Environment committee  We could provide the numbers to the committee, Mr. Chairman. The information is pretty complete since we established the Internet registry in 2003. There is a complete set of information with respect to the number of screenings, comprehensive studies, and review panels since then

Environment committee  No, this goes back to the fact that for the vast majority of environmental assessment screenings—and comprehensive studies as well—this was a self-assessment process until a year ago, as managed by the 14 departments that Mrs. Feldman referred to.

Environment committee  Let me go back to your first question, if I may, for a few seconds. It was a very good question. As Ms. Feldman mentioned, we do look at these factors from the proponent's standpoint. When the proponent is a private sector proponent, we do actually have guidance in place that pr

Environment committee  In the current act there are no enforcement provisions per se, for the very reason mentioned by Mrs. Feldman. The act is structured in such a way that it relies on decisions to be made by various federal authorities that have decisions to make, which trigger the need to attach co

Environment committee  The accountability to ensure enforcement of the measures lies with these federal authorities.

Environment committee  The challenge we're facing at this point has more to do with the limited authority that responsible authorities may have. An example was given of an authorization under the Fisheries Act to enforce conditions relating to matters within another department's mandate. That may not b

Environment committee  I would add that in the case of the National Energy Board in particular that as part of the government's commitment to take a whole-of-government approach to aboriginal consultation, typically what will happen is that all of the various federal departments having decision-making

Environment committee  Yes.

Environment committee  These lists are typically based on an internal assessment that each jurisdiction would make about the potential of these projects to cause sufficient environmental concerns that justify being subject to an environmental assessment. While you will typically see some variation betw

Environment committee  That's correct.

Environment committee  Yes. I was actually one of the co-chairs of the working group that led the development of this report.

Environment committee  That's correct. We need to keep in mind that this report was prepared in 2009, as you said, so the legislative changes that were made last year and that made the agency legally responsible for the conduct of the comprehensive studies for the larger projects were not in place at t

Environment committee  Not any more, since last year, except for projects that are regulated by the National Energy Board and the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission.

Environment committee  That's correct.

Environment committee  That's correct. They are valid concerns that have been raised, and they continue to be raised.