Mr. Speaker, again, that is a fundamental misunderstanding of what a coalition is. A coalition is that everyone has everyone else's back. We are not just flying our airplanes in order to protect our troops. The Americans are not just flying their planes in order to protect their troops. The Americans fly their planes to protect ours, us, them, and the Dutch theirs, etc. That is the way that a coalition works.
When there is a gap in the capabilities that needs to be addressed, where troops need to be trained, that is where we can contribute best.
To therefore attribute a disrespect for the people who fly our airplanes and have been flying them for the last years is just absolutely wrong. That is a nonsensical statement.
I want to go to a statement made by John Kerry, the United States Secretary of State. He said, “So Canada is deeply invested in this and we need that partnership”.
He is pleased that the Prime Minister has honoured his campaign decision.