Thanks very much.
On the question of evidence, what I heard from families of members who died by suicide is that they clearly believed this section was a barrier. In particular, a family in my riding whose son twice attempted suicide believed he did not seek help because of this section, believing that he would automatically disqualify himself from service if he admitted to self-harm or an intention to self-harm.
Quite apart from the legal intent—and I understand what you're saying by creating a high bar—this may have been put in there for positive reasons. In the anecdotal evidence I'm hearing, the effect it seems to be having is exactly the opposite. In the perception of members of the forces, it creates a lower bar—that if they do confess to having these kinds of thoughts, they will automatically be sanctioned. That's what families are telling me they hear is the barrier. People don't want to seek any help because of this section.