Mr. Chairman and members of the committee, thank you for this opportunity to appear before you to discuss the March 2008 report of the Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development on greening government operations.
The audit addressed two separate but related aspects of greening operations: the guidance that was provided to departments for preparing their 2007 to 2009 sustainable development strategies; and greening commodity management.
Public Works and Government Services Canada agrees with the commissioner's recommendations. We have developed a detailed action plan, which has been reviewed by the commissioner. I am happy to table this plan with the committee today.
In the case of greening procurement, the commissioner found that satisfactory progress is being made. Members will know that a green procurement policy was issued in April 2006.
We have already developed government-wide standing offers for purchasing 30 categories of goods and services, and 30 more are expected to be ready this year. Once these are in place, green standing offers will exist for commodities representing over $4 billion.
As it relates to the provision of central direction and guidance on greening to other government departments, the commissioner recommended that roles and responsibilities of departments be clearly defined. In our response, we undertook to clarify roles and responsibilities by April 2008. I am happy to report that this first step has been completed.
Even before we were made aware of the commissioner's recommendation, PWGSC had begun discussions with Treasury Board Secretariat, Environment Canada, and Natural Resources Canada to clarify the roles and responsibilities of these four key partners and all departments around greening government operations. It was generally agreed that to make further progress, new approaches would be required and that all four departments had a role in providing direction government-wide.
As a result of these discussions, it has now been agreed that Public Works will assume the lead for greening government operations. This will involve developing overall policy direction and guidance, facilitating information sharing, setting reporting standards, and reporting on progress.
Treasury Board Secretariat, Environment Canada, and Natural Resources Canada also have essential roles to play in providing guidance and advice in their respective areas of expertise, such as government-wide reporting and levers for directing and guiding action in the case of the Treasury Board Secretariat; priority-setting, use of the regulatory toolbox, technical expertise, and appropriate integration with sustainable development strategies in the case of Environment Canada; and expertise in greenhouse gas emissions reporting and on energy, water, and natural resources issues in the case of Natural Resources Canada.
PWGSC will be responsible for effective leadership of this horizontal endeavour, while we and our three key partners will be responsible for creating a solid framework. But it is all departments and agencies across the government that must be held accountable for, and recognized for their progress in, changing the environmental footprint of federal operations.
While I recognize that more needs to be done, we have made significant progress in recent years, particularly with respect to green procurement, green buildings, and greening the fleet.
I am prepared and would be happy indeed to take your questions on the commissioner's report.