Wade Chang

Mr. Speaker, public servants are Canadians serving Canadians. This summer, I met with public servants and their families in Burnaby Central. I heard about long commutes, caregiving and balancing work and family. I also heard about something important: pride in their work. Those conversations highlighted the potential value of flexible work arrangements. Where operationally appropriate, they can [more]

Thank you, Chair. Minister, can you confirm that the discussions regarding high-speed rail began long before your election to Parliament and long before you became Minister of Finance, yes or no?

Thank you, Minister. Can you also confirm that the entity now known as Alto was created in 2022, several years before the events being discussed today, and at a time when you were serving as the Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry?

Thank you, Minister. Could you explain what Alto would mean for Canada's long-term economic growth, productivity and connectivity? What would Canada lose by not moving forward with such a project?

Thank you, Minister. For the benefit of this committee, could you clarify the reporting relationship between Alto and the Government of Canada and which minister is responsible for the oversight of the Crown corporation?

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Thurlow, I'm from B.C. In your brief, you raised concerns about expanding the commissioner's enforcement power, particularly with respect to administrative monetary penalties. Could you explain those concerns and what lessons, if any, our Parliament should take from the B.C. experience?

Thank you. Why do you believe the Lobbyists' Code of Conduct should remain focused specifically on the activities of registrants as they communicate with public office holders?

Thank you. In your submission, you recommend that the proposed amendment to subsections 7(3) and 7(6) of the Lobbying Act apply to paid in-house lobbyists, but not to individuals serving on boards in a volunteer capacity. Could you elaborate on this distinction?

In your submission, you recommend maintaining the current requirements set forth in sections 6 and 9, and sections 7 and 10 of the Lobbyists Registration Regulations. Could you explain the rationale for preserving those provisions in their current form?

Yes.

Thank you very much.

Thank you very much. Do you agree with the statement that Canada's lobbying regime is full of loopholes or secret lobbying, or do you agree with many of our witnesses who stated that our lobbying regime is one of the most robust and most rigorous in the world, and why?

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Ali, your submission includes recommendations regarding post-employment including a cooling-off period for former designated public office holders. Could you outline the changes you're proposing and the rationale behind them?

From your perspective, how can Parliament ensure that the act promotes transparency and accountability while avoiding unintended consequences that could discourage volunteer participation?

I guess my final question for you is this. From an administrative law perspective, what principles should Parliament consider when assessing proposals to expand the powers of the Commissioner of Lobbying?