Public Accounts committee  Sorry, there is an answer to that question. I was looking to Joe to answer it and he thought I was going to answer.

Public Accounts committee  I'm getting an answer from someone. I'd suggest that maybe they might want to answer the question. Thank you.

Public Accounts committee  The data bank is different from the DNA analysis capacity. They are two different programs, and it causes a lot of confusion for people. The DNA data bank refers to a whole different process and program from the DNA processing issue.

Public Accounts committee  Can I pass that on? I wasn't around when that commitment was made, and I understand there's someone here who has a better explanation than I can offer.

Public Accounts committee  Mr. Christopherson, what we want to say is that we will build a regime that is robust and reliable and the best system that Canadians have every right to expect. What we need to do is to be realistic and at the same time to promise expectations, promise goals and objectives that we know we can deliver in the short term and the long term.

Public Accounts committee  I just had some support from other people on my team, who tell me that it's been since the 1930s that the forensic laboratory system has been in place serving Canadians.

Public Accounts committee  I'll start by replying, if I might, Mr. Laforest, and then I'll pass the mike, if I could, to my colleague. Certainly, without putting words in the Auditor General's mouth, I don't think we're where we were at in the 1930s with regard to the labs or lab science; we have made some incredible progress over the last number of years.

Public Accounts committee  I stand to be defined as not having all of the information around this, but when a case becomes routine—it may shock people to hear that a murder case can become routine—we will have preliminary results, someone in custody, and a court date perhaps 200 days down the road, much like the Pickton case.

Public Accounts committee  What I was referring to when I said there are no resource issues at this moment is that we are in the process of bringing on the other 70 people who we believe will fill those gaps and will move those things forward. The business plan was brought to us this spring. And the decision was made very recently to invest in the other 70 resources and to go to, perhaps, if we have to, a shifted program, a scheduling that will bring that together.

Public Accounts committee  That is a correct statement. It was from looking at our commitments from 2001 on. We have since resolved to commit to report to Parliament at least annually and on a six-month basis on recommendations through to the Auditor General, and as required.

Public Accounts committee  We are working with clients now to build a robust system that will work for them and us, through the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police and with the prosecutors who ultimately take these cases to court, so we will have what we feel is a full feedback loop around our ability to meet their needs on a timely basis.

Public Accounts committee  Can I pass that on to our scientist to answer that question, please?

Public Accounts committee  Thank you very much, Mr. Christopherson. The issues around the statements about our backlog and the statements around the 15 days have been a source of great concern to me and the other people at this table, because certainly in reading the report and in having a look at the review of how those statements came about and where we find ourselves today, it is not a good place to be.

Public Accounts committee  I've been asked to address those kinds of issues in other forums. Of course that's an answer that's a work in progress as we move forward, but I believe at this point in time, with the processes we have in place, we have the proper resources to fund our action plan and to work forward.

Public Accounts committee  I'll begin to answer that question, and then I'll pass it to the deputy here for the details, if you don't mind. First of all, with regard to the audit in 2000, I agree with you that some of the responses missed the target with regard to commitments that were made at the time. We have been dealing with a moving set of goal posts with regard to DNA.