Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you, Minister, for being here.
I concur with the minister on the significance of this day, and I want to thank all the women across this country for doing what they did over the last year, and standing up with their families, taking care of their families and their neighbours.
Madam Chair, before I proceed to my question for the minister, I would like to bring to the committee members' attention, the following motion that I intend to move during committee business:
That, pursuant to Standing Order 108(2), the committee undertake a study of sexual misconduct within the Canadian Armed Forces, including a review of Operation HONOUR; that the evidence and documentation received by the committee during the first session of the 42nd parliament in the report titled "A Force for Change Creating a Culture of Equality for Women in the Canadian Armed Forces" be taken into consideration by the committee in the current session; that the following witnesses be invited to appear before the committee: the Chief of Defence Staff; the Minister of Defense; the Canadian Forces Ombudsman; Lt.-Gen. Frances Allen, the Vice-Chief of Defence Staff; the Commander of the Canadian Forces National Investigation Service; It’s Just 700; Dawn McIlmoyle-Knott; retired Master Corporal Stéphanie Raymond and retired Supreme Court Justice Marie Deschamps.
Minister, are you familiar with your mandate letter from the Prime Minister dated December 13, 2019?