Veterans Affairs committee  I think that theme resonates through all of the charter itself. Rather than commenting on a specific proposal, I think this committee would be well served, as was suggested earlier, by our providing a list of areas to you, of people and issues. I would commend to you the reports that are coming to us, because most of what we're learning is from that input to us.

Veterans Affairs committee  I think that articulates it very well, sir. I think something along those lines from the committee would be most appreciated.

Veterans Affairs committee  You could talk about the themes, perhaps.

Veterans Affairs committee  Our hesitation is an indication, I guess, that we don't.... We've tried to canvass as broad a possible audience as we can in looking at gaps and issues. I'm not aware of any area that.... Do you have anything to suggest on that, Darragh?

Veterans Affairs committee  There are two possibilities. If the individual is medically released with severe injuries from the forces, there is the possibility that it would have been through their insurance plan under SISIP, in which case it's for vocational and not for medical and psycho-social rehabilitation after they leave.

Veterans Affairs committee  I think it's both, and we've wrestled to find the right balance between the two, from time to time. It's not something you can legislate in that sense, but it's something to be aware of in the overall picture, that it's a constant balancing act as we go through the implementation of the charter.

Veterans Affairs committee  I could say something. And Darragh, perhaps you have some comments. I wouldn't put any constraints on the committee in terms of looking at the charter, because I think it should all be examined from cradle to grave. However, there is one area—and I don't know how to express it clearly, but it was touched on here: Maybe the committee could ponder the issue of independence versus assistance.

Veterans Affairs committee  No, not that I'm aware of. I know there have been a lot of efforts made by the Canadian private sector communities in certain areas to take steps to help veterans, but I'm not aware of any broad-ranging, comprehensive program.

Veterans Affairs committee  Our response has been the job placement program. As part of the planning in the job placement program, it really does connect individuals with employers and gets them to approach employers. That has been our response to date.

Veterans Affairs committee  To say that we don't have any would be misleading. Actually, I think it's a continuing issue because, as you say, with each individual case it's probably different, and each has to be assessed on its own merits. Our case managers are trained social workers who are trained in dealing with the new processes under the charter.

Veterans Affairs committee  This case is an individual who was released in 1999 with muscular skeletal injuries and PTSD. That would be what would delay, in a case like this, the coming into stream of a new job. What we offered was continued counselling and medical treatment for the PTSD, and we didn't put a timeline in the document as to how long that could take.

Veterans Affairs committee  Excuse me, I didn't realize that.

Veterans Affairs committee  I would think that similar issues maybe existed with Joseph as well.

Veterans Affairs committee  We really see that as essential, and one of the big learnings that we've had is that we could do better at early intervention. So we're working very closely with the Department of National Defence to do what we can within our existing authorities to achieve early intervention, and also to look at whether we need to make any further proposals to amend our ability to get in there earlier.

Veterans Affairs committee  There is. There's a component of the charter that offers financial advice to the veterans, at their choice, where we encourage them to use the free financial service that is available from the department to actually assist them, particularly if it's a fairly significant lump sum, because a significant lump sum gives many of these individuals a unique opportunity to buy a home or to make a significant serious investment.