Thank you, Mr. Chair. Greetings, everyone. I hope everyone had a good Easter.
The rationale for my motion is the following: at our last meeting, we heard from representatives of the Canadian Forces, the ombudswoman and her assistants. I spoke to them about the difficulties I had in my attempts to obtain from the Canadian Forces what I believe to be very basic information, concerning French courses given to newly recruited soldiers who are based primarily in Borden.
In fact, I had sent a letter to the Minister of National Defence, Mr. MacKay, inquiring about the pedological material used, etc. The letter was drafted in both official languages, and was similar to the wording of this motion. National Defence replied by saying it would be preferable for me to make a request through access to information. I was floored; my request concerns a very basic matter. I myself have a background in teaching, and if my schoolboard had asked me what was being taught in my school, I would have been able to submit a very straightforward list of programs that constituted our curriculum.
I would like to speed things up. I also intend to make a request for access to information, but I believe that this request would benefit from the support of all 12 members from the four political parties. It may even inspire National Defence to accommodate us rather than ask us to make a request through access to information, which generally takes time.
It is in that spirit that I am tabling this motion. I would like the Canadian Forces to provide information not only to myself and the Bloc Québécois, but to all members of the committee.