Veterans Affairs committee  Presently the legislation is that after 1981, widows of veterans are eligible for VIP, but prior to that they're not.

Veterans Affairs committee  I don't believe we've reached consensus on that. It's certainly an option. If it's decided that an ombudsman will be appointed, then this would be an issue that would have to be resolved from within the government. Do they want a binding role or just an exposure role? If and wh

Veterans Affairs committee  The Legion has always considered that its primary responsibility is to the veteran, with the veteran's family coming immediately after. This is enshrined in legislation today. Family rights could be included in the preamble of a bill of rights for veterans. That would enshrine th

Veterans Affairs committee  We can respond to that. We advocated for an inspector general when we were looking at what we felt were moneys in the long-term care facilities that were being misused. We advocated for an inspector general who would have the authority to go in and examine the fiscal books to en

Veterans Affairs committee  This is a simple answer. In an ideal world, the ombudsman should report to Parliament. That would be the Legion's ideal scenario. Failing that, we believe there could be a parliamentary secretariat, where possibly all ombudsmen--because there's already a DND ombudsman--could repo

Veterans Affairs committee  I think a trial period should be six years. And depending on how it goes, the ombudsman role could go on indefinitely. I certainly think that six years would give you ample time to see if there's a requirement there for this individual to assist your constituents, who are veteran

Veterans Affairs committee  The charter guarantees are in the pension and health benefit areas. It guarantees specific items, whereas the bill of rights would be a more general document that guarantees that the veteran will receive due justice through the whole process.

Veterans Affairs committee  Yes.

Veterans Affairs committee  No, sir, we have no correspondence to that effect from the official opposition of the day that it would be a priority for them to implement. We have no correspondence.

Veterans Affairs committee  We've long advocated that and we will continue to do so.

Veterans Affairs committee  Yes, I can ask Mr. Allard.

Veterans Affairs committee  Thank you very much. Honourable members of Parliament, observers, I've brought along my director of the service bureau, Pierre Allard. He's our pension expert within the Legion, and certainly without his assistance, to be quite honest, I would flounder with very specific pension

Finance committee  We are certainly supportive of the conference. We're trying to see if it will fit within our schedule.

Finance committee  Can I just take a second?

Finance committee  It's rather difficult to respond to that. It's an unfair statement. I think if you look at a dual-income family today, you do see more affluence out there, but the people who are in need today stem mostly from single wage earners. The spouse traditionally stayed home and took car