Mr. Speaker, the mark of a democratic society is that individuals are free to criticize the government. It is not unusual for governments to be criticized by former politicians. I have to say that one of the many blessings I have as Minister of National Defence is that from time to time many former members of the armed forces pop up and make certain contributions to public debate.
Generally those contributions are constructive. In some cases they are critical. That is the right of those individuals. In some cases they are uncomfortable with the direction in which we are taking the armed forces. In other cases it is to set the record straight and to put their own time in office in a certain light with respect to posterity.
This is quite normal in a democracy and it certainly does not shake our resolve to continue the course that we have embarked on.