Sherry Romanado
Longueuil—Charles-LeMoyne, Quebec · Liberal · Canada
“Mr. Speaker, we are strengthening the Royal Canadian Navy from coast to coast to coast, with billions of dollars in investments in the context of one of the largest shipbuilding programs. This is the largest investment in the Royal Canadian Navy since the Second World War.”
“Mr. Speaker, I know we are talking about Building Canada Homes and creating this stand-alone agency, and the previous speaker mentioned that no homes have actually been built. I was at the inauguration of a building in my riding in March with 30 units for transitional housing, so I have seen in my own riding that we are building.”
“Mr. Speaker, I had a chance to visit the hon. member's riding a couple of years ago. It is a beautiful riding with phenomenal people. I was listening to her speech quite intently. She mentioned something that I think we can all agree with. No one wants young people to have to leave their home to find work.”
“Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my colleague for her support for members of the Canadian Armed Forces and their families. The member spoke a lot about the defence industrial strategy, and a previous question suggested that there was no defence strategy.”
“Mr. Speaker, I do not know if my colleague has been hearing the same thing I have been hearing in my riding. I hear people saying they understand that Canada is facing a lot of challenges with respect to geopolitics, with respect to trade and so forth.”
“Mr. Speaker, I have not had a chance to work with the member opposite yet here in this Parliament. I would like to ask for her thoughts with respect to the supports that we have been providing for young people, including in the spring economic statement in terms of providing training opportunities for young people.”
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“As a military parent and as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Defence, I have had the immense privilege of meeting many members of the Canadian Armed Forces and their families across the country and abroad. I have an incredible amount of respect for military members and their families as they serve Canada, and I am deeply grateful for their steadfast dedication to Canadians. Members of the Canadian Armed Forces keep us safe every day. In turn, it is our responsibility to ensure that they have a work environment where they feel protected, respected and empowered to serve. Our forces deserve a workplace free from all behaviours that harm our people, threaten morale and undermine team cohesion, including the reprehensible act of sexual misconduct.”
“Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to open third reading debate on Bill C‑11 , the military justice system modernization act. As Canada's new government makes a generational investment in the Canadian Armed Forces, we know that any work to support our forces starts with our people. This legislation is about the women and men of the Canadian Armed Forces, and it is about ensuring their safety here in Canada and around the world. [ English ] The people of the Canadian Armed Forces are at the heart of everything we do, whether they are defending our sovereignty at home, supporting our allies abroad or serving at bases and wings across Canada.”
“Mr. Speaker, I know that the hon. member has a lot of history working in the field of trade and so on. She mentioned team Canada. Whether we have a majority or not, I am not sure why she could not still work with us to make sure we get the best deal for Canada.”
“Mr. Speaker, I did, in fact, work with my colleague on the electoral reform committee. I enjoyed working with him on that. I would like to get his opinion on whether we should also be looking at the following, in terms of eliminating the longest ballot. I know that every candidate who wants to present in a federal election has to fill out a nomination paper as a candidate with Elections Canada and make solemn declarations on that form. Could the member provide an opinion on whether one of those declarations should be something along the lines of “I fully intend to represent the citizens in this riding”? The reason why they are using the same auditor is that they are not actually incurring or submitting any expenses, as they have no intention to run. Perhaps a solemn declaration with the actual intent of running is something we could add.”
“Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask the member opposite if there is anything else she feels that perhaps we should be including in this bill to strengthen it and if she would like to elaborate on anything she feels we should also include.”
“Mr. Speaker, I rise to share some news that is great for Canada and for the Canadian Armed Forces. We confirmed this week that Canadian Armed Forces recruitment has reached its highest level in 30 years. The number of applications has more than doubled over the past year, reaching over 45,000. On top of that, we have recruited 7,310 regular force members, surpassing our target. Our soldiers, sailors and aviators do important and incredible work. We need more of them. The Canadian Armed Forces' continued recruiting success signals much more than progress. It reflects a renewed strength at the core of our military. Our government is proud to reinvest in our forces to rearm them and rebuild them.”
“Mr. Speaker, my hon. colleague and I actually travelled together to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Battle of Passchendaele. I know his commitment to the Canadian Armed Forces is one that is incredibly supportive. I just want to ask him what his thoughts are on the fact that the ACVA committee made the same recommendation, for us to do this, not even two years ago.”
“Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague across the way for her work on the national defence committee. In 2024, the ACVA committee undertook an extensive study regarding women in the military. More than 100 witnesses came forward over 23 meetings, testifying before the ACVA committee. From that committee came a report that was tabled in Parliament and included recommendation 40, and this was unanimous. All parties agreed: That the Department of National Defence, in accordance with the many recommendations made in the wake of the Deschamps, Fish and Arbour reports, establish a reporting mechanism outside of the military chain of command, provide victims of military sexual trauma with safe and confidential legal resources, and transfer the jurisdiction to investigate sexual misconduct and prosecute its perpetrators to civilian authorities.”
“Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my colleague for her incredible support for members of the Canadian Armed Forces. She mentioned that she is a lawyer and has worked in this kind of field. I would like to ask her if she knows of any other workplace where an employee who is a victim of sexual assault would have to report that sexual assault to their employer and have it investigated by their own employer.”
“Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for his work on the Standing Committee on National Defence. He talked about all the other sexual assault victims. Recommendation 5 in Justice Arbour's report stems from the work she has done. She listened to witnesses and victims and made this recommendation, the same one that was in the report of the Standing Committee on Veterans Affairs. Can my colleague talk about the other victims who were not able to appear before the committee? We are listening.”
“Mr. Speaker, I did listen intently to the intervention of my colleague across the way. He referenced a report that was tabled by the ACVA committee in June 2024. I actually participated in that study as well. That report made a unanimous recommendation, recommendation 40, which states: That the Department of National Defence, in accordance with the many recommendations made in the wake of the Deschamps, Fish and Arbour reports, establish a reporting mechanism outside of the military chain of command, provide victims of military sexual trauma with safe and confidential legal resources, and transfer the jurisdiction to investigate sexual misconduct and prosecute its perpetrators to civilian authorities. This is exactly what Justice Arbour recommended in her recommendation 5, which is exactly what is in Bill C-11 .”
“Mr. Speaker. I would like to thank my colleague for his great work on the national defence committee. I would like the member to elaborate a bit about what we heard in terms of members of the Canadian Armed Forces who would not come forward to file complaints out of fear of retribution and that their careers would be limited, and that is why we brought forward Justice Arbour's recommendation.”
“Mr. Speaker, the reality is that the reason for Justice Arbour making that recommendation is that members of the Canadian Armed Forces who were sexually assaulted in the military were not coming forward out of fear of retribution. They did not want their case to be investigated and tried by their own employer. Can the member elaborate on that?”
“Things have changed in the Canadian Armed Forces for the better. We cannot go back. For the victims who never came forward, out of fear of retribution, out of fear for their lives, today is for them. We heard them. We listened. We are there.”
“Mr. Speaker, it is actually very appropriate to read the preface to Justice Arbour's report into the record, because it still rings true. It says: Thousands of Canadians have served, and continue to serve, with honour in one of the country’s most prestigious organizations: the Canadian Armed Forces.... Many, however, were denied that chance. Members of the LGBTQ2+ community were purged. Members of Indigenous and black communities, and other visible minorities and equity-seeking groups, have been largely absent, clearly not welcome. For years, women were simply shut out. When finally allowed to serve, women were made to feel they did not belong. They were denied opportunities to compete fairly and to thrive. They were harassed, humiliated, abused and assaulted, and, appallingly, many continue to be targeted today.”
“Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for his question and also for the work we do together in committee. My priority is the women and men in uniform. The chief of the defence staff has had conversations with over 14,000 Canadian Armed Forces members and victims, and they have made it very clear that these cases need to be transferred to the civilian system.”
“Mr. Speaker, the member mentioned the veteran affairs committee. In fact, the veteran affairs committee submitted a report to the House in June 2024 entitled “Invisible No More. The Experiences of Canadian Women Veterans”. In that report was recommendation 40, which I will quote: That the Department of National Defence, in accordance with the many recommendations made in the wake of the Deschamps, Fish and Arbour reports, establish a reporting mechanism outside of the military chain of command, provide victims of military sexual trauma with safe and confidential legal resources, and transfer the jurisdiction to investigate sexual misconduct and prosecute its perpetrators to civilian authorities. That was passed unanimously with the support of the Conservatives.”
