Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Welcome, gentlemen.
Mr. Boucher, you certainly convinced Pierre Paul-Hus and me in Trois-Rivières that the committee needed to hear from you. As you know, we don't have much time. Please know that we have a great deal of respect for you. Our Minister of Defence was a reservist.
I have just seven minutes. I will ask you questions that relate to what you told us in Trois-Rivières.
It is important for my colleagues here to understand your connection to the regular force. How has the relationship between the reserve and the regular force changed over time?
Let's talk about your problems with recruitment and membership. You gave me personnel numbers in Trois-Rivières. Analysts gave me some numbers, and I heard some numbers this morning. Can you tell us what they are and what they should be? I know that our goal is to have 28,500 reservists. Where are we on that?
You made it clear that there is a problem with equipment. You are considered second class. That is the message we got.
If there is any time left after you have answered those questions, I would like you to tell me about the connection to cadets.