Information & Ethics committee  I have been in office for six and a half years, and I have referred approximately 15. There have been two charges. They still have four. The math is that they returned the rest of them.

Information & Ethics committee  If it meets the threshold of “significant part of the duties”, absolutely.

Information & Ethics committee  Procurement is only a requirement if it's a consultant lobbying, not if it's an organization or corporation. It would depend.

Information & Ethics committee  Good morning, Mr. Chair and members of the committee. Thank you for the opportunity to appear before you today to discuss the Main Estimates 2024-25. I am very pleased to meet a number of you for the first time and to speak to you about the work carried out by my office. The Lobbying Act requires that I maintain the Registry of Lobbyists, that I expand awareness and understanding of the lobbying regimes through education and that I conduct compliance work that supports respect of the act and the Lobbyists' Code of Conduct.

Information & Ethics committee  Right now, if foreign entities are represented by people who are in contact with public office holders, registration is mandatory. Some foreign organizations register with us themselves, insofar as they are the ones in contact with public office holders and they reach the threshold of 30 hours of lobbying per month.

Information & Ethics committee  I have only one priority to put forward: that the Lobbying Act be reviewed. That's all I ask, please.

Information & Ethics committee  It would be, yes.

Information & Ethics committee  We are certainly going to continue to work very hard to improve the clarity of our documents. We're going to make this a commitment to try to push it forward. Now that the Lobbyists' Code of Conduct is up to date, all I have to do is explain to you how we can improve the federal lobbying regime so that we continue to lead the way.

Information & Ethics committee  Please, if you do notice that, inform my office. We have a fantastic client service group, and they will communicate with the lobbyist. If I see a pattern.... Obviously, sometimes it's a misunderstanding. They sent you a letter and they thought they had to do a monthly communication report.

Information & Ethics committee  There's a gap.

Information & Ethics committee  Yes.

Information & Ethics committee  Possibly...but what I would highly recommend is that when it comes to acceptability.... You know, public servants are not accepting these types of trips. It's really in relation to members of Parliament, so if you believe that this needs to be regulated, maybe it's in the hands of the Conflict of Interest—

Information & Ethics committee  Do I believe what? I didn't understand.

Information & Ethics committee  Due to the fact that it's in the media, I would say yes.

Information & Ethics committee  Whether or not that gift could be accepted, again, would have to be put to the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner's office, which is why a previous commissioner said there should be an acceptability test. Whether or not this group is registered to lobby, I don't know.