Canada's Environment Watchdog Replaced
Date: 31-Jan-07
Country: CANADA
Johanne Gelinas worked for the office of the auditor-general, which reports to Parliament rather than the government of the day. She issues an annual report on how Ottawa is handling environmental issues.
Auditor-General Sheila Fraser said in a statement that Gelinas was "leaving the position to pursue other opportunities". Fraser appointed a 30-year veteran of the auditor-general's office, Ron Thompson, as an interim replacement.
Fraser also said she was reviewing the environment commissioner's mandate.
In a report issued last September, Gelinas said Canada's minority Conservative government should set firm targets to cut emissions of greenhouse gases, despite its dislike of the Kyoto protocol on climate change.
She also attacked the previous Liberal government -- which was in power from 1993 to 2006 -- on the grounds that it had not done enough to cut emissions. The tone of the comments was unusually strong for an official whose job was to prepare an audit of government actions.
The Globe and Mail newspaper and other media outlets said Fraser had been unhappy for months with Gelinas over the outspoken tone of her remarks.
The departure of Gelinas comes at a sensitive time politically. The Conservatives, who say Canada cannot meet its targets under Kyoto, are under heavy pressure to do more to protect the environment.
"This decision smacks of shooting the messenger. Johanne Gelinas performed admirably in her post," said Elizabeth May, leader of the Green Party.
Fraser was not available to clarify her press release.
Dimitri Soudas, a spokesman for Prime Minister Stephen Harper, said the Conservative government had nothing to do with Gelinas's departure, adding it had only learned on Tuesday that she was leaving.
Opposition legislators did not accuse the government of interfering, but did seek to raise suspicions.
"There is a pattern with this government that everything that is linked to the environment is undermined," Liberal leader Stephane Dion told reporters.
The head of the left-leaning New Democratic Party, Jack Layton, said Gelinas has been "very forthright, very direct" in her commentary on both the Liberal and Conservative governments.
"It's a sad day for Canada that we've lost that non-partisan voice," he said.
