Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you to all our witnesses who have joined us here today to discuss this informed process.
I'm rather new to this committee and to Parliament. This conversation about the role of the commissioner of the environment is quite important to me, given that I was only elected a few months ago. I appreciate all of you being here to give me a better understanding of context.
I'm by no means a Conservative, but I do think that when we're proposing new roles or changing the existing structures we need to carefully consider what already exists, what works well, what we need to improve—which is in part why we're here today—and whether the wholesale conversion or minor changes that some of you have already alluded to are best suited to addressing the concerns.
I would like to point out that the government did include permanent funding in the 2020 fall economic statement towards the Auditor General for the environment commissioner's work, which is an added layer to this discussion.
My understanding is that the officers of Parliament operate independently of the government. They have protected budgets, their own staff and report directly to Parliament. From what I've seen so far, the current commissioner of the environment has those powers and is housed within the Auditor General's office in the structure that we've discussed.
When we're looking at the commissioner's current role, what do you see as working well already? What isn't working? What could be improved upon?
I'd like to start with Mr. Lindgren.