Well, I don't. I could get that figure. Actually, today, in looking over my notes, I can't recall looking at that cost, because it extends way beyond the Department of Veterans Affairs to all government departments. But I'm sure that the Department of Finance, Minister Flaherty, could provide that figure, because obviously anything like that has an impact on the treasury. The finance minister would have those numbers available, and I'll certainly request those and get those and provide them to you. I'm sure that Treasury Board would have those numbers as well. But for the individual department, I haven't seen those numbers, anyway.
The cost is real. I can't tell you what it would be, but we know it would be substantial, or governments would just simply do it. In referring and speaking to Mr. Thibault on the same question as a minister of the crown, it is something that previous governments have all grappled with but have never done.
I do know the member you're replacing, Peter Stoffer, does have a private member's bill before the House. That's the bill that Mr. Stoffer...I don't want to use the word “habitually”, because it doesn't sound as positive as it should, but it's a cause that he has had for a number of years and it's a bill that he throws in every year. It's one of the first things he met me on when I was sworn in as minister.
But I'll get some precise numbers for you. I think it's only fair that I do that. So I'll just leave it at that for now.