Public Accounts committee  I'm going to ask Stephen to speak to the issue of shared services. I don't know that it relates specifically to the IM/IT area.

Public Accounts committee  We have developed it to some extent.

Public Accounts committee  It is understanding that you can't do everything, you have to look at areas of highest potential impact, in terms of the occurrence of the event and its implications.

Public Accounts committee  The first challenge is to identify that it's here. We need the science to identify that a pest is present. We then have the ability to set up quarantine zones to prevent the spread. In some cases, wood, firewood, can be a host for plant pests. We have the ability to restrict movement through ministerial orders.

Public Accounts committee  It is working to varying degrees. It has been more effective in some cases than in others. In some cases, pests are difficult to quarantine, especially the flying type.

Public Accounts committee  The Auditor General's report in 2003 pointed to IM/IT. We have known for quite a while that modernization was required. We have tried various work-arounds, which have been more or less effective. But we recognize that a more modern IM/IT system would help us be much more risk-based and effective with respect to our plant health responsibilities.

Public Accounts committee  I think it's fair to say that IM/IT management is a challenge, not just in the plant health area, but certainly for the agency--and I wouldn't want to go too far afield, but I would say for other departments as well. There was a reference earlier to another IM/IT program. These tend to be large, lumpy programs of long duration, and it's important to get as much information as we can to make sure we invest in the right ways, because we want to avoid an investment that would not, for instance, allow us to understand better where the risks are.

Public Accounts committee  Yes.

Public Accounts committee  With respect to information management, which we agree is absolutely essential in responding to this audit and in making sure that our plant health program is effective and efficient, we are making some investments in the short term. The whole area of large-scale IM/IT is a complex area.

Public Accounts committee  We want to avoid an IM/IT program that either doesn't work or is costly, but we need to make sure we understand what the requirements of the agency are.

Public Accounts committee  Thank you for the questions. Let me ask Brian to address the issue of science and scientific surveys and how we are balancing that, what we know and what we don't know.

Public Accounts committee  Mr. Chair, yes, we absolutely are developing plans to look at the next round of the invasive alien species strategy. You're quite right, it was time-limited funding. We are working with partners in other government departments, and we expect that we will put before ministers, at some point, a recommendation.

Public Accounts committee  Let me again say that the Auditor General pointed out what we consider to be very important changes we have to make to the plant health program. The 2003 audit did indicate some of those issues. Since 2003, the agency has done its best to try to move towards a more risk management approach.

Public Accounts committee  Mr. Chair, I'm going to ask Paul Mayers to speak to the issue of differences in risk assessment as it relates to location and the possibility of invasive species.

Public Accounts committee  Mr. Chair, we are developing that plan. I can ask Stephen to speak to the initiatives we are implementing right now. We are making some essential investments in the tools we're using to track imports. We would certainly be happy to table the more detailed plan as we develop it.