Information & Ethics committee  I will repeat what I've said. I can't comment on whether there is an investigation or not. I do want to reassure the committee that very often when I get letters, I know what's going on already. We're really on top of...we observe what's in the media. We listen to what's going on in the House.

Information & Ethics committee  What's in the public domain probably doesn't include enough information for me to make a finding, and I will leave it at that for that particular file.

Information & Ethics committee  People who have worked with me would know that I would likely start at the beginning. I would like to personally get to the bottom of the story. However, I would also take advantage of the fact that the facts are out there already, so I will use what is out there to advance it as quickly as possible.

Information & Ethics committee  I can't, and I don't confirm and I don't deny exactly for that reason: not to jeopardize any type of investigation that the RCMP will be doing. It's a weird situation. The way our act is written, if it's an offence, in other words if it's unregistered lobbying or lobbying while prohibited, when I have reasonable grounds to believe that's happened, I have to suspend.

Information & Ethics committee  I can't comment.

Information & Ethics committee  Again, I can't comment.

Information & Ethics committee  For sure if there's consideration to join the two offices, there should be a study to look at whether or not there could be some efficiencies in costs. We have no one who does HR. Our server is held by OPC. We have the Canadian Human Rights Commission, which offers us all its services and contracting in HR.

Information & Ethics committee  I don't have that luxury. I do believe there are cost efficiencies that could happen. Whether it's worth amalgamating, I don't know because I have not done the study.

Information & Ethics committee  What I would recommend the committee do, if it's something that you are considering, is approach our provincial counterparts. Both information and privacy are joined in the provinces. On lobbying, my colleague in Ontario holds about seven hats. It might be interesting for you to speak to them.

Information & Ethics committee  Thank you.

Information & Ethics committee  I can confirm that the appeal has been filed. I will answer your question to the best of my ability, knowing that there is an appeal before the court.

Information & Ethics committee  First of all, I have the greatest respect for the Federal Court. I articled there; I worked there, and I will always abide by a decision of a judge. You will never hear me criticize or comment on the decisions in a negative way. Therefore, I will abide by the decision of the Federal Court of Appeal.

Information & Ethics committee  I do not know.

Information & Ethics committee  No, and it is not a requirement of our current regime to ask how much lobbyists are being paid. It is a requirement in the U.S., and so it's quite a popular thing. In Canada it's not a requirement. Quite frankly, I have not seen the need for it so far.

Information & Ethics committee  That's an interesting question. First of all, lobbying, as defined in the Lobbying Act, is considered a legitimate activity. Influence peddling is a different story. If you're a former designated public office holder, you're not allowed to lobby for five years, so with the scenario you have given me, I'm not sure where we'd draw the line with respect to the facts, either.