Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Are you guys okay? Okay. That's great.
I'm in my eighth year on this committee. I have to draw some attention to something here: Your testimony should be the key thing in determining what we recommend and what the government does. What I find is that people come here and share. You need to have the experts, the advisory councils and all of those things, but all of those things should wrap around what is heard here. That is not happening. It needs to happen.
Thank you so much. You guys are amazing.
I want to speak to Donna about the Survivor Perspectives Consulting Group.
I sat up reading it, and going through it and highlighting.... It is remarkable. It is a remarkable approach to dealing specifically with this military sexual trauma issue. I'm going to very quickly read your mission statement. It says, “Social change needs a movement that cannot be mandated with rules and orders. Instead, it needs to be through honest and direct engagement and putting the humanity of our members first.” From what you're saying, you understand the role of the military. It's rules and orders. It's “jump” and “don't jump”. All of a sudden, we are talking about humanity here. You're all assets, in a way.
I loved this comment, which I would like you to respond to: Warrant Officer Carolyn Edwards, who works with you, said, “I liked how the workshop highlights that you can still be a bad-ass warrior and have empathy. Listening with empathy and showing compassion...does not weaken us as soldiers. It strengthens us all to be...better, stronger and a more well-rounded force.”
“Go women”, right? That thinking is totally contrary to that of those who.... As you mention here, you received a CDS commendation for creating this program, then a letter telling you the Canadian Armed Forces leadership “sees no value in institutionalizing [your] training”.
Would you please talk about that?