Mr. Speaker, my colleague is right. We too have been critical of this situation. We have even seen individual files with certain compromising information removed. Why? We have no idea.
Why was information removed? Was it because they were afraid that these soldiers would claim compensation? Was it because they were afraid that these soldiers would be entitled to settlements that would cost the government too much? Is this how they show respect for soldiers? Is this how they show respect for those who are going to defend the freedom in which we believe? Is this how we want those who represent us abroad treated?
Once again, Canada's credibility, its prestige as a peacekeeper, is predicated on our respect for the soldiers who represent us abroad.
It is predicated on respect for the individuals who remain in Canada, because these are the people who will pay for our peacekeeping missions abroad. When foreign countries see how much importance we attach to respecting people, to looking after their basic needs, when they see it is a priority for Canada they will respect us and we will have played a better role abroad than the one we play now by sending military equipment that is at times so heavy we lack the carriers needed to deliver them to a theatre of war abroad.
We have to turn to the American army for help in transporting certain heavy equipment. Counting on the help of another country to defend our ideas abroad is a very strange way of ensuring our sovereignty.
Once again, Canada would do well—even though the white paper is six years old, in international politics things change so quickly that six years can be a very long time—to re-examine its positions, especially when we are wondering if NATO should not alter its mission, when the new European Union is considering putting a structure called European security and defence identity in place and when everything is upside down and people think the world should act differently with respect to theatres of war across regions or nations.
We have to consider whether it is effective to retain the same objectives or whether we should not look at a new way for Canada to be part of these missions abroad and how it could ensure its military personnel enjoy a decent standard of living both at home and on missions abroad.