The Right Honourable Paul Martin,
Prime Minister of Canada

Sir:

The death of Lt (N) Chris Saunders, 32 years old, is the result of negligence on the part of the Canadian people and its elected representatives in the Cabinet and the House of Commons. You are aware that he died as a result of smoke inhalation from a fire aboard the HMCS Chicoutimi. Now, Lt Saunders will never see his wife or sons again, nor they him. His children are two-year-old Ben and seven-week-old Luke. Gwen will face the responsibility of raising these children by herself.

Our continued under-funding of the military has led to a senseless death aboard a Canadian submarine, and collectively, we are to blame. What kind of country outfits its military men and women with second-hand equipment and second-rate materiel? Is it not enough that our military goes in harm's way on our behalf without them having to do so with little else but their courage and sense of duty?

Recall when you were Finance Minister in the Chretien government that we had an embarrassing and potentially-lethal set of circumstances presented to our military personnel when one of two Sea King helicopters that was to participate in the August 4, 2000 assault of an American-owned ship (captained and crewed by Russians, and carrying millions of dollars worth of tanks and peace-keeping materiel being returned from Kosovo) was unable to lift off due to mechanical problems. The damned helicopters were untrustworthy then. We still have them in use today. This is just another in a list of debacles that make me so angry I can't even find the words to explain myself. Add to that the lack of uniforms for the kids going into Afghanistan, and the lack of transport to get them there--does this present an ugly picture to you?

We have turned our backs on the military, and we are now killing our own children because of our irresponsible behaviour to do with proper funding.

I have never once in fifty-seven years been ashamed to say I am Canadian. I am ashamed today, and I am of the opinion that you and your Cabinet should feel the same. I hope you will, but I think maybe you won't. How many more of our children will pay this price for the rest of us? And why?

Bruce Murdoch
(address attached)