Thank you, Mr. Chairman, for the opportunity to be with you here today to talk about the round table.
The National Round Table on the Environment and the Economy is an independent policy advisory agency whose purpose is to play the role of catalyst in identifying, explaining, and promoting, in all sectors of Canadian society and in all regions of Canada, principles and practices of sustainable development. The round table was created in 1988, 20 years ago, and had its status formalized in a 1993 act of Parliament that sets out its purpose and mandate. We report to Parliament through the Minister of the Environment.
The Round Table examines the environmental and economic implications of priority issues and offers independent policy advice, based on its own research, multi-stakeholder consultations, and the deliberations of Round Table members themselves, on how to address these issues.
The 2008-2009 main estimates for the National Round Table on the Environment and the Economy are $5.154 million. The round table will expend its full appropriation on a single program activity, which is an advisory program on environment and economy issues.
Over the course of this fiscal year we will be working on a range of policy priorities, including climate change adaptation relating to northern infrastructure, carbon-pricing instrument design, best international practices in greenhouse gas emission forecasting, the economics of climate change, water, and compliance with our legislative responsibilities under the Kyoto Protocol Implementation Act.
I'd be pleased to answer any questions committee members might have about the round table and its main estimates.
Thank you.