From: Barry Westholm [mailto:barrylw11@hotmail.com] Sent: February 1, 2014 6:42 PMTo: Gallant, Cheryl - M.P.

; Gallant, Cheryl - Assistant 1; Gallant, Cheryl - Riding 1Cc: Ablonczy, Diane - M.P.; Adams, Eve - M.P.; Adler, Mark - M.P.; Aglukkaq, Leona - M.P.; Albas, Dan - M.P.; Albrecht, Harold - M.P.; Alexander, Chris - M.P.; Allen, Mike - M.P.; Allison, Dean - M.P.; Ambler, Stella - M.P.; Ambrose, Rona - M.P.; Anders, Rob - M.P.; Anderson, David L. - M.P.; Armstrong, Scott - M.P.; Ashfield, Keith - M.P.; Aspin, Jay - M.P.; Baird, John - M.P.; Bateman, Joyce - M.P.; Benoit, Leon - M.P.; Bergen, Candice - M.P.; Bernier, Maxime - Dput; Bezan, James - M.P.; Blaney, Steven - M.P./Dput; Block, Kelly - M.P.; Boughen, Ray - M.P.; Braid, Peter - M.P.; Breitkreuz, Garry - M.P.; Brown, Gord - M.P.; Brown, Lois - M.P.; Brown, Patrick - M.P.; Bruinooge, Rod - M.P.; Butt, Brad - M.P.; Calandra, Paul - M.P.; Calkins, Blaine - M.P.; Cannan, Ron - M.P.; Carmichael, John - M.P.; Carrie, Colin - M.P.; Chisu, Corneliu - M.P.; Chong, Michael M.P.; Clarke, Rob - M.P.; Clement, Tony - M.P.; Crockatt, Joan - M.P.; Daniel, Joe - M.P.; Davidson, Pat - M.P.; Dechert, Bob - M.P.; Del Mastro, Dean - M.P.; Devolin, Barry - M.P.; Dreeshen, Earl - M.P.; Duncan, John - M.P.; Dykstra, Rick - M.P.; Falk, Ted - M.P.; Fantino, Julian M.P.; Fast, Ed - M.P.; Findlay, Kerry-Lynne - M.P.; Finley, Diane - M.P.; Flaherty, Jim - M.P.; Fletcher, Steven - M.P.; Galipeau, Royal - M.P./Dput; Gallant, Cheryl - M.P.; Gill, Parm - M.P.; Glover, Shelly - M.P.; Goguen, Robert - M.P.; Goldring, Peter - M.P.; Goodyear, Gary - M.P.; Gosal, Bal - M.P.; Gourde, Jacques - Dput; Grewal, Nina - M.P.; Harper, Stephen - P.M.; Harris, Richard M. - M.P.; Hawn, Laurie - M.P.; Hayes, Bryan - M.P.; Hiebert, Russ - M.P.; Hillyer, Jim M.P.; Hoback, Randy - M.P.; Holder, Ed - M.P.; James, Roxanne - M.P.; Kamp, Randy - M.P.; Keddy, Gerald - M.P.; Kenney, Jason - M.P.; Kent, Peter - M.P.; Kerr, Greg - M.P.; Komarnicki, Ed M.P.; Kramp, Daryl - M.P.; Lake, Mike - M.P.; Lauzon, Guy - M.P.; Lebel, Denis - Dput; Leef, Ryan - M.P.; Leitch, Kellie - M.P.; Lemieux, Pierre - M.P.; Leung, Chungsen - M.P.; Lizon, Wladyslaw - M.P.; Lobb, Ben - M.P.; Lukiwski, Tom - M.P.; Lunney, James - M.P.; MacKay, Peter M.P.; MacKenzie, Dave - M.P.; Maguire, Larry - M.P.; Mayes, Colin - M.P.; McColeman, Phil M.P.; McLeod, Cathy - M.P.; Menegakis, Costas - M.P.; Merrifield, Rob - M.P.; Miller, Larry M.P.; Moore, James - M.P.; Moore, Rob - M.P.; Nicholson, Robert Douglas - M.P.; Norlock, Rick M.P.; Obhrai, Deepak - M.P.; O'Connor, Gordon - M.P.; Oliver, Joe - M.P.; O'Neill Gordon, Tilly M.P.; Opitz, Ted - M.P.; O'Toole, Erin - M.P.; Paradis, Christian - Dput; Payne, LaVar - M.P.; Poilievre, Pierre - M.P.; Preston, Joe - M.P.; Raitt, Lisa - M.P.; Rajotte, James - M.P.; Reid, Scott M.P.; Rempel, Michelle - M.P.; Richards, Blake - M.P.; Rickford, Greg - M.P.; Ritz, Gerry - M.P.; Saxton, Andrew - M.P.; Scheer, Andrew - M.P.; Schellenberger, Gary - M.P.; Seeback, Kyle - M.P.; Shea, Gail - M.P.; Shipley, Bev - M.P.; Shory, Devinder - M.P.; Smith, Joy - M.P.; Sopuck, Robert D. - M.P.; Sorenson, Kevin - M.P.; Stanton, Bruce - M.P.; Storseth, Brian - M.P.; Strahl, Mark - M.P.; Sweet, David - M.P.; Tilson, David - M.P.; Toet, Lawrence - M.P.; Trost, Brad - M.P.; Trottier, Bernard - M.P.; Truppe, Susan - M.P.; Uppal, Tim - M.P.; Valcourt, Bernard - Dput; Van Kesteren, Dave - M.P.; Van Loan, Peter - M.P.; Vellacott, Maurice - M.P.; Wallace, Mike - M.P.; Warawa, Mark - M.P.; Warkentin, Chris - M.P.; Watson, Jeff - M.P.; Weston, John - M.P.; Weston, Rodney - M.P.; Wilks, David - M.P.; Williamson, John - M.P.; Wong, Alice - M.P.; Woodworth, Stephen - M.P.; Yelich, Lynne - M.P.; Young, Terence - M.P.; Young, Wai - M.P.; Zimmer, Bob - M.P.; Stoffer, Peter - Assistant 1; Stoffer, Peter - M.P.; Prime Minister's Office; Pierce, David :VAC; Biard, Sylvie; Harris, Jack - M.P.; Murray, Joyce - M.P.; Harris, Jack - Assistant 1; Daigle, Pierre :FORCES; CDS CDS; dnd_mdn@forces.gc.ca; ROBERT.HOWARD2@forces.gc.ca; tom.lawson@forces.gc.ca; Minister of Finance; kerry.horlock@forces.gc.ca; david.millar@forces.gc.ca; omer.lavoie@forces.gc.ca; Semianiw, LGen Walter :VAC; Hon. Jim Karygiannis Subject: Termination of Association and Support: Conservative Party of Canada

