what we're proposing with regard to rules 4 and 6, you are not losing the essence of the changes proposed in front of you—transparency and efficacy. Rules 4 and 6 are having a negative impact, so we're asking you to address that, then leave the rest, because it's working to the extent it needs to, I think, and will allow us to represent workers who trust us to talk to elected officials.

Information & Ethics committee  Yes, absolutely. I think putting up signs was excluded, if I remember correctly. However, yes, whether it's leaflet dropping, door knocking, getting on the phones, participating in a campaign, that is an absolute concern of ours because we encourage our members to get involved and to get involved with candidates they like.

Information & Ethics committee  The solution that we are putting in front of you is the existing rule. It is that you have to monitor yourself and you know what the limit is. We're not trying to figure out what you're consuming at different events. We're not trying to figure out if you can come or not. These are not extravagant events, but they have a cost to them, so we think the onus should be on you.

Information & Ethics committee  Absolutely: I think it's as my colleague Mike said. We don't know the motivation for these changes to happen, and I don't have examples of where this illegal lobbying has happened.

Information & Ethics committee  Yes, I agree with you that not all lobbyists are the same. I am sitting here because there are three million-odd workers who support the CLC, but the reality is that the lobbyist registry registers me as a lobbyist. That means I'm covered by those rules, but it doesn't negate my rights and the role I play in the union movement.

Information & Ethics committee  I don't think it's exactly the way you're saying it. We did look at this to see what it was going to mean for our organization, and I think you're well-versed on the type of work we do. “Lobbyist” can be used as a dirty word, to be quite honest. It can be used to dismiss your ideas, but that's not why we're here.

Information & Ethics committee  I think we're looking at what is being proposed and saying that two years for the higher level that's being proposed makes sense, because we're going from four to two, but that including all of the other positions is too wide. Democracy means involvement. It means not just showing up for voting.

Information & Ethics committee  I think there are rules in place, so I don't think the dangers are there. We understand and agree with looking at this legislation and making sure that people are covered by it. It's these two parts of this legislation that we think are reaching too far and are going to have a negative impact on the work, especially when I speak to leaders who are in the labour movement and who have been elected to represent their members.

Information & Ethics committee  Currently, no. We're only here, saying that we want to see four and six addressed. We think that having oversight to ensure that there are ethics that exist in those rules...we're comfortable with that.

Information & Ethics committee  Absolutely, but I also think well of people. I think people come to the table for the right reasons. Those rules need to exist. It can't be a free-for-all, but it cannot hinder people's constitutional rights.

Information & Ethics committee  I'll speak as a labour activist. When I come to speak to elected officers or officials like you, it's never to buy you off. We come with the facts about what members want to see in the legislation, and we trust that you're gathering that from all your constituents and that you are going to turn around and make sure that our legislation is in a position that it best represents all of this.

Information & Ethics committee  Listen, I think this is one of those things you read and say, “This cannot be what was meant”. If you've ever held an event at any hotel anywhere, you're not getting the breakfast coffee for $40. I don't think that was the intention, which is why we want to raise awareness of it, because it is absolutely ridiculous.

Information & Ethics committee  Thank you and good afternoon, Chair and committee members. My name is Siobhán Vipond. I'm executive vice-president of the Canadian Labour Congress, Canada's largest central labour body. The CLC advocates on national issues on behalf of workers from coast to coast to coast. We support the objectives of the code to ensure that lobbyists adhere to the highest standards of transparency, respect for government institutions, integrity and honesty.

Finance committee  We're here to say that this needs to be a superpriority. If you put a cap or a partial superpriority.... The reality is that when you're investing in your pension, you're not investing in your pension with the hope that you get most of it. You're investing in your pension expecting your pension to be at that level.