Thanks, Chair.
We'll be opposing the amendment for reasons that will not surprise anyone at the table, because we made them clear during the debate at second reading in the House. We understand the intention that the opposition has behind their amendment, but we think the form the amendment is taking is misguided, and indeed would create a different kind of perhaps unintended injustice, in that it would discriminate against members of the military. Of course, they could still fill the 40% of the grievance committee, but they would be ineligible for forming a larger part of the membership of the committee.
We just don't think that there are grounds for filling a committee like this on the basis of anything other than merit, professional qualifications, and professional achievement. Yes, military members have shown that and have furnished a large number of the members of the grievance committee, but that need not necessarily be the case if others with similar forms of expertise who have not worn the uniform wish to put their names forward and be considered in the future.
For charter reasons, for reasons of not discriminating against the candidacy of anyone to be a member of this board, and for reasons of not wishing to fetter the Governor in Council in making such appointments on the basis of the very best advice and on the basis of the widest possible consideration of the expertise available in this country, we will oppose this amendment.