Natural Resources committee  The program is no longer accepting registrations.

Natural Resources committee  No, it does not. I can bring a colleague of mine to the table to elaborate.

Natural Resources committee  The $550 million cut would not affect innovative cellulose technologies or the actual market expansion. As I said, for three years, the pulp and paper green transformation program has taken into account major international initiatives and market conditions that the Government of Canada had to face.

Natural Resources committee  The program was suspended in advance because it was supposed to end in 2011. In the 2011 budget, the government decided to extend the program and set a target of 250,000 Canadian homes to be renovated for energy savings. The program was launched in July. At the department, we obviously have to manage the program carefully and ensure that we are able to respond to future requests.

Natural Resources committee  I could perhaps refer to one of my colleagues here, if he may come to the table. We have contribution agreements in place for $950 million. These were essentially credits that had to be earned by the various producers, and we have contributions in place that could fund up to $950 million out of the $1 billion envelope.

Natural Resources committee  Thank you for the question. The major projects management office is another one of these temporarily funded programs. It originally had three-year funding at roughly $4 million per year, Mr. Chair, that we have used to do two things. One is to monitor all of the large projects under the MPMO, to do the tracking, to systematically do all the coordination of the regulatory work on all of these projects, an operational kind of function.

Natural Resources committee  Correct.

Natural Resources committee  Again, I have to apologize. I'm not quite sure on behalf of whom, because it's just the way the system works, but it is a bit complicated. There was a commitment to Sustainable Development Technology Canada for next-generation biofuels of $500 million. This is a bit like the question concerning the clean energy fund.

Natural Resources committee  No, it remains temporary funding, but we're basically given another five years, or three years, depending. For example, last year there was a one-year renewal of some forestry programs, and we have to go back this year to make the case.

Natural Resources committee  Sure. Basically what Natural Resources Canada is doing with regard to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea is defining the outer limit of the extended continental shelf in the Arctic and Atlantic oceans. That work basically involves geology. It involves expert geological resources that we're deploying in collaboration with Fisheries and Oceans and DFAIT, with a view to extending our continental shelf and for the claim we could have ultimately on resources under the seabed.

Natural Resources committee  That's right. It's the one shot we have to bring our scientific evidence to that international body to stake a claim on the continental shelf.

Natural Resources committee  Mr. Chair, we will have to wait for a few days. The committee will then have more answers than what I am able to provide today.

Natural Resources committee  Yes, absolutely.

Natural Resources committee  Mr. Chair, I was asked to demonstrate good faith, and I have taken note of that. That being said, the hon. member will understand that I am in no position to discuss what the budget might include in any way, shape or form.

Natural Resources committee  Thank you for the question. The pulp and paper green transformation program was initially announced as a temporary three-year program with $1 billion available to address specific market conditions.