Does the Deputy Minister of Finance have an opening statement?
Mr. Hugh Eliasson (Deputy Minister of Finance): I have a very brief statement. I’d like to thank the committee for the opportunity to provide an update on this report, which was issued by the Auditor General’s office in October of 2007. The original report included 76 recommendations. One was directed towards the Department of Finance, three towards the Department of Local Government and the remaining recommendations directed to the Department of Conservation or government as a whole. With regard to the recommendation directed toward the Department of Finance, the Auditor General found that the Province had assigned adequate staff to track environmental liabilities of reporting entities. Their analysis of the data being provided by the reporting entities was appropriate and the recognition and disclosure of the liability was appropriate. However, based on survey results obtained from other reporting entities, the Auditor General concluded that the initial reporting requirements sent by
