Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I hold a different opinion, obviously, since I tabled the bill in this provision. In fact, we've had the ruling of the House that the provision should survive.
The Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development, under the Auditor General Act, subsection 23(2), is already authorized on behalf of the Auditor General to report annually to the House of Commons concerning anything the commissioner considers should be brought to the attention of the House in relation to environmental and other aspects of sustainable development. So it's already consistent within the terms of the Auditor General Act for the role of the commissioner. Under subsection 23(2), the Auditor General Act actually specifies the exercise of the authority of the Governor in Council. The authority of the Governor in Council includes the making of regulations.
So I submit there is nothing in clause 26 of this bill that is contradictory to the scope of the responsibilities already assigned to the commissioner. It simply makes consistent for this bill that the commissioner will also review legislation to make sure that there is adherence to this bill.
One has to go back to the purpose and intent of the bill, which is to safeguard the right of present and future generations of Canadians, confirm the Government of Canada's public trust duty, and ensure all Canadians have access to information, justice, and so forth.
It's simply assigning, consistent with the function already assigned to the commissioner, to ensure what the Government of Canada stands up in the House every day talking about--the balancing of economic development and environmental protection. This is simply one more mechanism whereby we can ensure that legislation and regulations coming forward respect the principles of the protection of the public trust for Canadians.