Mr. Speaker, with respect to the issue of promotion of the officer in question, I have to tell the hon. member and the House there is a system in place that has existed for 43 years.
That system essentially is that the chief of the defence staff is responsible for promoting officers and non-commissioned ranks up to the rank of colonel. The minister is responsible for all general officers' promotions.
The system is in place to prevent political interference. It works and it worked on this occasion. If the hon. member is suggesting that we politicize the system of promotion then I suggest he is suggesting the wrong thing. The Canadian forces would not agree. The House would not approve it and the Canadian public would be appalled.
He would be the first one to scream if this were the case and I would be there to join him.