Thank you, Mr. Chairman. In regards to directorate, I want to comment on the fact that most departments, even this the Department of Justice, have not been taking the process of setting operational objectives seriously enough. I looked at the main estimates that we approved last year, in our 1991-92 fiscal year, and I saw that one of the tentative objectives for that year was to negotiate the transfer of prosecutions from the federal Department of Justice. I do not think this objective was met, Mr. Chairman, because I have not seen anything reported to the House in that regard. In fact, I do not even know if there were any negotiations.

In the proposed main estimates before us today, Mr. Chairman, there is no reference at all to the transfer of responsibility for prosecution. I have concerns about the accountability process when it comes to this department. To me, it does not take its own process for setting their own objectives seriously. I hope that in the future, there are more specific measures used to evaluate whether this department, and any other department, have met their previous year's objectives.

I know, Mr. Chairman, that this has been addressed in recommendation number 56, brought forward by the Standing Committee on Finance. I trust that the Minister and his officials have taken note of this fact and realize that we are very serious about not approving main estimates for programs in 1993-94 that do not provide specific output measures. Just to clear up this outstanding issue, perhaps, I should ask the Minister to clarify the current status of our attempt to negotiate the transfer of responsibility for criminal prosecution. I wonder if he could also comment on why this unfulfilled objective has not been included in the department's definitive objectives for the current year? Thank you.