March 26, 1979 (30th Parliament, 4th Session)

Hon. Len Marchand (Minister of State (Environment)):

Mr. Speaker, I think I answered that question very clearly last Friday. The hon. member knows what I said, that I did not want to be looked upon as the pollution czar in which, for example, I took over the regulatory functions for pollution control and environmental management of the Department of Transport, where I took over the environmental management of the Ministry of Energy, Mines and Resources, or the regulatory environmental functions of the Ministry of Indian Affairs, and so on.
I made it very clear that I was happy enough as Minister of the Environment and being able to advise the various departments of government on the kinds of laws that they should pass which would be consistent with the environmental standards we would all like to see for this country. I do not think that I should be running every department of government.