OTTAWA - The new federal environment commissioner says he's not worried about political interference - which some say cost his predecessor her job.
Scott Vaughan said he's been warmly received by all political camps in his short time on Parliament Hill.
"I've been here two-and-a-half days and all I've seen to date is a strong feeling of support from the members, as well as from (Environment) Minister (John) Baird," he told reporters after appearing before the Commons environment committee.
Former commissioner Johanne Gelinas was turfed by the auditor general in January 2007 over concerns she was taking too much of an advocacy role.
She released a scathing report in September 2006 that criticized the previous Liberal government's climate-change record and outlined policies for the Conservatives to institute.
Gelinas was replaced by Ron Thompson, who filled the commissioner's role on an interim basis until Vaughan's appointment.
Auditor General Sheila Fraser said there's never been political pressure on her office to hire and fire anyone.
"If ever there was that kind of interference, which, quite frankly, I don't expect at all, but if there ever was, I would certainly bring that to the attention of Parliament," she said.
Vaughan, who is to serve a seven-year term, said he sees the commissioner's role as providing checks and balances on government policies.
"The work of the commissioner is to provide an important input to parliamentarians on the extent to which those policies are implements and to ensure that they're accountable to the Canadian public," he said.
Vaughan also said he agrees with the findings of a so-called green ribbon panel, which called for a separate, distinct commissioner's report tabled every year in the House of Commons.
Fraser has suggested that environment reports be rolled into larger sets of regularly tabled auditing documents.
Gelinas insisted the environmental reports will have more impact if they continue to be released separately, as they have been since 1997.
The panel agreed with her, and so does Vaughan.
"The recommendation is something that I think is the right recommendation," he said.
Fraser said her office is looking at different tabling strategies, including releasing more frequent reports from the environment commissioner.
Vaughan is a former official of the Organization of the American States, where he specialized in sustainable development topics, and has also worked at the UN and the North American Commission for Environmental Co-operation.
The environment commissioner is appointed by the auditor general to lead a group of auditors specializing in environment and sustainable development issues.
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Article online since May 7th 2008, 0:00
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