Information & Ethics committee  Last year, I think there were about 5,000 lobbyists, or 6,000 at one point. Now it's up to 7,000. As for communication reports, last year there were 24,000 or 25,000, whereas this year it's around 30,000. I'm referring to oral and arranged communications. We've really seen an in

Information & Ethics committee  All organizations and consultant lobbyists are required to register when they intend to communicate with a government department on a given topic. I'm referring here to oral and arranged communications, and not those that might take place impromptu in the street, for example. On

Information & Ethics committee  The purpose of the registry is certainly to be adequate and to contain truthful information. So if it turns out that registered lobbyists are filing entries on conversations that did not take place, that's technically an offence. I hope people try to file truthful entries. I will

Information & Ethics committee  Good afternoon, Mr. Chair and committee members. Thank you for the opportunity to appear before you today to discuss the work of the Office of the Commissioner of Lobbying together with my colleague the Information Commissioner. The Office of the Commissioner of Lobbying is a mi

Information & Ethics committee  It wasn't updated. It was reviewed.

Information & Ethics committee  That's a good question. When I appeared at this committee on my nomination in 2017, I was asked if I could be ready in the spring of 2018 to offer recommendations. I said that it would be four months into my job and that I'd do my best, so I prepared. I started right from the t

Information & Ethics committee  In this case, according to my act, I think it would be the House. You could, if you want to.

Information & Ethics committee  That is good news—isn't it?

Information & Ethics committee  I will say yes as well.

Information & Ethics committee  Yes, possibly. In this case, with respect to the lobbying, it would appear that Mr. Bains will not be lobbying federal officials. If he were to, however, he would be subject to the code of conduct. The code is pretty prescriptive, as you all know. You've all studied it, and, the

Information & Ethics committee  Can I add? With respect to the Lobbying Act, if anyone lobbies when they're restricted, it is an offence, so there is a risk that this will go to the RCMP. I'm hoping it's a deterrent and helps people from communicating when they shouldn't be. However, again, there's that 20% tha

Information & Ethics committee  It's mainly because of the types of networks and the functions they had. If they were someone who communicated with many departments, who was involved in many departments and had a very close relationship with people of authority, with members of Parliament, then we would not gra

Information & Ethics committee  I always find it dangerous to underscore only three or four items where there could be improvement, because the recommendations we made in 2021 were all part of a whole. If you do something about one aspect, it will have an impact on others. If I really had to mention exactly th

Information & Ethics committee  Yes, because not all breaches equally serious.

Information & Ethics committee  There's definitely more and more.