Thank you.
In the same paragraph of your opening remarks, you basically say that the Rangers also help with community evacuations and flood watches.
I represent a riding that was seriously affected by flooding in 2011, and the Canadian armed forces had to step in. I'm talking about Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu. There was some hesitation initially about the intervention. I don't think it had to do with the ability to intervene, but rather it had more to do with the uncertainty about the political decision, whether it came under provincial or federal jurisdiction.
You commented that the reserve forces has gone from a strategic force to an operational one. What is your vision in that respect? Might this change in the reserve forces's responsibility have consequences on the operational side and on how quickly it can intervene when the army is asked to help out with operations like community evacuations and flood watches?
I know your testimony focuses on the Rangers, but it can probably also apply more broadly to other units of the reserve forces that are called on to provide additional assistance in extreme situations like natural disasters.