You brought up a number of different points there. I don't think Environment Canada has interfered with NACOSAR. Environment Canada and NACOSAR haven't engaged each other meaningfully. They're at more of an intervening level rather than an influential level.
The council is basically asking for independence because of timing issues. The protocols that Environment Canada has to follow in its financial administration are very complicated, and it's come to a point where NACOSAR cannot enter into any contracts or even hire a NACOSAR coordinator independently. This is something that has put shackles on a body that's supposed to be providing meaningful advice to the minister, and it's unable to do it without first going through the processes of a government department.