Very good.
Mr. Armstrong, I hear your issues and concerns. I didn't hear the same issues and concerns being raised when the Government of Canada brought to our committee their Bill C-16, which was an omnibus bill to amend the environmental enforcement provisions to make them more effective for the Government of Canada.
A very similar provision exists in the Canadian Environmental Protection Act under section 17. The experience has been, over the life of that act since 1984, that there have not been monumental requests for investigations. In fact, it has not provided overwhelming work or red tape. That provision and this provision in clause 14 are consistent with the North American agreement on environmental cooperation, under which Canada has committed to make provisions to enable citizens to be involved in the enforcement process and request investigations.
If you read on to subclause 15(2), it very clearly says that the investigation will not proceed if it is frivolous or vexatious. So that has already been thought through and dealt with.
On the issue of foreign entities, it's my understanding that in our last meetings we already clarified and redefined the provision on entities. So I'm not really sure where this issue of foreign entities arises. They would not be qualified to apply here, given the definition of entity in the bill. It's simply a provision that would extend the rights and opportunities accorded by the government under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act to other environmental statutes.
It simply provides for a consistent opportunity, where information comes to the attention of the public, to file a request for an investigation of a suspected violation. There is no obligation to proceed. It's in the hands of the department to take a look at it. If they're already proceeding with an investigation, then so be it. It's my understanding, from my years of working with enforcement officers, that they appreciate people bringing these matters to their attention.
This provides that if you want to bring a complaint forward to the government about an alleged violation, you have to do it in a very organized way and provide certain information. In fact, it avoids wasting time. Right away you provide this concise statement on what provision of the act you think is violated and your evidence supporting that.
I appreciate your input, but the provision already exists in law. The intention of this provision in my bill simply accords that right and opportunity across the board to all environmental statutes, which is appropriate and would be consistent.