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Prime Minister Stephen Harper must respond to the report of the Environment Committee and create a fully independent Environment Commissioner reporting directly to Parliament, Liberal Environment Critic David McGuinty said today.

"If this government truly believes in environmental accountability it will welcome the increased profile and scrutiny resulting from the new office and introduce legislation immediately to see it created," Mr. McGuinty said.

Mr. McGuinty's motion before to the committee that the Environment Commissioner be made fully independent passed last night, in spite of the opposition of all five Conservative MPs. Currently the Environment Commissioner is an employee of the office of the Auditor General and reports to it, not Parliament. The Commissioner's role of watchdog over the effectiveness of government environment and sustainable development programs is similar to the role performed by the Auditor General with respect to government finances and administration.

"Canada's Environment Commissioner must be fully independent," said Mr. McGuinty. "The sudden dismissal of the former Environment Commissioner has made it clear that future Commissioners will not have full control of their mandate unless the office is protected by the Environment Committee's recommended changes."

Passed after three weeks of study by the committee, Mr. McGuinty's motion will now go to the House of Commons where it will be debated and voted on.

The post of Environment Commissioner, created in 1995, was a commitment made in the 1993 Liberal Red Book. The post was made part of the Office of the Auditor General to give it immediate credibility and audit expertise.

"Now, after twelve years with a strong environmental watchdog, Canadians deserve assurances that the Commissioner's role will not be eroded under a Conservative government," Mr. McGuinty said.