I was very appreciative. I didn't want to say thanks, because I would have circled it, but I appreciate it. You know it was either then or later; it was going to find its way out, but I appreciate it. Thank you.
This is more of a comment, an observation, if you will, in closing my remarks, because I think we've done a pretty thorough job of going through the issues that have been raised. I hope I can say this without being out of line, because I mean it as a positive thing. I'm very pleased to see that my friend John McKay is here as the parliamentary secretary. It not only underscores, I hope, the importance they place on the great work that our fellow Canadians do in DND, but also it emphasizes and underscores his personal commitment. I worked with him when he was in opposition. I know he cares about these issues.
What I want to say to the government members and to the representatives here is, if nothing else over the next couple of years, find a way to reflect the respect that I know you have for our reservists and the respect that our communities have. Most of the public would more likely be interacting with a reservist than anyone else, and when they're pumping out negative stories—not that they're not proud, but in the context of wishing they were treated the same as the full-time—all of it is sending that negative message.
I would urge the government members and the leadership of our military here to go out of their way in the next while to give them the respect they deserve. Let them know that they matter, and that the era of their getting less training, less equipment—less, less, less—is over and that there's an over-emphasis, if anything, in the next couple of years on underscoring the value of reservists and how important they are, and again on recognizing that without them we don't have a Canadian Armed Forces, that they are a key integral part of it.
I know that's the way everyone feels. I think it's a matter of getting it reflected out there and perhaps giving the reservists a feeling that there's a corner turned, a change of attitude, that maybe their day of finally getting the full respect they deserve and support is here. That can only be a good thing.
Other than that, Chair, I just want to thank.... We hit hard at this committee, because it's for accountability. We know about accountability, because we get it on the doorstep. We know what it's like. But it always needs to be said that we're incredibly proud of all of our fellow citizens who serve in uniform, from all of you here at the top of the house, all the way down to every single soldier and support civilian involved. We're very proud of our military history and our contemporary military, and we only look to work with you to strengthen it.
Thank you, Chair.