Mr. Chairman, we would like to thank you and the members of your committee for giving us the opportunity to appear before you.
I am retired Major-General Frédéric Mariage. I proudly consider myself a citizen soldier. Please remember this qualification, “citizen soldier”, as it represents the main reason for our presence here today.
In my civilian career, I held different executive responsibilities with MacMillan Bloedel, a forest company from Vancouver. I was also president, CEO, and shareholder of Bois Degro lumber in Montreal.
Before retirement on the army side, I was appointed chief of reserves from 1990 to 1993, and I finished my military career as colonel commandant of the infantry corps, the first reservist to be appointed to this position.
I will now turn to my distinguished colleague to introduce himself.