Thank you, Chair. I'll be sharing my time with Mr. Doherty.
Minister, you've written on public sector accountability. Now, in this role, you have an opportunity to translate your writings into action.
Let me ask you about the Canadian Forces ombudsman's office. My understanding is that the ombudsman's budget is controlled by the chief of the defence staff. Interestingly, in 2018, the ombudsman went to the then defence minister Harjit Sajjan over multiple allegations of sexual misconduct at the highest ranks of the forces. The office of the ombudsman was then subjected to an investigation shortly thereafter, which was ordered by the then chief of the defence staff.
My question is very simple. When will you report back to this committee on exactly when you intend to fix this and ensure the absolute independence of the Canadian Forces ombudsman's office?