There is a form online that anyone who wants to be exempted from the five-year prohibition can use to make a request to the office. There is a non-exhaustive list in the act that would allow for someone.... For example, they were a student and they were in the ministerial office for four months as someone who did administrative duties only. Not all DPOHs are created equal, but this rule applies equally to everyone. That would be something to be looked at as well if the act were to be reviewed, because it could be a sliding scale, depending on your role and your position.
We do look at the role they played and at the network they've created because, really, at the end of the day, that's the purpose of the restriction. It's to not take advantage of the connections—the people you've gotten to know and the network—for the benefit of your new employer or your client. We do look at the role, the function, the network and the length of time they've been there to decide whether or not an exemption can be granted.
In the last year, I think we looked at eight. I did not grant any in the last year. I think I denied six, and two were withdrawn. That will be in my annual report, which all of you should have access to tomorrow.