“[ Translation ] Creating a respectful and inclusive workplace is an ongoing commitment. [ English ] It is one that requires sustained leadership, accountability and commitment. The measures in Bill C-11 represent an important step forward. More than that, they represent progress: progress toward a military justice system that reflects our values, progress toward a workplace where every member can serve with dignity and progress toward rebuilding and reinforcing trust. It is a step to better protect those who serve and to build a safer, more respectful environment. [ Translation ] It is also a step towards building confidence in our military justice system. [ English ] We owe this to the women and men of the Canadian Armed Forces. We owe this to all Canadians. Let us continue this work together. Let us get this done for them.”
“(1035) [ English ] We have clarified how sexual misconduct is defined and addressed, breaking it into clearer categories so that each form can be dealt with appropriately. We have aligned our approach to harassment and violence with the Canada Labour Code, creating a single, consistent framework across the defence team. We have enabled direct access to the Canadian Human Rights Commission in certain cases because transparency and accountability are essential to cultural change. We continue to track progress publicly through our comprehensive implementation plan, a detailed road map that Canadians can see and follow. As noted by the external monitor, Jocelyne Therrien, there has been significant effort and meaningful progress, but she also reminded us of something important. This work is never finished.”
“[ Translation ] This is excellent news for Canada, but we must not lose sight of the important work we are doing to ensure that the next generation of the Canadian Armed Forces has a safe and supportive work environment. I can assure members that we are fully committed to implementing the recommendations of Justices Fish and Arbour. These recommendations provide a road map for concrete and measurable change. We have strengthened our recruitment and assessment processes. A probationary period now ensures that recruits comply with security requirements, meet medical standards and, above all, possess the values expected of those who serve their country: respect, dignity and integrity.”
“It also aligns military justice legislation with recent amendments to the Criminal Code regarding offenders and publication bans. The military justice system is about maintaining discipline, efficiency and morale within the Canadian Armed Forces. Modernizing it is essential for lasting institutional reform. [ English ] Our objective is clear. It is to strengthen trust and confidence among defence team members and all Canadians. [ Translation ] Trust must be at the heart of any justice system. [ English ] Trust must be earned through action. The changes proposed in Bill C-11 are part of a much broader transformation. We are undertaking meaningful reforms across recruitment, training, leadership and oversight. In fact, this week the Canadian Armed Forces reached its highest recruitment in 30 years.”
“Any attempt to undermine or undercut the progress made in the past five years under the interim directive is a disservice to victims and survivors. I note that Bill C-11 also advances key recommendations from former Supreme Court justice Morris Fish to strengthen the system's effectiveness and credibility. These include strengthening and modernizing appointment processes for senior military justice roles, broadening eligibility for military judges, reinforcing the independence of military justice authorities and expanding mechanisms for interference complaints. These are not technical adjustments. They are foundational reforms. They go directly to the integrity of the system. [ Translation ] The bill also strengthens support for victims by expanding access to liaison officers, including those acting on behalf of victims.”
“As introduced, Bill C-11 would remove CAF jurisdiction over Criminal Code sexual offences committed in Canada. These offences would instead fall under civilian authorities for investigation and prosecution. This reflects the practice already in place since 2021, following the interim recommendation of former Supreme Court justice Louise Arbour, and this legislation would formalize that approach. I would like to note that the interim directive has been an effective measure while we await the passage of Bill C-11. The interim directive to implement recommendation five has been in place since December 2021, and since then, all new charges of sexual offences under the Criminal Code have been brought in the civilian justice system. Bill C-11 proposes to solidify this interim directive and make it permanent, as Justice Arbour recommended.”
“Ultimately, they weaken operational effectiveness. There is no place for this in our military. There is no place for this in Canada. That is why today's debate is so important. [ Translation ] Cultural change and growth within the Canadian Armed Forces is simply too important to be exploited for political or partisan gain. Our military members deserve better, their families deserve better and Canadians deserve better. [ English ] Through Bill C-11 , we are proposing important amendments to the National Defence Act to modernize the military justice system. The legislation is about ensuring that the system remains fair, effective and worthy of the trust Canadians place in it. At its core, it would strengthen accountability, reinforce independence and ensure alignment with the values Canadians expect.”
