Veterans Affairs committee  I have related some points in the report and to VAC, but I'll give you just one that I think is valid. At the basic recruiting level, when you first sign up--and everybody goes through basic recruiting--you get the culture, the rank structure, and all this information taught to you in an intense atmosphere.

Veterans Affairs committee  We do mention communication in the report, but outside of the report, there are always all kinds of strategies in the Department of National Defence, which my colleagues could... There are messaging systems and there is information we give out in a very effective way. I've brought to the attention of VAC the point that they should really start utilizing these, because we're operationalized.

Veterans Affairs committee  I can give you a few, but one of my newest issues is the treatment authorization centre, and that follows up on what Louise and Perry are saying. What happens is that Blue Cross is a contracted service for your treatment benefits, your medications, and all those benefits once you get your card.

Veterans Affairs committee  So for two issues that are outside of the report, one is communication and the other is the treatment authorization centres.

Veterans Affairs committee  No.

Veterans Affairs committee  That's a short answer. No, there's a lot more debate that needs to go on around that issue. It has improved. We met with the minister. We weren't too happy about the last budget in 2008, where they just came in with this introduction of how they're extending VIP and you had to actually go to the federal tax revenue services and qualify for the disability amount before you could go back and get $300 in lawn care.

Veterans Affairs committee  Yes, certainly.

Veterans Affairs committee  Certainly, and you just have to do a little bit of math to find out quite quickly... The maximum right now is $254,000, I think, for 100% disabled. There are mostly 20%, 40%, and 60% cases. There are severe cases, of course, but even at that, if you do the math compared to what somebody at a 30% level is receiving on a monthly basis, taxable, let's say at 38 years old, it's quickly well exceeded.

Veterans Affairs committee  We have a signed membership of 500 to 1,000 individuals, but we represent all veterans and families. We don't really carry the numbers on that. We represent anybody who comes my way or through the door.

Veterans Affairs committee  Yes. To be fair, the number is close to 1,000. It's about 800 to 1,000. I'm not the membership chair, so—

Veterans Affairs committee  That's as close as I have.

Veterans Affairs committee  Certainly, I do. Being a Gulf War veteran myself, I deal with post-traumatic stress disorder all the time. It's a growing issue. What I would suggest is that there is a mechanism in place now to help other veterans as an advocate. They can go back to the organization, that being the Canadian military.

Veterans Affairs committee  Thank you for your insight. I would say that my three priorities are economic needs, families, and rehabilitation. You spoke generally about all three. These are the three major gaps and there are areas within each one. I'm partial to the economic needs because I was on the committee and I know about the direct impacts, but they're all important and they all need to be implemented.

Veterans Affairs committee  Generally speaking, it's the length of time served and training you have to complete, but normally within a four-year period you expect you're going to be a leading seaman or a corporal. That's controlled locally. There are no numbers. The captain of a ship or the CO of a base could promote everybody to leading seaman without any justification to Ottawa.

Veterans Affairs committee  That's right.