Environment committee  The incumbent of that position is appointed by the Auditor General. As I indicated, in the review process, we'd also definitely like to obtain the opinions of parliamentarians and other persons regarding the qualifications that a commissioner must have, after which we'll prepare the description of the evaluation grid.

Environment committee  A profile currently exists, but this would be the opportunity to see again whether or not changes are necessary.

Environment committee  Thank you very much, Mr. Chair and members of the committee. As I mentioned in this review, we would like to meet with parliamentarians, so I hope you will share your opinions with us. There will be members of my staff and others--we have to see if it will perhaps be combined with outside people as well--who will be contacting you to meet you over the coming months.

Environment committee  It is absolutely not.

Environment committee  There are two committees: the Panel of Senior Advisors, the members of which are appointed by the Auditor General, and the Panel of Environmental Advisors, whose members are appointed by the Commissioner, on consultation with the Auditor General.

Environment committee  Our plans for the coming year are that we will table the report, the statutory work, in October. That's the sustainable development strategies and petitions. We have moved the other work, which is what we call the follow-up work, to February, because that is normally the time we produce what we call a status report.

Environment committee  The reference you're making, 21.1 in our act, deals with the whole question of the sustainable development monitoring and reporting. The sustainable development strategies were introduced into the legislation at the same time as the creation of the commissioner. It indicates here that this is the definition of sustainable development; this is not the definition of what the commissioner will do.

Environment committee  We audit the strategies of the departments. First of all, we look at how they actually developed the strategy and assess how they developed that. Then we will say, “You have this strategy, and you have committed to doing X. Have you actually done it? Do you have a plan in place to do it?”

Environment committee  Yes, and that will continue. The Commissioner's responsibility is to be the main spokesperson for the report to the parliamentary committees, at conferences, and so on. Obviously, members of the Commissioner's team sometimes also have a role to play and may attend various conferences and so on.

Environment committee  It is very high.

Environment committee  It's probably 10 to 15 people on each.

Environment committee  And other issues.

Environment committee  Yes, we meet regularly. There are two committees. These are committees that have been in place in the office for.... What we call the panel of senior advisers has been around for more than 10 years, probably 15 years.

Environment committee  I met with them about a week ago.

Environment committee  Not the performance, no, because that is an internal matter, but the whole question about the review of our practice—whether we should bring this question of a perceived gap in expectations to parliamentarians—all of that was discussed with the panel.