Mr. Speaker, hunger strikes are regrettable. We are talking about the health and welfare of several Canadian veterans. I would strongly caution the hon. member not to inflame the situation with unnecessary rhetoric.
I have spoken to the merchant navy vets, as has the minister, and we have assured them that with the 1992 legislation merchant mariners are veterans in every sense of the word, that they are entitled to all benefits currently available to veterans of the armed forces, and that the 1992—