I'd like to begin by saying there are very few people anywhere on the grounds that I have more respect for than the two witnesses today. I have worked closely with both of you. It was an experience I will never forget, and it was an experience that made me grow as a person. So when I make my first comment, I hope you understand that I do it with all due respect.
I don't think that making this room a veterans room would detract in any way, shape, or form from the other wonderful monuments that you've mentioned. I think you'd be the first to realize that we simply can't meet in any of the places you've mentioned. We can't meet in the Peace Tower; we can't meet in the Memorial Chamber; we can't meet outside the Baker monument. So we need a room in which we can welcome veterans from this country to talk about their problems, talk about their issues, and try to find solutions.
I think if you have paid attention at all to this committee you'd have found out that it's probably the most non-partisan committee in the entire House of Commons. We all have one goal, and that goal is veterans.
We'd like a place to which we can bring veterans. You mentioned the humble surroundings that are here. While I've worked with veterans now for close to six years, I will tell you, if I had to find one word to describe veterans, the word would be “humble”. So I don't think there will be any offence taken by any veteran who comes in here to tell us what his or her issues are and look for solutions from us, because the surroundings are not ornate and gorgeous. It's a humble room that reflects what I consider the epitome of a veteran: they are very humble.
So I would ask you very respectfully to reconsider, because I think it's important and I think it's necessary that we have a place where veterans will feel comfortable, where we can actually put things on the walls that reflect veterans. I'm more than willing to donate some of my own pieces that I've collected over the years.
I think it's important that we do this, and I again respectfully ask you to reconsider your decision.