I move:
That this committee call upon the government to bring forward legislation to strengthen the role of the Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development by:
1. making the Commissioner a full and independent Agent of Parliament (“Office of the Commissioner of Environment and Sustainable Development”) reporting to Parliament directly through the Speakers of both the House of Commons and the Senate;
2. clearly affirming and appropriately circumscribing the duty of the Office of the Commissioner to advocate on environmental and sustainable development issues;
3. requiring that the appointment of a Commissioner be approved by both the House and the Senate;
4. ensuring that a funding mechanism at arm's length from the government be established for the Office of the Commissioner; and
5. protecting the right of the Commissioner to name the Office's staff, including environmental auditors, without government influence.
And that the Committee adopt these recommendations as a report to the House and that the Chair present this Report to the House.