Thanks very much.
I didn't use the term “mere” committee. I think this committee is extremely important, and I mean that.
The question of reservists is a huge question. There's no question that through the 1990s both the regular forces and the reservists did get overstretched. That's what I'm referring to here. As well, early on in his days as commander of the army, Rick Hillier concluded that the army had been in a state of overstretch and that it was time for a time out. I would apply that to what I have here. Certainly in the context of some of our allies, I'm not sure how some of them keep going. When one looks at some of the budget cuts in some of those countries, it's very sobering.
In terms of the reservists, I think I would await both the budget and the defence minister and the Chief of Defence Staff to see where they actually land. I'd be surprised to see a reduction in reservists. I think the change that may happen post-Afghanistan, as recommended in the Leslie report, and presumably you know that it's being looked at, is some reduction in full-time class B reservists, because the need has decreased with the move from the combat mission in Afghanistan. I'd be very surprised if there were a change in the traditional class A reservists.
I also think that through the 1990s and in Afghanistan, all the services learned a very great deal about the tremendous capability value of the reservists. I would presume that as part of CF transformation and some of the lessons learned that my colleague was talking about, we would be looking at trying to ensure that the reserves stay vibrant and that the lessons learned from Afghanistan and other recent missions get rolled into them. I'd be very surprised if there were a change in the reserves following from the budget.