I'll try to be brief.
When we're referring to and I think we're getting a bit of a consensus on the understanding of what the issues are vis-à-vis the tribunal versus the Public Service Labour Relations Board, I hope we can make some more progress on that, because I think that's bringing people up to date on what the labour relations board does and perhaps by default what the tribunal's role is or isn't.
I'd like to touch upon the whole issue of ensuring that protection is provided for everyone, and I note here, in terms of the PSAC submission, who's not included. Of course, when you mention the Canadian Forces, CSIS, and so on, there will be the national security spectre as an issue, and I'd just like your comments on that.
The other thing I want to touch on is that when we look at whistle-blowers and you go back to the reason people blow the whistle--and I can go back to the Health Canada example--the fact of the matter is the billions of dollars that could have been saved if they had been listened to, never mind public health, that acknowledgment after the deed has been done and there has been acknowledgment that there has been wrongdoing. One of the concerns I have here, and this is to contemplate, is what happens after the fact. We've heard from others who have blown the whistle and said it has been extremely isolating. They've paid the price, and it's not a material equation they're looking at but also the mending, making one whole. That's just a comment.
One last thing is that when we look at what was stated by others around the table about the best place to go in terms of where remedy can be sought, I think the issue is about what octane everyone is flying on. That's the same when you're talking about legal representation. So I think the argument is a correct one, to say it might be tricky to put a cap on it, because as I think you've mentioned before, Ms. Demers, if you look at the Department of Justice and at Joanna Gualtieri's case, they have a lot of lawyers and she was on her own. I think that's important to keep in mind, that it's hard to put a dollar on it when you have a whole department, with the legion of their staff, compared to one person on his or her own or even with the representation of a union. It's not an equal playing field, and I think that has to be noted.
But I was curious about the exemption, if you could answer that, please.
Thank you.