Information & Ethics committee  I diligently went through my records, and I can inform the committee that there were only two meetings—at the officials level that I'm aware of, certainly—that involved me or my staff. That was the meeting I attended that I described earlier and then the meeting that my staff who

Information & Ethics committee  The government announced additional funding for the SIF to support the government's efforts to respond to COVID-19. A number of very large investments have been made through SIF. I can give a couple of examples.

Information & Ethics committee  One would be Medicago, of Quebec City. Medicago is a Canadian vaccine company with a very promising vaccine. They received a contribution of $173 million through the SIF program to build out domestic biomanufacturing capacity. There have been other investments such as that throug

Information & Ethics committee  Yes. I apologize. It's the strategic innovation fund. It's our major industry support program.

Information & Ethics committee  Yes, of course. He was Canada's ambassador to the United States.

Information & Ethics committee  I know that there are constraints for former public servants with respect to lobbying. Is this what you are talking about?

Information & Ethics committee  I am aware of the different rules, but, honestly, I don't know all the sections by number, and I would need to have the document on hand. However, I understand what you are talking about.

Information & Ethics committee  I'm sorry—

Information & Ethics committee  I'm looking at the clerk on the screen. I apologize, sir, absolutely.

Information & Ethics committee  Yes, sir. I'm sorry about that. I was looking at the clerk. My apologies. Thank you, Mr. Sweet.

Information & Ethics committee  No, but you could be if you wished to be. I apologize.

Information & Ethics committee  I have been in this role at ISED, Mr. Chair, just over a year. It's my second term in the department. I was a senior associate deputy minister in the department about 10 years ago or so, so it's about three years and a bit in total, but it's one year in this particular role.

Information & Ethics committee  I would say that ISED's role is one that involves extensive engagement with industry. In addition to working directly with firms, for example, to help them with the development of technology to support their business plans, we also have to engage with firms regularly to better un

Information & Ethics committee  Yes, I would say that's practice. Sometimes that might be informal; you're just taking a sounding. Other times, we will have formal consultation and we'll put a paper out. That's very much routine.

Information & Ethics committee  Unquestionably. By the nature of our organization, we are lobbied extensively. If you look at the lobbying commissioner's reports, you'll see that ISED is always near the top of the list. Certainly our engagement with industry has gone up even higher during the pandemic. The memb