“We ask them to serve in uncertainty, to operate in high-risk environments and to put service before self every single day. In return, we have a responsibility, a collective responsibility, to ensure they have everything they need to succeed. That includes the right equipment, the right training and, critically, the right environment. (1030) [ Translation ] It must be a safe, respectful and dignified environment. It must be a healthy work environment, where everyone feels protected and able to serve, because serving one's country should never come at the expense of one's dignity. [ English ] Eliminating unacceptable behaviours, including sexual misconduct, is central to that responsibility. These behaviours cause real harm. They erode trust. They damage morale. They impact recruitment and retention.”
“Mr. Speaker, I am very grateful to be here today for the debate at report stage of Bill C‑11 , the military justice system modernization act. [ English ] As Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Defence, I have the privilege and responsibility of supporting the women and men who serve Canada in uniform. I believe that responsibility is shared by all members of the House. As the mother and mother-in-law of three serving members of the Canadian Armed Forces, I know first-hand that members of the Canadian Armed Forces are among the very best of our country: skilled, dedicated, professional and deeply committed to something greater than themselves. I have had the privilege of meeting many of them, and each time, I am reminded of a simple truth: We ask a great deal of them.”
“Mr. Speaker, the member and I worked together very closely on the procedure and House affairs committee in a previous Parliament and extensively studied the issue of foreign interference. There are many ridings in this country that we would call a “safe seat”, one that has always been blue, red or a certain colour. Essentially, anyone who obtained the nomination in a nomination contest would be guaranteed to be sent to the House of Commons. Could the member elaborate a little on some of those issues with respect to nominations and the prevention of foreign interference in nomination contests that would essentially make sure that a preferred candidate gets elected in the House of Commons?”
“Mr. Speaker, if the government's responses to Questions Nos. 846 , 847 , 848 , 849 , 850 , 851 , 852 , 853 , 854 , 855 , 856 , 857 , 858 , 859 , 860 , 861 , 862 , 863 , 864 , 865 , 866 , 867 , 868 , 869 , 870 , 871 , 872 , 873 , 874 , 875 , 876 , 877 , 878 , 879 , 880 , 881 , 882 , 883 , 884 , 885 , 886 , 887 , 888 , 889 , 890 , 891 , 892 , 893 , 894 , 895 , 896 , 897 , 898 , 899 , 900 , 901 , 902 , 903 , 904 , 905 , 906 , 907 , 908 , 909 , 910 , 911 , 912 , 913 and 914 could be made orders for return, these returns would be tabled in electronic format immediately.”
“Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36(8)(a), I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the government's responses to 73 petitions. These returns will be tabled in an electronic format.”
“Mr. Speaker, I have good news for Canadians today. The Secretary General of NATO has confirmed that Canada has met NATO's target of 2% of GDP for military spending. This historic investment confirms that we are doing our fair share, both at home on the continent and within the alliance. Today, as every day, NATO allies know they can count on Canada.”
“Mr. Speaker, the good news is that Build Canada Homes is delivering results. In our first 100 days, we took action by signing major agreements with provinces and cities and moving forward with six construction projects on federal land, including one in my riding of Longueuil—Charles-LeMoyne. Yes, the Longue-Rive project in Longueuil is building more than 1,000 housing units, 40% of which are off-market. That is what it means to deliver on promises. I invite my colleagues on the other side to share in the good news with us.”
“Madam Speaker, my colleague alluded a little to the important work of committees and to how, when we are able to take an issue that is before a committee and actually come together and work together to better address the issue, this is what is good for Canadians. Can my colleague elaborate a little on why it is so important that committees function well? I understand that we have to play the game sometimes and that there are filibusters and so on, but the important work that happens in committees can make a real difference for Canadians.”
“Madam Speaker, as a veteran of the Canadian Armed Forces, I would like it if the hon. member could elaborate on how important it is that, in the budget, we are committing $81.8 billion of investment over the next five years in national defence, and on why it is so important that every colleague, every member of the House, support the budget to make sure that the men and women in uniform have the equipment they need going forward.”
