Mr. Speaker, I wonder if I should start naming all the outstanding individuals who have ever held senior positions in the Canadian forces, in order to refute the allegations made by the hon. member.
I can tell him that today about 27 per cent of the people in the Canadian forces are francophones. I acknowledge the hon. member's concerns, and I want to give him the assurance that we are making progress with our recruitment both for the regular forces and for the officers corps, even after the closing of the military college in the province of Quebec.
Young Canadians who want to be part of the Canadian forces are very conscious of the challenge they are facing if they come from a francophone region in Canada. This has been going on for a long time, but it is improving. I am delighted to see that the hon. member is still interested in the future of the Canadian forces.