Thank you very much for coming forward to meet us.
I would like to discuss your mandate. It is hard for us to understand exactly what the difference is between the environment and sustainable development.
As you know, sustainable development was defined quite some time ago. I am sure you are aware that even today, according to many definitions, sustainable development is clearly economic development, not environmental protection. The environment is one component of sustainable development. There absolutely has to be a significant social component to eliminate poverty. Does your mandate clearly define the difference between the two?
In your presentation, at point 4, you distinguished between the environment and sustainable development, which is nowhere to be found in the Library of Parliament Parliamentary Information and Research Services suggested questions. In that document, the environment and sustainable development go hand in hand.
Similarly, Mr. Mulcair, the former Quebec Minister, was criticized for putting out a document on sustainable development without including the environment. To environmental groups, sustainable development has more to do with environmental protection. We know full well that is not what it means.
Environmental protection and climate change are one thing; sustainable development is another. Are you involved with departments that have more sustainable development needs, like NRCan, which you mentioned earlier, the department responsible for economic development, Agriculture and Agri-Food, Industry, Transport, Infrastructure, Finance, Public Works and Government Services Canada? Sustainable development is indeed a priority in those departments.