I'd like to start with legal definitions. I've just been looking through the definitions section of the Conflict of Interest Act and the interpretation section of the Lobbying Act, and the analysts have been sharing with me some information on the Parliament of Canada Act. It seems to me that there are three different definitions of a public office holder, and that one definition is not consistent with another. Part of that is because we're dealing with statutes that have been developed over decades, sometimes in isolation from one another.
Just to summarize, in the Conflict of Interest Act definitions section, parliamentary secretary is included along with minister and minister of state.
In subsection 2(1) of the Lobbying Act, a designated public officer does not include a parliamentary secretary, at least as I see it here.
I understand--and please correct me if I'm wrong on this point--the Parliament of Canada Act includes not only ministers and parliamentary secretaries, but also members of Parliament.
Is that your understanding?