A former staffer to a Saskatchewan Conservative MP who was fired for emailing a copy of a confidential pre-budget committee report to five lobbyists has admitted to seeking work with all five of their firms.

Russell Ullyatt, a former staffer for Conservative MP Kelly Block, waits to testify on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Tuesday. ((Chris Wattie/Reuters)) Russell Ullyatt made the disclosure Tuesday while being questioned by MPs on a parliamentary committee examining a breach of privilege from Tory MP Kelly Block's office.

During his appearance in Ottawa, Ullyatt said he was acting alone when he sent the emails and did not inform his boss at the time.

The former staffer said he only sent the document "to try to look important to some friends."

"My lapse of judgment included not respecting the document itself," Ullyatt told MPs on the Commons procedure committee.

When questioned by Liberal committee member Judy Foote, Ullyatt admitted he had been in communication with "multiple places" on "employment matters" — including the five firms that employ the lobbyists he contacted.

Block, a member of the House finance committee, fired Ullyatt last month after confirming her staffer emailed a copy of the draft report on budget consultations to the lobbyists. Committee members had received copies of the report that day and were supposed to debate it before making its contents public to the entire House.

In 2006, the Conservative government brought in the federal Accountability Act, which bars all ministers and their political aides, as well as senior public servants, from becoming registered government lobbyists for at least five years from the date they leave their positions. But it is still common for political staffers to move on to fill highly paid jobs at lobbying firms once they leave government service.

MP apologized for leak

Ullyatt insisted he was "very happy" working for Block, a Conservative backbencher representing the riding of Saskatoon-Rosetown-Biggar.

Block has already apologized to the House and other members of the finance committee for the leak.

The committee also learned on Tuesday that one of the lobbyists contacted — Lynne Hamilton — responded to Ullyatt's email with an "I <3 you."

Hamilton, who testified after Ullyatt, told the committee she didn't realize the nature of the document, and promptly destroyed the report as soon as she learned it contained confidential material.

Hamilton acknowledged she and Ullyatt have been friends for some time, but denied ever having received confidential information before he sent her the pre-budget committee report.