Thank you, Madam Chair.
I should say first of all that central agencies, as Ms. Beckton has said, have increased the visibility and signaled the importance of gender-based analysis generally. At the Privy Council Office, we now ensure that all our officers receive gender-based analysis training and also receive training as part of the orientation to the Privy Council Office. As well, we are tailoring the tools from Status of Women Canada for use in the challenge function. We are also doing outreach with departments. So where we think appropriate, we will talk to sponsoring departments that ultimately have the responsibility for undertaking gender-based analysis. That's part of the challenge and support function we play. We've also been working with central agencies and Status of Women to try to coordinate our efforts better.
In terms of the challenge function, the officers are accountable to their directors and to me. This is an organic and informal process. We ensure that, on the proposals coming forward, we are satisfied that gender analyses have taken place and decide whether or not we deal with the department and put the onus back on the sponsoring ministry.