Information & Ethics committee  That's what we're doing. The outreach is for explaining that to individuals. But I'm also finding, from some lobbyists, when they recount stories, that they would rather over-report, which does not constitute a breach of the act, than maybe err on the side of not reporting and be found to be in breach.

Information & Ethics committee  Yes. That deck is a smaller version of some of the other decks you will see on the website. The site's tailored a little bit more for members of the committee in terms of what I thought would be pertinent information. But yes, I would consider that an educational tool.

Information & Ethics committee  Yes, actually. As you know, I wrote to all members of Parliament and included “Ten Things You Should Know About Lobbying”. I've also written to all of the political leaders and offered to meet with caucuses, if interested. Actually, I have a couple of meetings being set up at the Senate level and at the House of Commons level.

Information & Ethics committee  Right, and one of the things I found in doing the outreach is that designated public officer holders are sort of going through it as well, and have decided, in some cases, to contact the lobbyist to sort of say that it wasn't oral and arranged, and they are having it removed from the system.

Information & Ethics committee  Yes.

Information & Ethics committee  It's a question of why I'd be coming to you. On the monthly report, it's strictly to verify the information the lobbyist is required to report on. So in your case, it would be the name, the member of Parliament, the date, and the subject matter, such as health. That's all I'd be coming to verify with you on a monthly communication report.

Information & Ethics committee  No more than what was discussed in the House.

Information & Ethics committee  As it so happens, one of the ministers in the most lobbied departments was Minister Day. In my meeting with him during the outreach activities—it was just after the House had passed the motion to include parliamentary secretaries, and the government had indicated it would be including all members of Parliament...and senators, I believe--I took the opportunity to indicate that if it was simply an expansion of the definition, my system could accommodate it.

Information & Ethics committee  All I would be coming to you to verify is what is in the monthly communication. Now, the difference could be if I were conducting an administrative review or an investigation. In that case, I would probably be asking for more details. But in terms of verifying the monthly communication, I don't ask for anything more than what the lobbyist is asked to report on.

Information & Ethics committee  Well, the regulation changes only serve to make members of Parliament designated public office holders. As I've indicated, I've not had any problems in terms of doing any investigations.

Information & Ethics committee  I've not had any problems with administering the act.

Information & Ethics committee  The problem was not identified by me, no.

Information & Ethics committee  Well, first of all, in terms of the number of transactions, that includes all transactions occurring within the system in terms of updates to registrations, communication entries. With the 87 letters, or the percentage, it's roughly 5% of communication entries that we verify; the average per month is about 625.

Information & Ethics committee  I'll do my best. The Lobbying Act covers an individual who is paid to communicate with a public office holder on a registrable activity. A public office holder has always included all members of Parliament, government institutions, or those working in government institutions, GIC appointments, etc.

Information & Ethics committee  It's a subcategory of the public office holder. If the universe was public office holders, that is everyone--