Veterans Affairs committee  Just let me describe it. With our conscript system, we are able to call up to duty, if we want to, in the worst case you can imagine, up to 10 million reservists. Every young male has served in our country. But on the other hand, to be honest and to be sure, sir, a soldier who has served for only nine months cannot identify himself with the forces in the same way as your professionals or your retired soldiers do, or the huge reserve component that you have in Canada.

Veterans Affairs committee  We hope we can do a little bit next year.

Veterans Affairs committee  Yes.

Veterans Affairs committee  The training component depends on the specialization he has. We have a lot of reservists who we bring into our forces because of their qualifications. For example, think of somebody who is able to repair an air conditioning system. You don't have them in the forces and normally you do not train them.

Veterans Affairs committee  Sir, as I've mentioned before, we do not use the term “veterans”, and our reservist system is absolutely not comparable to yours. The integration of veterans in your society is outstanding. I've had a lot of chances to attend occasions where veterans were involved. When we talk about comparable things like veterans, we are talking about reservists totally, but the duty time for reservists ends.

Veterans Affairs committee  Honourable members of the Canadian Parliament, I am Lieutenant Colonel Matthias Reibold. I'm the defence attaché of the Federal Republic of Germany to Canada. It is today a great pleasure and an honour for me to speak in front of you about German so-called veterans affairs. Good morning ladies and gentlemen, honourable members of the Canadian Parliament.