Thank you, Mr. Chair.
First, Mr. MacEachern, please accept my heartfelt condolences. This isn't intended to soften anything, but I was listening to Global—I'm certain it was Global news—three days ago and I had to listen twice and I'm still not sure I got it right and I haven't downloaded it. It's my understanding that 100,000 U.S. soldiers have taken their own lives. Recently they were saying there are as many as 22 per day. And when you state there's no secret that we have a problem, there is no secret that we have a problem.
One of our fellow members of Parliament, Harold Albrecht, brought forward a piece of legislation as a national framework for suicide prevention. And I'm not sure that had that framework been in place, it would have prevented your tragedy. My hope is when that does unfold it applies to the military of course, first and foremost. I don't really have a question for you, I just wanted to make that comment.
You've been very fortunate with your employer. That's my understanding: that they've been compassionate, understanding. But I hope what you will do for us as a committee is—after the fact, I'm not going to ask you right now—to identify in writing what assistance you feel should be available to you under those circumstances if you didn't have such an employer. I want to leave that thought with you, sir, and I hope you would consider doing that for the committee.
Mr. O'Connor, thank you for acknowledging the work the government has done in your area. You've answered all my questions. You were very comprehensive in what you still feel needs to be done, and there's really not much more I can ask of you. You've done a very good job presenting.
Mr. Kokkonen, I'll say the same. You've done a very good job of presenting, been very clear on things. But I want to put one question to you, sir, and maybe Mr. Gollner as well. It relates to the Veterans Ombudsman's report. Some of our witnesses have stated we should simply accept the recommendations of the Veterans Ombudsman and get on with it and that's it. That's the document, those are the recommendations, that is what this committee and the government should be recommending and moving forward on. Do you agree with that statement, sir?