Environment committee  Thanks very much. I will turn now to slide 14, the draft implementation policy, the fourth step in the cycle. As was previously stated, the responsibility to protect species at risk in Canada is shared. Accordingly, as noted in this chapter of the policy suite, implementation is shared by various parties using various approaches.

Environment committee  Thank you very much, Mr. Chair. Good afternoon. I'm here representing Environment Canada. As was noted, my two colleagues are with me from Fisheries and Oceans and Parks Canada. Together, the three departments work to implement the Species at Risk Act. I'll provide the opening presentation and, together, my colleagues and I will do our best to answer your questions.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  I want to speak, if I might, to the comment about capacity and supporting the people in the north. In the Inuit impact and benefit agreement, there were a couple of provisions that I think are relevant to the point you raised. The first one is that there's a trust fund that has been set up to support ecotourism, to take advantage of the new national wildlife areas that are being set up in the Nunavut land claims area.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Perhaps I could add one point; my colleague reminded me. Our minister would work with the deputy and Industry Canada on the pipeline, per se—the structure, the industrial project—and then the minister would work with our department on the types of permitting, the type of assessment and environmental impact, and would provide advice to the proponent as they would perhaps be executing the project.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  I don't know the answer to that, but we can certainly undertake to find that out and get back to the clerk of the committee.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  I'm sorry, the water file is not within my area of expertise, but we could certainly endeavour to come back to the committee with a written summary of what's being done.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Environment Canada would do research on climate change and its impacts. Other departments, though, would provide support for the adaptation as it relates to industry and conservation. I'm talking about protected areas and what not. The research would inform our selection of protected areas and how we would move forward on terrestrial species at risk.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  We have started a process for two of the barren-ground populations: the Dolphin-Union, and the Porcupine. I can confirm that for you. We have started the process under the Species at Risk Act. Once we have received the assessment from the independent science committee, the COSEWIC, Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada, consultations will begin.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Thank you. I will now speak to Environment Canada's conservation regulatory and program responsibilities. Not only does the Arctic have an abundance of non-renewable resources, the Arctic has a wealth of wildlife and habitat. Responsibility for wildlife in Canada is shared. The federal government is responsible for aquatic species, migratory birds, species at risk, and species found on federal lands.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  That's the correct pronunciation, but I'd ask my colleague, Michael Wilson, to start, then I'll carry on for the question side.