As I mentioned, institutional change of this sort is difficult, but not impossible. However, what is required is collaboration from leadership, which we have here around the table and throughout the organization, so that we're all pulling in the same direction. It is not enough for the Minister of National Defence to say that she's against discrimination and in favour of inclusivity and diversity. At all levels throughout our country, we need to ensure that we are all on the same page to modernize the Canadian Armed Forces.
One of my priorities as Minister of National Defence is to visit bases across this country, to speak with the forces members themselves and to hear what they care about and what they want. More often than not, women, especially, on those bases will pull me aside and whisper in my ear to say, “Thank you for the work you're doing on culture change.”
Those aren't the people who are in the media every day. Those are the people who are seeing meaningful change on the ground.
To all forces members who are working so hard to reform this institution, I want to say thank you.