“Madam Speaker, today, I want to pay tribute to a remarkable leader, Jean Melançon, outgoing director of the Service de sécurité incendie de l'agglomération de Longueuil, or SSIAL. After 37 years of service with the Longueuil fire department, the SSIAL, including 12 years as fire chief, Jean is getting ready to share his vast experience and expertise with another fire department. A man of courage and humanity, Jean not only dedicated decades to protecting the citizens and property of our region, but also inspired generations of firefighters with his commitment to excellence. In his roles as both firefighter and director, Jean helped create a safer and stronger community. His passion for safety and his sense of duty will always be remembered. His legacy will live on for years to come.”
“Madam Speaker, I seek the unanimous consent of the House to repeat my S. O. 31 if possible. I was right behind the member who doing the really big cheer for the Blue Jays, and unfortunately the noise was too much.”
“Madam Speaker, today, I want to pay tribute to a remarkable leader, Jean Melançon, outgoing director of the Service de sécurité incendie de l'agglomération de Longueuil, or SSIAL. After 37 years of service with the Longueuil fire department, the SSIAL, including 12 years as fire chief, Jean is getting ready to share his vast experience and expertise with another fire department. As a man of courage and compassion, Jean dedicated decades to protecting the citizens and property of our region. At the same time, he also inspired generations of firefighters with his commitment to excellence. In his roles as both firefighter and director, Jean helped create a safer and stronger community. His passion for safety and his sense of duty will always be remembered. His legacy will live on for years to come.”
“Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my colleague across the way for his speech. We have had the great pleasure of working together over the last 10 years on multiple files, one of which he mentioned in his speech. He referenced somebody who may or may not be on the Hill and in the chamber today. While this is not about Bill C-12 , I did want to flag to him, which I think he will be happy to hear, that in the legislation tabled this morning, Bill C-14 , on page 19, in proposed subclause 39(1), injury to first responders was added. That was in a private member's bill he brought forward in the last Parliament. I just wanted to let him know that. As he is very passionate about this, would he be willing to work with our government to make sure that when we hopefully get Bill C-12 to committee, we have some amendments—”
“Mr. Speaker, I will make sure the information is provided to committee members when this bill gets to committee. I want to thank the member opposite. We have worked together on many files, and it is always a pleasure to work with him.”
“Mr. Speaker, it was Jennie Carignan, the current CDS, who met with over 16,000 members of the Canadian Armed Forces. I know the Minister of National Defence is always speaking to members of the Canadian Armed Forces, veterans and their families. They asked us, based on Justice Arbour's recommendation, to move the investigation and prosecution of sexual assault cases to the civilian system. We are listening to them. We will continue to listen to them. We will always listen to them.”
“Mr. Speaker, I was elected in 2015. I have always worked closely with veterans' communities and their families. I was parliamentary secretary to the Minister of Veterans Affairs from 2017 to 2019, and I still have phone numbers and I still get text messages from veterans and their families to this day. I want to remain committed to those who served our country and their families.”
“Mr. Speaker, today is about victims of sexual misconduct in the Canadian Armed Forces. We had the opportunity in the last Parliament to get Bill C-66 done, but unfortunately shenanigans in the House prevented us from doing that and it died on the Order Paper. We are in line to getting all the recommendations in the Arbour report completed before the end of the year. I urge my colleagues not to play partisan politics and make personal attacks, and urge them to support us in getting this bill to committee so we can do a proper study of it and move it along for victims.”
“[ English ] As a proud mother of serving members, I hope my own family and all members of the Canadian Armed Forces will never need to rely on these protections, but for those who have suffered in silence, who have lost faith in the system and who fear coming forward, we see them, we hear them and we are committed to getting this right. They have our backs, and we must have theirs. I urge all members of this House to support Bill C-11 . Let us get it to committee for thorough study and demonstrate that supporting members of the Canadian Armed Forces is truly non-partisan. We need to do this. We need to get it right for them.”
“We have introduced a digital grievance form to lower barriers for reporting. We have repealed the duty to report, restoring choice and agency to survivors. We have also launched the Canadian Military Colleges Review Board to strengthen accountability in our institutions. [ Translation ] These measures show that we are not merely talking about intention, but also about implementation. They will enable future generations to serve in a safer, more inclusive and more respectful environment. [ English ] Bill C-11 is not just aspirational. It would enshrine these changes in law, embedding independence, fairness and protection for survivors into the very structure of the National Defence Act. [ Translation ] It is the right thing to do for our military personnel, and it is the right thing to do for our country, but this is just a start.”
