Successive reports of the Auditor General have expressed concern over the potentially huge liability resulting from the absence of an allowance for environmental restoration costs. The 1997 report of the Standing Committee on Government Operations recommended that a list of contaminated sites be prioritized, identifying sites that pose a risk to the health and safety of people or wildlife. The committee further recommended that funding be identified and final clean up of these sites be conducted at the earliest possible time. The Auditor General notes in paragraph 2.16 of the report that, and I quote:

"At present, the government has not prioritized the list of potentially contaminated sites, as it does not yet have the data to do so."

The comptroller general indicated to the committee that post-division there are about 451 sites with potential environmental liabilities. He further indicated that, and I quote:

"They are doing quite a bit to inspect those sites over time and to take remediation action where it is appropriate."