Thank you, Madam Chair.
I somewhat agree with Ms. Neville. I have trouble understanding this. When you appeared before us, Ms. Beckton, you gave us an update on various files and you described how it would go from one department to another for final approval. The gender-based analysis should have been completed. At that time, you were convinced that the work was being done in the departments because, according to you, they were supposed to do it under the program and with the tools you provided to them. You even provided boot camps to department staff every year, despite the fact that it is a bit late to prepare the budget for the year in January or February. In any case, you provided them with boot camps in which they could participate and obtain even more gender-based analysis information. So I have trouble understanding how it is that so few analyses were done.
We had expressed concern over the number of champions appointed, and you said that it was not a big deal, because champions did not have to be appointed in order to ensure that the gender-based analysis was done. You said that department staff was aware of what needed to be done and had all the tools necessary to do it. However, the analysis that the Auditor General undertook shows that the only departments that analyzed programs were those that had champions. That is pretty significant.
Do you intend to make sure that all of the recommendations that were made are implemented? Do you also intend to appoint other champions in other departments? We see that it makes a big difference. For the four measures or programs that were analyzed, the Department of Finance and the Department of Indian and Northern Affairs, both of which had champions, completed the analysis. That definitely says something. I think a lot can be gained from having people who are knowledgeable about all aspects of the problem in departments to ensure that staff properly debate the policies and programs under development. Otherwise, if they have only a vague idea about what to do, the matter cannot be given proper consideration. We need strong people. That is also part of leadership.
What do you intend to do, Ms. Beckton?