Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and my thanks to you all for coming.
I'm sure that for many veterans who are really up to speed on computer technology, this would be a real help. My concern is for those who don't use computer technology or who don't have access to a computer, especially those in rural or northern communities where there are no CAP sites anymore. How do they access this type of information?
I wanted to go through a couple of scenarios.
On long-term care, I wanted to double-check the wording. You refer to a Canadian Forces veteran with a service-related injury or illness who was medically released within the last 120 days.
First of all, if he missed 120 days, what happens there? If the person is suffering post-traumatic stress disorder, he may not follow this timeline. Second, it says the person has a service-related injury or illness. Generally, that's decided by decision-makers, not necessarily by the individual veterans. They assume they have a service-related injury, but this is not a decision thing; this is just an information package.
Also, on long-term care, you say that if a veteran requires long-term care, his first call should be to his provincial long-term care placement office. I just want to understand why it is that way. Your second call, in that case, should be to VAC, but if you're a veteran looking at this site, you're not thinking of the province; you're thinking of the federal government. Your first call, I believe, should be to the VAC. If the VAC then says to contact your provincial or regional rep, that would make sense, but saying to contact the provincial person first may confuse the issue.
Right now, for World War II and Korean War veterans who have served overseas, long-term care is a federal responsibility. When the last Korean War veteran dies, that will change, and a lot of that care will be a provincial responsibility. I just want to ask why it was worded that way and what is going to be in place for them. I know you said they can still use the 1-866 number.
There are many Canadians, especially in the veteran and RCMP communities, who don't understand computer technology. It is still new for them. This is especially true of those who are suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder and getting help from a family member or a friend. Will VAC be going out to these communities and holding seminars or community meetings? VAC needs to sit down with people in the Legions and VAC halls and show them how this actually works.
And thank you for coming.