The idea of departments having sustainable development plans that would ultimately be reported on by the commissioner is an idea that goes back roughly ten years. I guess there was an initial period of shakedown. In fact, you might want to direct this to the commissioner when he's up to bat, as to the somewhat unsteady progress over the years. That is to say—and this will not come as a surprise to any one at the table—at times when there's political will and there's focus by a government on a set of objectives, more things are likely to happen. Then there are the times when priorities shift and people back off and they kind of forget about it.
And don't forget the reporting cycle. I think it's usually been a three-year period, as we come around on these and see how the departments are doing. I don't think it can be any faster than that. And again, Mr. Thompson will give you some understanding of why it can't be faster than every three years. So what happens is that if it comes out during an election or when the government's priorities are focused elsewhere, then it doesn't get the attention.
I know that when Mr. Dion was minister, he was very frustrated by these reports, just as Ms. Ambrose was frustrated by the reports and you were frustrated by the reports that this isn't working. But that's why we're putting forward the bill, frankly. It is an attempt to recognize that this hasn't worked and we're trying to find a solution, and we're trying to find it, by the way, in a way in which all of us who believe in transparency and accountability will be happy.