Cheryl Hello References: A. https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10152569624314972&set=gm.649 064131820144&type=1&theater B. http://www.scribd.com/doc/203923482/Gallant-24-May-2011 C. http://www.scribd.com/doc/203924147/Gallant-1-August-2011 D. http://www.scribd.com/doc/203924528/Gallant-4-April-2012 E. http://www.scribd.com/doc/203924885/Gallant-16-May-2012 F. http://www.scribd.com/doc/203925564/Gallant-24-July-2012 G. http://www.scribd.com/doc/203925973/Gallant-17-September-2012 H. http://www.scribd.com/doc/203926607/Gallant-November-2012 I. http://www.scribd.com/doc/203927696/Gallant-15-Novemer-2012 J. http://www.scribd.com/doc/203939094/Gallant-23-November-2012 K. http://www.scribd.com/doc/203938390/Gallant-17-December-2012 L. http://www.scribd.com/doc/203939804/Gallant-18-February-2013 M. http://www.scribd.com/doc/203940090/Gallant-13-August-2013 N. http://www.scribd.com/doc/203940659/Gallant-November-11-2013 O. http://www.scribd.com/doc/172711122/Letter-of-Resignation-Westholm

Your recent statements regarding injured and ill soldiers having to confront issues that are in their minds (Reference A.) and supporting the new, and stark, CPC catch-phrase self-stigma have prompted me to remove my support from the CPC. So youre aware, many of my former peers in the Canadian Armed Forces refer to the sidewalk leading to the Warrior Support Centre (where mental injuries are treated) as the Walk of Shame this is the true stigma that faces our injured veterans. I have had a long association with the CPC and thoughtful Canadian Conservatism over many years (see attachment). So it is with great regret that I now sever my ties with the CPC; regret not for my actions, but regret in that the CPC has strayed so far from the path of reason and respect regarding our veterans that I must take this action. Your Party has achieved great things in many areas, but they are now overshadowed by the specter of indifference and moral usury toward our veterans. This philosophy effectively undermines your achievements as all Canadians know, the foundation and ultimate success of this Country is built upon our veterans and not any political Party and/or policy. You in particular have intimate knowledge of the pressures that face our veterans, and more so those that face the prospect of a posting to the Joint Personnel Support Unit (JPSU) (references B thru N.) In sending you information of the JPSU in the past many years, I knowingly risked censure, disciplinary measures and my very livelihood, but I did so knowing it was for the best of reasons: our injured and ill troops. This said, when you spoke before Parliament recently to chide our veterans and promote a dysfunctional organization (the JPSU), I was left in shock, disillusioned and most certainly dismayed. Although I have assisted you in the past, and communicated with you often on many subjects, all communication from you ceased with the submission of my Letter of Resignation (reference O.) Since that time I have asked repeatedly to speak with you as my Member of Parliament and have not received an answer. I now understand why, and your recent actions in Parliament have made your silence loud and clear. I believe that your message has reached the ears of many of your supporters, and I hope they are listening carefully. I have posted a portion of our correspondences online for public viewing with a hope to help your peers, opposition and citizens appreciate the information I presented to you and your inaction of same. Many soldiers have committed suicide since my first email to you, and I can only ponder those that could have been better supported, assisted or saved if action was taken but no action was taken. Canadian soldiers are expected to fight on foreign land, not their homeland - I find it disgraceful that the CPC does not yet understand the issues involved. I hope you, and your Party, have a epiphany of some sort very soon - lives are truly on the line. I will now carry on as an independent voter in search of a new party to support, and want you to know without an iota of doubt, that if you can chase me from the CPC, then you can chase anybody away from the CPC (and I heartily encourage them to do so). I hope that in reading this, some of your colleagues will give a second thought at the treatment of veterans, staffing of the JPSU, amending the New Veterans Charter, the untimely closing of VAC Centres and the reinstitution of VAC pension plan.

Regards Barry L. Westholm, CD Sergeant Major (retd) 613 587 4203 From: cheryl.gallant@parl.gc.ca To: barrylw11@hotmail.com Date: Mon, 3 Feb 2014 08:44:08 -0500 Subject: RE: Termination of Association and Support: Conservative Party of Canada On behalf of Cheryl Gallant, M.P., I would like to thank you for taking the time to write our office. The remarks as reported in the local media were misleading and not an accurate characterization of Mrs. Gallants statements. Mrs. Gallant spoke for over 15 minutes on veterans issues and local media paraphrased a 3 word statement and published it online. Online posters are now quoting those paraphrased statements as fact. I am happy to attach a transcript of Mrs. Gallants remarks and video of her speech in the House of Commons so you may view her statements for yourself. http://www.parl.gc.ca/HousePublications/Publication.aspx?Language=E&Mode=1&Parl=41&Ses =2&DocId=6397267 http://parlvu.parl.gc.ca/Embed/en/i/8208104/?ml=en&vt=watch http://cherylgallant.com/2014/01/31/speech-house-supporting-veterans/ Sincerely, Matthew HackParliamentary Assistant to Cheryl Gallant, M.P. Renfrew-Nipissing-Pembroke

