Thank you, Chair.
First of all, congratulations, Mr. Walbourne, on your appointment. I understand that you are from the province of Newfoundland and Labrador. While that's not a qualification in itself, it's certainly a very good start and we are proud to have someone from our province in this important role in the Canadian Forces.
I have a number of questions about a variety of issues, but I'll start with one that is dear to my heart and which was presented to your predecessor, Mr. Daigle, around this time last year. It is regarding the fact that 40 years ago there were six cadets killed in the cadet camp at Valcartier as a result of a grenade explosion during, of all things, a safety demonstration. Some 60 people were injured and there were about 160 survivors of that incident. We are 40 years down the road and many are still suffering and have been seeking assistance from government, but to no avail.
Your predecessor wrote the Minister of National Defence last summer with the recommendation that it was in the public interest for a full investigation to take place, with recommendations to be made to the government. That was necessary because the events were pre the establishment of your office in 1998 of the CF ombudsman. Can you tell us, first, of your familiarity with that and whether you have looked at that already, and whether or not such approval is forthcoming?