Thanks, Mr. Chair.
Thank you very much, ladies and gentlemen, for joining us this afternoon.
Mr. Chair, if I could, for 30 seconds, I just want to make a comment and an observation.
I'm very disappointed, as is the official opposition, that the minister is not here for these estimates. He was invited no later than April 28, 2008. He informed this committee only last week that he would be unable to attend the meeting. In the meantime, he told this committee that the only date he would be available was the last date before the deadline to report these estimates back to the House. He provided no alternative date to members of Parliament or to the committee.
I understand that from time to time things come up that cause rescheduling, but it seems passing strange, despite our profound desire to have a thorough examination of the department's budget for 2008-2009 and with the minister present to be accountable for, after all, $1.1 billion worth of decisions. I was prepared to give him over a month to make himself available. He's been unable to do so, and I think it's very disappointing for the Canadian people that this minister has not made the effort to accommodate this committee and is now absent from these meetings.
Let me go on to my line of questioning, if I might, Mr. Chair. We're here to do our jobs, so let's begin.
To start off, Mr. Shugart, on page 9 of Environment Canada's 2008-2009 report on plans and priorities, I see an additional $8.8 million was spent by Minister Baird on advertising last year under the supplementary estimates. Can you please, in fairly short order, tell this committee what this money was spent on? What is the advertising budget going to be for 2008-2009, and does this advertising coincide with the launching of the “Turning the Corner” plan?