Thank you very much, Mr. Chair. I'm happy to speak to this important area.
I can absolutely understand the challenges that the mains to mains comparison gives in this circumstance, because we are obviously not at the time when we have the supplementary estimates. But with specific reference to the area the member raises, in terms of pesticide safety, they are also part of the department that is a recipient of the chemicals management plan, for example. Again, as that funding came to the end of its sunset, as it was reviewed and evaluated, the money came out of the main estimates. But then, of course, the government announced in the budget that the government intends to renew the chemicals management plan and some of the other environmental health agenda items. The government announced the $200 million funding in the budget, and that will then only appear, as budgeted initiatives do, in supplementary estimates. I just wanted to make it clear that also applies.
Thank you for the question, because it might not have been clear that the chemicals management plan affects several parts of the department, but it includes our pesticide area as well. Similarly, the reduction that was mentioned in the environmental area as well is this chemicals management plan being renewed. So I just want to mention that, again, with the budget announcement we will see those moneys be allocated to the departments and come back in the supplementary estimates.
But I appreciate that for members of the committee, at this point in time, what looks like a reduction would raise concern, and I would just want to reassure members that once we see the supplementary estimates you will see those funds get reflected back into the department's budget.