“I applaud the fact that the other parties in the House expressed their support for Bill C‑66 in the last Parliament in a spirit of non-partisan collaboration. [ English ] Justice must not only be done; it must be seen to be done. [ Translation ] Bill C-11 will strengthen the independence of military judges, enhance oversight of military police and ensure that serious offences, including sexual offences, will now be dealt with by the civilian justice system. It will improve transparency and accountability, which will help restore public trust and encourage more Canadians to serve in a fair and reliable system. [ English ] Our government is also taking concrete action. We have established the sexual misconduct support and resource centre, fully independent from the chain of command.”
“General Jennie Carignan, when she was the chief professional conduct and culture, met with over 16,000 members of the defence team and the Canadian Armed Forces. Those 16,000 voices have told us again and again that change must be real, structural and lasting. [ Translation ] Members of the armed forces must have confidence in their justice system. Survivors should not fear telling their story or forfeiting their military career. [ English ] As our government emphasized in “Our North, Strong and Free”, harassment, discrimination and violence in any form have no place in the Canadian Armed Forces. Such behaviour causes lasting harm and undermines Canadians' trust in their military institutions. (1235) [ Translation ] That is why it is imperative to act now.”
“Recommendation 5 is key: the exclusive prosecution by civilian authorities of all Criminal Code sexual offences alleged by members of the Canadian Armed Forces. Bill C‑11 implements that recommendation. Serious offences, including sexual offences, will now be handled by the civilian justice system, offering the survivors the same protections as all Canadians. [ English ] Our government has already acted on an interim basis to implement this recommendation. Since late 2021, all new allegations of Criminal Code sexual offences involving CAF members have been referred to civilian police and prosecutors. Bill C-11 now makes that practice permanent, providing clarity, consistency and confidence to survivors and to the system as a whole.”
“[ English ] A year later, Justice Louise Arbour was asked to go even deeper, to look not just at policies but at the culture and power structures that shape behaviour inside the Canadian Armed Forces and the Department of National Defence. In the preface to her report, she wrote words that should stop us all: For years, women were simply shut out. When finally allowed to serve, women were made to feel they did not belong.... They were harassed, humiliated, abused and assaulted, and, appallingly, many continue to be targeted today.... Indeed, the exposure of sexual misconduct in the CAF has caused as much damage as defeat in combat would have to demoralize the troops and shock Canadians. [ Translation ] Those words are a call to action. Justice Arbour's report contains 48 recommendations for rebuilding trust and accountability.”
“Justice Fish's independent external comprehensive review, published in 2021, examined how our military justice system functions, from investigation and courts martial to oversight and accountability. He found that while the military justice system is vital to maintaining discipline and operational effectiveness, it must also align with the core principles of Canadian justice: independence, fairness and respect for the rule of law. [ Translation ] Justice Fish made 107 recommendations, several of which are aimed at strengthening civilian oversight, transferring the handling of sexual offences to civilian courts and increasing accountability within the chain of command. Bill C‑11 directly addresses these recommendations by modernizing the system and bringing the military process more in line with the civilian process.”
“Victims of harassment and sexual assault in the military must be able to report abuse without fear of reprisal. [ Translation ] With this bill, we want to ensure that victims can pursue their perpetrators in civilian court, free from the pressure of the chain of command. We must strengthen the system to help survivors heal from their trauma, provide them with options that respect their dignity and allow them to make decisions without fearing for their future in uniform. [ English ] Bill C-11 is grounded in two landmark independent reviews, one by former Supreme Court justice Morris Fish and the other by former Supreme Court justice Louise Arbour.”
“Mr. Speaker, I will be splitting my time with the member for Bay of Quinte . (1230) [ Translation ] It is with great pride that I rise today at the second reading of Bill C‑11 , which proposes a fundamental reform of the military justice system. This issue is particularly close to my heart. I have two sons and a daughter-in-law who serve in the Canadian Armed Forces. I am extremely proud of them, as I am of all CAF members and the sacrifices they have made for our country. [ English ] I am a proud military mom. One of the reasons I entered public service was to ensure that members of the Canadian Armed Forces and their families receive the care and support they deserve for the sacrifices they have made. That is exactly why Bill C-11 matters so much. Those who protect us deserve to be protected in return.”