Thank you very much, Madam Chair.
I'd like to now turn my final question—with regard to the Canadian Rangers—to Bill Matthews, the deputy minister of national defence.
My colleagues, particularly the member of Parliament from Nunavut, work largely with members of the Canadian Rangers when dealing with the Canadian Armed Forces. We've heard a great deal of testimony from Inuit Canadian Rangers who don't feel that they have the adequate support they need when it comes to getting reimbursement for their equipment when they participate in military exercises.
Just for preference, for Canadians who may not know, the Canadian Rangers utilize their own equipment—private equipment—and lease, rent or find other accommodations by way of a reimbursement agreement between them and the government for the utilization of that equipment. The wear and tear, in addition to whatever use that equipment undergoes, of course, is something that the individual would have to deal with, especially if there is maintenance required. That reimbursement total, of course, would be different or sometimes not satisfactory, depending on how much more expensive that maintenance could be.
It is incredibly important that the Canadian Rangers are well equipped but also have the tools to ensure that they continue to do the work they need to do. I think it is appropriate that the Canadian Rangers have the option to utilize their own equipment, particularly if it is important to them to be able to utilize that equipment for better results. How is the Department of National Defence understanding those reimbursements? What is the way in which they get to the reimbursement for the utilization of that equipment? Is there any way to ensure that the regular costs that are going up for these Canadian Rangers keep in line with the reimbursement they should be getting?
