Information & Ethics committee  I would see it complementing, because I think we would have more of the continuum. Right now for summary convictions it's the maximum of $50,000, and $200,000 for indictments.

Information & Ethics committee  On educating and monitoring, if I'm looking at the fines, there is nothing in between. Even my colleagues in the provinces, as I mentioned, have a maximum of I believe up to $25,000. Then there are penalties that would still go to the courts. So it would not be replacing it. There would be clear criteria and it would be at the discretion of the commissioner as to whether it's something that could be handled within the administrative monetary regime and not something that has to go forward to the RCMP, who then have to investigate the issue again, and then it has to go through the prosecution.

Information & Ethics committee  It's anything that's brought to my attention. Media monitoring is is done on a daily basis to see where there have been references to lobbying. Further analysis is then done to determine whether it is provincial or federal...because sometimes the word can be used quite loosely if there are individuals who are paid within the organization.

Information & Ethics committee  Do you mean to look into a matter? No, I can open something, but as I was mentioning before, it has the continuum going through. When an allegation is brought to my attention, whether through media monitoring or complaints or some other means, the first thing that is done by the investigative team is to assess whether it falls within the mandate.

Information & Ethics committee  Yes, they are, senior investigators.

Information & Ethics committee  Yes.

Information & Ethics committee  I just want to be clear. I said I'm looking into all of the matters. I haven't confirmed what the status any of the files I'm looking at might have.

Information & Ethics committee  If you're talking about my office and the ethics office, which I believe are the two offices that have been suggested, I'm not sure that I see savings in finances, to be honest with you, for my office. We're lean as it is. I have said before the committee that I think, where there are overlaps, the two offices could work better together in terms of maybe setting up an MOU or looking at, if it can't be established under the two, legislative changes.

Information & Ethics committee  The City of Toronto has had it working quite well. Prior to 2004, the two offices were together, but there was a court case that found that because the two roles were under one regime, there was institutional bias, so in merging them, that's something that would have to be looked at.

Information & Ethics committee  I think there are many figures.

Information & Ethics committee  I opened 173 administrative review cases and sent 14 cases to the RCMP. I also sent 10 investigation reports to Parliament regarding people who breached the Lobbyists' Code of Conduct. I think about 73 exemption requests were made. Sorry, I meant 79 exemption requests.

Information & Ethics committee  Yes, I may conduct more verifications. If the budget were higher, I could conduct many more outreach activities. At this time, I always need to choose between activities, investigations and the development of the registry. The new person appointed commissioner will need to look at all this.

Information & Ethics committee  Yes.

Information & Ethics committee  In English, we refer to full-time equivalent employees, or FTEs. The outreach activities, for example, take up much of my time. It's not as if I have seven employees. I'm so proud and fortunate that I can rely on my team. I have only one senior communications officer. That's why I call myself fortunate.

Information & Ethics committee  I can't provide an exact number. It really depends on the complexity of the investigation or review. Sometimes, the availability of the people we want to interview affects the length of the investigation. For an investigation, two things must be considered. In a conduct case, I have control over the process.