That varies according to the position. Since we are part of the federal public service, we have to follow the same rules as every federal department and agency. We have an administrative staff. Some are there to ensure that we are complying with the Financial Administration Act and all the provisions that govern the offices.
We also have analysts. An analyst has to have analytical ability and training. He or she has to know how to write and communicate. One of the problems in many of the 70 files is that the decisions were not properly documented. Shortcuts had been taken and the reasons for the decisions were not clearly written. People in that position need to know how to analyze and write and to be thorough. They are supported by a small legal team. There are currently three lawyers who work closely with the analysts to help them with the legal side of things. Diligence is essential.
As far as compassion is concerned, I intend to explore concrete avenues such as putting someone in charge of assisting people who come to the door. It would be someone who is not involved in the decision-making process. I think it is important not to mix compassion with objectivity. I am considering ways we can help people through this rather complicated process. The law is complicated. The individual or the public servant might need help filing the claim. This is nothing new. That approach was used for the Indian residential schools claims. People helped former students fill out their forms properly so that their claim would not be denied on the basis of its presentation.