Environment committee  Mr. Chairman, I'm not familiar with that specific project, but again I would come back to the basic principle here, which is that the federal government is making a financial contribution to support the provinces and territories in their own efforts to reduce greenhouse gases and air pollutants, and they will be accountable for how those are funds are spent.

Environment committee  I think the purpose of the trust fund is very clear. The stated purpose is to support the reduction projects by the provinces and the territories to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and air pollutants. I think that is clearly stated.

Environment committee  The budget commitment is over two fiscal years, beginning in the current fiscal year.

Environment committee  That program has been funded over two fiscal years.

Environment committee  Mr. Chairman, I think most of these programs extend beyond more than a single fiscal year. I apologize, Mr. Lussier, on the second one you mentioned, I could run through what I believe is the profile of some of these initiatives, if you wouldn't mind repeating the ones you are particularly interested in.

Environment committee  Mr. Chairman, in terms of the specifics of the trust fund arrangement, how the moneys are transferred to the trustee, and how the provinces then access that money through the trustee, I would have to defer to the Department of Finance. There is no intergovernmental MOU or agreement beyond what was announced publicly covering those arrangements, so in that respect it is different from the program of the previous government and what I think was called the partnership fund.

Environment committee  Certainly, Mr. Chairman, we have taken careful note of the request and will provide that information as quickly as possible.

Environment committee  The trust fund for clean air and climate change, as I stated, is $1.519 billion and was allocated among the provinces. If it would be helpful, I could run the precise allocation by province. Would that be helpful, Monsieur Lussier?

Environment committee  For the province of British Columbia, the trust fund commits $199.3 million; for the province of Alberta, $159.9 million; for Saskatchewan, $44.4 million; for Manitoba, $53.8 million; for Ontario, $586.2 million; for the province of Quebec, $349.9 million; for New Brunswick, $34 million; for Nova Scotia, $42.5 million; for Prince Edward Island, $15 million; and for Newfoundland and Labrador, $23 million.

Environment committee  Mr. Chairman, the trust fund arrangement does not impose conditions on provinces. It reflects an agreement reached and reflected in the press releases that were made public at the time. There are no other conditions imposed by this arrangement. At the time of the announcement of the contribution to the Government of Quebec, the Prime Minister, I think, announced that this was a contribution in support of the Government of Quebec's climate change plan, and those funds were in Quebec's climate change plan, specifically requested.

Environment committee  Mr. Chairman, I would just repeat that I think the Department of Finance, which manages the trust arrangements, is best placed to answer technical questions related to how those funds are transferred into these trust arrangements.

Environment committee  It is drawn from funding of 2006-07.

Environment committee  Yes, sir.

Environment committee  Mr. Chairman, I'm sorry, I do not have that information; however, we will undertake to find out the answer to that question and reply to you through the clerk in writing.

Environment committee  Mr. Chairman, I'm sorry I'm not able to answer that question. I don't know what funds were spent on an advertising campaign. As I said, I would be pleased to seek that information and provide it to the committee as quickly as possible.