Veterans Affairs committee  You have to understand the relationship between the veteran and the department in question. That could explain some things. As I said, I don't really have an answer to that question, but I have some ideas. We really need to take a look at that department, at its recruiting stra

Veterans Affairs committee  That may be the case.

Veterans Affairs committee  Mr. Chair, I thank the member for his question. One thing you need to understand is that when veterans retire, they're in their prime. Their potential and skills are at their peak, so they're looking for a challenge. For them, a challenge doesn't mean pay or benefits. They're lo

Veterans Affairs committee  Thank you, Mr. Chair. First of all, there's a misconception on the mental health problems. The stigma that we're talking about is that most veterans—most of the military members getting out of the forces—have some mental problems. That is not exactly the truth. The vast majority

Veterans Affairs committee  Well, I don't work directly with veterans, so I can relate only to my experience. Some of them simply want to change careers, to do something different from what they were doing. I relate to a friend of mine who got out and became a sommelier. Particularly in the national capita

Veterans Affairs committee  Okay. We're a working group. Our second-career working group is initiating a relationship, particularly with the human resource departments. I think that's going to be a vast initiative, because our focus now is to get to the private enterprise, but the thing is the public sector

Veterans Affairs committee  Yes. It is in our working plan to get to the public sector, but really, on the focus, rather than going to the CEOs of the companies, it's much more advantageous to go with the HR, because they are the ones who write the policy and who are in charge of recruitment, and this is re

Veterans Affairs committee  When we are more advanced in the process, there will eventually be documents. We are starting with notes from the meeting, from the round tables that we are doing. Eventually, that will translate into documents when we have sufficient material and tangible recommendations.

Veterans Affairs committee  Mr. Chair, honourable members of the committee, I have the pleasure of co‑chairing the City of Ottawa Veterans Task Force, which is tasked by city council with building bridges between the community and organizations in the national capital that provide services to our veterans.

Veterans Affairs committee  If it is for the good of the committee, I agree, Mr. Chair.

Veterans Affairs committee  Thank you, Mr. Chair. I want to thank the committee for allowing me to make my presentation in such an important forum. As we know, when military personnel are in transition, thousands of people...

Veterans Affairs committee  Is there a problem, Mr. Chair?

Veterans Affairs committee  Shall I continue, Mr. Chair?

Veterans Affairs committee  I can do my best to do it in English if the interpreters are not able to correct the problem.

Veterans Affairs committee  Thank you, Mr. Chair. Every year, thousands of military personnel make the transition from military to civilian life. Some of them will embark on a second career.