Thank you, Madam Chair.
Major Duquette, Mrs. Duquette, thank you very much for being with us today. Let me thank you, Major Duquette, for the service that you're providing to our country, and also Mrs. Duquette, for the work you're doing as well in support of the family.
It feels a little bit like the Oprah Show or something, where they reunite families every now and then. I can tell by looking at Jim's face when he sees your picture how happy he is just to see you, and vice versa.
I come from a military area, the east coast, the home of Canada's east coast navy and many other serving personnel. I meet all the time with people who are in the position of either being on their way to Afghanistan, or just back, or serving. I think of families like the Gascoigne family; their son is on my son's soccer team, and I see how they cope with the stress of military life. The division of families, the separation of families, is very difficult. You've summed it up with typical stoicism that it's a choice you've made and you accept that responsibility, but nonetheless it is above and beyond the call, so we thank you for that.
I guess the only question I have would be for either one of you. You've both indicated that this is a bit of a passion for you, having gone through the experience and seen both sides of it. It might not affect you anymore, but can you just talk a little about what you think this change might mean to other military families who might be affected by it?