Thank you for that question.
Mr. Chairman, I think it's been reported fairly widely that one of the things the Canadian Forces would dearly like to continue to have from Canada is support for the mission they're doing there. Indications that there isn't overwhelming support would have some impact.
I have to add, though, and I'm sure Mr. Maloney would corroborate this comment, that the soldiers on the ground are really quite focused on what exactly is going on operationally over there. Although they do have information coming to them from Canada, their focus is entirely on preparing for the next mission. It might upset them to some degree, but I don't think it would really have a serious impact on the morale of the troops, who I think we recognize are imbued with a very high morale.
When you look at the most recent unfortunate incident, with the loss of four soldiers, a number of soldiers who were interviewed following that incident, soldiers who were very good friends and acquaintances of those who were killed, indicated that they were even more interested in making sure the mission succeeded. I don't think as a consequence that we would say the morale was in any way diminished.
I think it's very normal for any group operating outside our borders, particularly on this sort of mission, to hope that everybody back home is applauding their efforts. I think it would simply be reasonable to limit the reaction to being one of disappointment, as opposed to any impact on morale per se.