Mr. Speaker, the last speaker talked about the need for independence and authority on the part of an environmental commissioner. I agree.
In follow-up to the comments made by the previous speaker on the Liberal side, trying to twist and make light of the integrity of the auditor general, I find it very curious that he defends the integrity of the auditor general at a time when his party ignores most of what the auditor general recommends.
To put into perspective what I was talking about with regard to watchdogs being lapdogs I would point his attention away from the auditor general and toward the ethics counsellor. It is absolutely useless to appoint someone who is either going to do whatever the government tells him or her or who is going to make recommendations only to have them ignored.
The last speaker has clarified the issue. If we are going to have some kind of commissioner or special watchdog-if we can use
that word-it has to be someone who has both the independence of this body and the authority to see these actions are carried out.