Thank you for asking that important question. It's coming up often during question period, these days.
First, let me take a step back. The whole issue of the memorial for the Canadian mission in Afghanistan began in 2014. Veterans were unhappy with the location the previous government had chosen to erect the monument.
In 2015, when we came to power, we began to do the necessary work to ensure we found a location that would suit veterans. We then launched a consultation on the creation of the monument. Canadian Heritage set up a jury, as you so aptly put it, and the jury members made their choice from among several proposed monuments. Allow me to add that we're blessed in Canada with top-quality artists who presented their concept for a high quality monument.
At the same time, Veterans Affairs conducted a survey to find out what veterans wanted. In the end, over 10,000 Canadians responded, as you said, and the Stimson team concept was chosen by the majority of veterans. That's why we chose this concept. The veterans told us it better represented the valour, sacrifice and loss of the veterans in question.