Mr. Chair, this is a very articulate statement.
I have on occasion met with disclosers myself--people who were in pain, people who understood that perhaps I could not help them but they wanted to talk to the commissioner. And every time I did so. Perhaps it goes to what Member Christopherson indicated, but part of the process—and there have been studies in Australia—is how they feel they were treated. This is absolutely crucial.
Part of the mandate is to treat disclosers with respect, with dignity, and to explain to them if we cannot help them. I have on many occasions met disclosers, and I would, if I were still in the position. I took their issues very seriously. It takes a great deal of courage, and I think we were getting to the point....
If you look at my last letter addressed to the disclosers, I called upon them to continue to come. They don't know what the end result is because I didn't have to.... You see it from one of my staff. I did have a genuine interest and commitment to help disclosers.