The resources in terms of dollars is part of the bigger issue. But as for the two things we would like, first of all, where we're coming from is that this militia system has existed since the founding of this country. It has evolved over the years, serving well during the First World War and the Second World War, as I mentioned, for mobilization, with one million Canadians serving overseas when the total armed forces were 4,000 people.
This system is based on a regimental system in which people are very close to their community, and it allows the civilians to participate in the armed forces by serving as citizen soldiers. This is in great danger now and it has reached a point where you, as politicians, have to make a decision.
The decision is, do we keep the militia as it should be, with some of the terms of reference, or do we want just the pool of reservists to serve the armed forces when available? If that was the decision of the politicians, we don't need the militia. We don't need the regiment. We don't need the presence of Canada in rural communities across the country. All you need is a big warehouse and you put instructors there and you bring people there and train them and you say, okay, when we need you, we'll call you. We call that, for guys of my age, the Office Overload. When I needed a secretary because mine was sick, I would call Office Overload and ask for a secretary.
So you have to decide that. If you ask me the question, what do we want immediately, it's for you to give direction as politicians to the DND and to the military people and say, just a minute here, we have to protect that institution, or you decide to say no, thank you.