Respectfully, Mr. Kerr, I also disagree with your motion. I will explain why.
The issue of suicide among armed forces personnel and veterans is distinct, and I agree with Mr. Stoffer to include it.
Increasingly we are hearing about soldiers suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder upon their return from Afghanistan or other military missions, and they experience a sense of isolation because of it.
It is fundamentally important to look into this matter because the problem of suicide is an increasing concern in the military. I do not believe we should address this problem within the context of the Veterans Charter, which deals rather with customer services and disability pensions for veterans and the military.
It is very important to examine the charter. I also went to Italy and spoke with a number of veterans. The charter does include some important issues. We have noticed it in a number of documents that have been circulated to the committee.
However, the problem of suicide has both a psychological and social dimension. How can we avoid these people experiencing this problem when they come back to the country? I do not think the charter will provide us with the answer. We need to carry out a specific study on the issue.