Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.
Welcome, Minister.
I'd like to get back to the National Energy Board 2015-2016 report on plans and priorities. On page 20, in the section that discusses energy regulations and subprograms, the implementation of various projects, including BillC-46, is mentioned. The report discusses various strategic outcomes, programs, the continuous improvement of regulations, transparency and available information. The National Energy Board is going to be given greater responsibility. However, when we look at the evolution of planned expenditures between 2015 and 2018, we see that almost all of the subprograms will see a marked decline in financial and human resources of approximately 15%.
On page 17, where energy regulation is discussed, we see that planned expenditures will drop from $49.5 to $39.2 million over three years. The same thing is true of jobs. The number of full-time equivalent positions will go from 335 to 283. The same thing applies to the implementation and monitoring of energy regulations and their application, as well as to energy information programs and internal services.
Almost all of the National Energy Board sectors will see their human and financial resources diminish by approximately 15%, despite the fact that they will be given increased responsibility.
I would like to know how the National Energy Board is going to be able to attain its objectives, given these circumstances.