Madam Speaker, I appreciated the comments of my hon. colleague. I am not an expert in this area but I have high regard for our military and the great men and women who serve our country so admirably. It is a point of pride for all Canadians but particularly Canadian men and women on the frontlines in the armed forces.
The hon. member did not touch on one area. I wonder if he would be willing to comment on it. We often see our military called into service and action on the national scene in natural disasters such as the recent snowstorm in Toronto. There is even reference now to the Y2K issues and leaves being cancelled. Everybody appreciates their efforts and there are all kinds of accolades when it is over for the photo ops.
I am concerned about what the member revealed today on the treatment of these honoured individuals when it comes to pay, compensation and respect for the service they give and what will happen if we jeopardize the service these people provide to Canadians at home when we are facing natural disasters. I wonder if he could comment on that.