Parliamentary Office604 Justice BuildingOttawa, ON, K1A 0A6Phone: (613) 992-7712

Constituency Office 84 Isabella St. Pembroke, ON, K8A 5S5Phone: (613) 732-4404 www.cherylgallant.com From: barrylw11@hotmail.com To: cheryl.gallant@parl.gc.ca Subject: RE: Termination of Association and Support: Conservative Party of Canada Date: Mon, 3 Feb 2014 11:02:46 -0500 Matthew Good morning. The catalyst for my leaving the CPC was not from media reports; I watched the sitting of that session House of Commons and listened first-hand to what Cheryl had to say. The following are excerpts from what you sent me, the first is in regard to injured soldiers with Occupational Stress Injuries (OSI's) such as PTSD: "the stigma that has to be overcome is a stigma within themselves." A person suffering from PTSD has to contend with a sort of horror unlike anyone who hasn't dealt with the disorder can describe. It is frustrating, terrifying, confusing and debilitating all in one ugly package; for a person first dealing with PTSD, it can trigger the most basic instinctual of reactions such as flight. It can make a person question who he or she actually is - or what they've become and who they will be (or even if they will be); it can invade their sleeping and waking hours to make both equally nightmarish. And with that a story: As the Sergeant Major in the JPSU, I had occasion to sit with families of the ill and injured as part of my duties. During one such occasion, I sat in a small kitchen in Angus, Ontario with two distraught parents in front of me. The mother was completely broken down and softly weeping; the father had his arm around her and his eyes were also teared filled. They were asking me about there son, a young man in his mid-twenties, and more specifically, they are asking when he would return - when they could see him again and have him come home. It was an awkward situation as their son, my soldier, was sitting right beside me at the time - but he was not the son they remembered and they mourned his loss as if he had died. This Matthew, is the ramifications of PTSD on the family unit; it casts a wide shadow on many loved-ones and those within whom PTSD dwells deserve our patience, encouragement and respect - as do their families. I do not see any of those attributes in Cheryl's statement regarding "self-stigma", instead I sense a shrugging of responsibilities and a certain callousness I find alarming. And with regard to the Joint Personnel Support Unit (JPSU/IPSC):

"IPSCs were founded on the principle that early intervention makes a difference in recovering from illness or injuries and successfully re-establishing civilian life. The IPSC at Base Petawawa provides support to Canadian Armed Forces, ill and injured personnel and veterans and their families, with the focus on the following core functions: the return to work program coordination, casualty support outreach delivery, casualty tracking, casualty administration and advocacy services, support platoon structure to provide military leadership supervision, administration support, and a liaison for military family resource centres with local base support representatives and local unit commanding officers". As Cheryl knows, probably more than any other MP, the JPSU (IPSC) is a critical unit, in critical condition. She knows this as I expended a great deal of effort in providing the facts of the JPSU, it's shortcomings and the means to rectify them for years now. She even quoted one of the many emails I sent to her in Parliament (Link 1), quote follows: "I'm told that the usual ratio for section commander to subordinates is optimally 1:9, and usually in practice maybe 1:15. I'm told that at the JPSU in Petawawa, the ratio is about 1:45, and in some cases 1:70, and that an injured soldier takes about one and a half times the work of a healthy soldier. My question is, is there a staffing and infrastructure expansion plan in place to allow for the growth as required?" So to hear Cheryl extoll the virtues of the JPSU in Parliament the other day, while knowing fullwell it's poor condition and by doing so also flaunting the recent Ombudsman's Report (Link 2) on the JPSU (a report which recommendations mirrors those I provided to her years ago) was a bit much. Additionally she, with the intimate knowledge of the state of this unit, used the JPSU as a tool to make political hay (Link 3), which under normal circumstance would be understandable as it's a great accomplishment. But the day that very picture was taken both Major Chubbs and I appealed to her and the MND for assistance for our Unit - something you both stated was coming - it never came. So with that I bid her and the CPC adieu, with the hopes that my action will provide your Party incentive to put substance behind the claims of support to our injured and ill veterans, serving and retired and their families. Regards... Barry Westholm, CD Sergeant Major (ret'd) Link 1: https://openparliament.ca/committees/national-defence/41-1/57/colonel-gerry-blais-1/ Link 2: http://www.ombudsman.forces.gc.ca/en/ombudsman-news-events-media-letters/jpsuipsc.page Link 3: http://www.scribd.com/doc/204223596/JPSU-HQ-Grand-Opening