Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Mr. Tilson, for introducing this bill.
Thank you to all the witnesses for coming here to give your testimony.
We're now going to talk about the subject matter of this thing: the desecration of war memorials.
Mr. Tilson, as you know, the 200th anniversary of the War of 1812 is upon us next year. As Canadians, we're extremely proud of our role in that great war and the role the country played. Following the anniversary of the War of 1812 there'll be the 100th anniversary of World War I. That will come upon us soon enough. We all know that Canada and Canadians played an immense role in this war, and the anniversary will be a time to remember all those who died defending the country and democracy—a large number. Tens of thousands of brave Canadians went to the aid of the allies in the cause of freedom in the Second World War as well. Of course, let's not forget the Korean War.
This past summer the Canadian Forces wound down combat operations in Afghanistan. This is Canada's longest-ever combat mission, a mission in which the country lost 157 brave men and women of the Canadian Forces. Now, of course, there's also the Gulf War, the Balkans, Afghanistan, and Libya. The best of our young men and women have shown time and time again their willingness to lay down the ultimate sacrifice, showing the values of Canadians. All too often that willingness has cost them their lives, and of course the memorials are there to remember that.
Mr. Tilson, how will your private member's bill achieve its purpose of showing that the disrespect—by damaging war memorials—shown to persons who were killed or died as a consequence of war will attract profound public disapproval in the form of a specific Criminal Code offence?