Public Safety committee  Proposed section 27 sets out the regulations. Proposed paragraph 27(a) adds potential classes of individuals who would fit the definition of “public office holder”. It's meant to identify classes, not to identify countries or organizations. It's meant to make sure that there's enough flexibility in the legislation, through regulation, that if we believe that a certain group of people should be captured by the registration obligation, there's an ability in the regulations to do that.

Public Safety committee  That's right.

Public Safety committee  That's correct.

Public Safety committee  It is up to the Governor in Council to decide when that is.

Public Safety committee  Yes. It's up to them to decide when.

Public Safety committee  Sébastien, I don't know if you want to answer first.

Public Safety committee  Thank you. Some of them are simpler than others—determining the amount of penalties that corporations or individuals might have to pay in terms of an administrative monetary penalty. Sometimes there's a differentiation in regime. That's fairly straightforward. To answer your question about consultation, some of them might require consultation more than others.

Public Safety committee  It is possible that there will be some consultation activities on some regulations.

Public Safety committee  We take note of the concern, and I would say that the element of all of this that is key to the foreign influence transparency registry is bringing transparency. Even bringing sunlight to associations is a key valuable tool, and I know that the service agrees with that as well.

Public Safety committee  I thank the member for his question, Mr. Chair. As I mentioned earlier, it will ultimately be up to Parliament to pass the bill with any potential amendments. However, I would say that the bill ensures independence for the commissioner in terms of decisions related to enforcing the regime.

Public Safety committee  The bill provides that the commissioner will have to submit an annual report to the minister, which the minister will have to table in Parliament.

Public Safety committee  Ultimately, they would also be accountable to Parliament.

Public Safety committee  The bill provides for consultation with recognized political parties on the appointment of the commissioner.

Public Safety committee  The political processes set out in the bill include the nomination of candidates for political parties. Foreign activity related to a political party's nomination process would need to be registered with the commissioner.

Public Safety committee  The registry does not require the payment. The bill does not require the payment of monies for an arrangement to be captured by a registration obligation. It can be an understanding of doing a favour or anything like that. It does not require payment.