Environment committee  When we were doing our audit we found a variety of sources of information that date back to the 1990s. When the government started the national process for consulting on how to deal with climate change, information came forward from industry and other participants. Natural Resources Canada has also contributed projections--what they call emissions outlook--and I believe in 2002 they came out with their last report.

Environment committee  There are at least three that have to do with climate change or the environment in general. We chose the one that was supposed to help develop a technology innovation demonstration project. We concluded that the foundation was relatively well managed, and had a good accountability system.

Environment committee  However, in the course of our work, we saw no studies that provided any information on the cost of adaptation and the consequences of climate change, for example. This information was not made available to us.

Environment committee  Do you think we can deal with climate change on our own, or must we be part of a bigger effort? Should there be international cooperation through treaties such as the Kyoto Protocol?

Environment committee  I repeat, it is not my job to set the government's priorities. I understand that climate change is a priority for the federal government. I have reported on the progress made so far.

Environment committee  Are you not concerned about the fact that climate change is not one of the government's five priorities?

Environment committee  I think the results achieved so far are disturbing. If climate change remains a priority for Canada, it is disturbing that we do not have a much more aggressive and rigorous approach in order to move from slowing down emissions to actually reducing green house gas emissions in Canada.

Environment committee  It has been mentioned, Ms. Gélinas, that the previous government wanted to invest close to $6 billion in climate change activities. $1.6 billion was actually spent, which means that there is still $4.5 billion floating around somewhere. Actually, I am not sure I understand correctly. We really do not know whether this money has been spent.

Environment committee  My colleague was saying earlier that we will revisit the smog issue for next year's report. We have looked here and there at some air quality issues, but not as we did for climate change, with one focus and covering the broader aspects of it. But as Richard is involved in the production of the 2007 report already, he can give you a few details about how we will look at this air quality issue.

Environment committee  I appreciate that. Could we pass on, then, to the climate change issue? I just wanted a general answer. But that is coming.

Environment committee  So whatever targets and measures are put in place, if the governance and accountability aspects are not looked at seriously, I will probably be here again five years from now and have an almost cut-and-paste copy of this section. I also would like to remind you that in 1998 we looked at climate change and almost said the same thing. So things have not evolved that much in terms of good governance and accountability. Mr. Cullen was asking who was responsible for what, and I can still not tell who is responsible for what.

Environment committee  The last thing you need to know is that even though Treasury Board now is working on this framework--and you will remember that Treasury Board came here and talked about the RMAF, the framework for the pilot on climate change, to develop this framework on horizontal issues. The reality is still that even though the Treasury Board has committed to develop the framework, it's unclear who will take over when the framework is finalized.

Environment committee  There was some economic analysis, but it was not detailed. We couldn't find any social, environmental, and risk analysis linked to this. Climate change is not only about the environment, it's also about sustainable development; it's about our way of living, because it's linked to energy. So we would expect that kind of analysis to be done.

Environment committee  They saw there was a situation that needed to be better controlled, and they decided to pilot this. With respect to climate change and horizontal issues involving a number of departments, they wanted to put a system in place so that we could capture this kind of information, so they piloted--

Environment committee  I'm trying to understand this--and I asked you this question during the last committee hearing. Who is in charge? What minister was in charge of climate change in Canada?