Colleen and Wendy—and I apologize for using your first names, but this is our second meeting. You said that you were in the Canadian Forces for 21 years. I take it that you were five years old when you enlisted!
Joking aside, I was pleasantly surprised to discover that you are quick learners. Last time, I pointed out that we have two official languages—English and French, nothing else—and you respected that today, which is great. I thank you for that.
If you are here to talk about the army, I am afraid that is only of partial interest to me. The reason I say that is because our committee deals with veterans' affairs. That being said, even if the mission of your organization is not to serve veterans, I recognize that you have huge responsibilities. Your mission is to look after the social well-being of service men and women and their families: you help prepare our young men and women in uniform; you provide them with information; you visit veterans; you liaise with the department and with different associations; and you warn young people of the problems they may experience. In short, your mission is to prepare them.
I certainly do not claim to know everything, but I do have a particular interest in Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in young people. I have read some dozen weighty tomes on the matter. This week, I was sent a booklet summarizing all of the remarkable material available on the subject. I do not know whether you are familiar with it. It would be worth your while to read it yourselves and to send copies of it to all military families and to all young people who enlist in the army and get sent on mission. You have to tell them about Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. You do not want to frighten them, but they have to be able to recognize it. I really think that this document is a masterpiece. I would even be willing to give you my own copy. You could also order copies from the Department of Veterans Affairs and distribute them to the people for whom you do so much. I have every confidence that you will do an excellent job. I thank you for the work you do for our young men and women in uniform, which is your area of responsibility, as opposed to recruitment or veterans' affairs.
Thank you very much.