Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I think there is a need for an audit at this time. We have done the amalgamation. I think in most cases, like anything new, we do have to review. Is it operating as effectively as we thought it would? Has it met the mandates that were set when we established these different agencies to co-exist within each other? Are they carrying out the responsibilities they had? Especially with this department, it is so complicated to figure it out.
On one hand, you have responsibilities with regard to wildlife. You have responsibilities with regard to the environment. You have responsibilities with regard to oil and gas, minerals, forestry, and also forest fires. Because of the convoluted aspect of this department, I think it is long overdue. We have to realize that an audit is good.
Consider that we had an audit last year where we found some discrepancies, especially in the area of the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs, where this department forgot all about the question of environmental liabilities that these municipalities have. Because of that, we had to take action and ensure that an environmental audit was done to see exactly what the implications and long term costs to this government were going to be to clean up these hazards that are in a lot of our communities.
I think because of that we have to seriously look at what this will do. I think there has been an effort by the Auditor General to do at least one department a year. That has sort of been the practice. I think, at this time, it is probably more appropriate to look at the Department of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development with the economic pressures it is presently under. We have diamond development and oil and gas development. We have the whole aspect of the environmental concerns that are coming forth, and impacts about economic development. How do we fit those together, making sure that those are working?
I believe the process has taken place in other departments. I do not believe there is anything to hide. We talk about openness and ensuring we are open to the public. In regard to amalgamations, there have been major changes to Nunavut in the east, where the amalgamations that did take place before division are now being struck down.
They are saying we should go back to the old process that was in place, especially in the area of energy, mines and resources where it is hard for developers to see exactly who is in charge of what and what the process is they have to go through. I think with that it will make things better not only for us as legislators, but also the general public, to see exactly whether or not we have been meeting the mandates we set for ourselves. And to see if we have met the goals the amalgamation was going to accomplish in the first place. With that, Mr. Speaker, I will be supporting the motion. Thank you.