Thank you very much for being here today, Ms. Winger. It's very much appreciated.
I wanted to start off my comments in regard to your story about the firefighters. This is certainly something that we have a lot of respect for on this side of the House.
We noticed a discrepancy that existed between those firefighters across the country and those in National Defence, who are only eligible for their pensions after 30 years of service or at age 65. Really, they serve beside those who are eligible for retirement after 20 years of service.
I want you to know that I, as shadow minister for the Treasury Board, and my colleague, member of Parliament for Battle River-Crowfoot Damien Kurek, have actually sent a letter to Minister Fortier today asking her to remedy this situation and put the pensions of firefighters at National Defence on par with those of firefighters across the nation. Certainly they deserve the same rights and benefits that their brothers and sisters are receiving across the country.
I'm very excited to announce this here today in coordination with what you're saying. Thank you very much for the opportunity for me to share this good news. I do really hope that the minister will respond with what is the only correct response, which is that their work should be seen and valued the same as firefighters in other areas all across the country.
Thank you very much for the opportunity for me to share that with Canada here today.
I recognize that you have not done very much work with consulting firms or McKinsey, which you mentioned in particular. You mentioned a lot of situations in which there is great disparity between the private sector and the public sector. This is something that I think the government needs to look at even further. I believe that in addition to delivering services for Canadians, the government has to take responsibility for competitive wages for its public servants so that we can attract the best talent in addition to providing the services that people in uniform and all Canadians deserve.
Do you think that the outsourcing of work to private consultants has had any impact on your colleagues at National Defence? Could you provide any commentary on that?
It doesn't have to be in response to McKinsey specifically, but in response to the outside work of consultants at the Department of National Defence.
Thank you.