Thank you, Mr. Chair.
A lot of the numbers you gave out are correct. The members out there do want to see one united bargaining unit, but there is a decisive split within the members of the RCMP out in the field when you talk to them.
A lot of the younger members feel unsure of how they're supposed to vote when they're working in the rank structure. Their management in the field detachments where they work are older than they are and have an understanding that is different from what they have. They want to see a change, but in the police atmosphere we're very private about our individual concerns.
I think if we don't give them that secret ballot, they are going to feel very uncomfortable about which way to go. With a secret ballot they're going to give a very honest feeling towards whether they want to be unionized or not. I think that's the crucial point here. The rest of it all comes after that.
Yes, your numbers are correct in the sense that they want to see one body looking after them, one body representing them and stuff like that, but they're very concerned about whether that needs to be a union or whether it doesn't need to be a union. It's very important, I believe, to the members to know they can do that and feel secure by doing it with a private, secret vote.
That's no different from you and me, and no different from when you are going to vote on a new leader for your party in the next year and a half and we're going to vote for a new leader in a year or a year and a half.