I understand that this does not change the directive, but we have seen from experience and from the various reports by commissioners of the environment that a number of departments do not comply with the directive from the Prime Minister's Office.
I recall the heading of one chapter in the Commissioner of the Environment's report which claimed that Finance Canada was dragging its feet. That was the assessment of the Commissioner of the Environment of the department's compliance with the strategic environment assessment requirement.
Could you tell me how the Sustainable Development Office will be able to issue a clearer directive than the one issued by the Prime Minister's Office? Fundamentally, parliamentarians agreed to adopt Mr. Godfrey's bill several years ago because they believed that legislation with more bite was needed.
So then, how can you convince us that this legislation, adopted by Parliament, will ensure that one of the key elements of the sustainable development strategy, namely the strategic environmental assessment, will be embraced by all departments? That's what I want to know.