Evidence of meeting #3 for Environment and Sustainable Development in the 41st Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was report.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Conservative
Stephen Woodworth Conservative Kitchener Centre, ON
Would you agree with me that since September 2010 the government has done exemplary work in gathering information on the oil sands water monitoring from a wide range of experts and academics?
Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development, Office of the Auditor General of Canada
I think that's right, yes.
Conservative
Stephen Woodworth Conservative Kitchener Centre, ON
Would you agree with me that in fact the decisions made by the government in producing its plan to deal with these problems in March of 2011 have been based on excellent information?
Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development, Office of the Auditor General of Canada
I would agree, yes.
Conservative
Stephen Woodworth Conservative Kitchener Centre, ON
Thank you very much.
I wonder if you are able to pinpoint the period during which there was no action taken by the Canadian government to deal with the lack of information in environmental issues. I have the idea that it was really a period from about 1999 to 2006 that there was no action taken. Does that square with your understanding?
Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development, Office of the Auditor General of Canada
I'll ask Mr. Sloan to expand on this, but that's exactly my understanding: between the 1999-millennium first assessment and then 2006-2007. In 2007 the Kearl joint panel said the governments need to step up and undertake their regulatory responsibilities.
I'll give you one example. In 2006 the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, in partnership with the provincial government of Alberta, said that they needed to put in their own water monitoring plan. That began in 2006. They finished phase one; they haven't finished phase two.
Conservative
Stephen Woodworth Conservative Kitchener Centre, ON
That's very good. And I'm quite pleased. I want to say that the period of action coincided with the arrival of a new government in 2006. I think it does serve as a useful contrast between the current government and the previous government--although of course I won't ask you to comment on that.
You're aware, of course, of the reports that were given by the commissioner of the environment regarding Kyoto right from 1998 through to 2006, are you?
Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development, Office of the Auditor General of Canada
Of my predecessor...?
Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development, Office of the Auditor General of Canada
I'm aware of all the reports of our predecessor, on climate change. Yes.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Mark Warawa
Unfortunately, Mr. Woodworth, the time is up.
I want to thank the commissioner and the officials again for being here today and for doing the good work they do.
I would accept a motion to adjourn.