Veterans Affairs committee  It's certainly something we can look into. Continuity of care and support for veterans is very important. We'll certainly look into the issue you've raised around health-related travel and will also get the copies of the forms you would like to see. In terms of the rates for massage therapy, again, that falls under the treatment program.

Veterans Affairs committee  Obviously I can't pinpoint any case manager or any particular staff. We look for this kind of feedback from all our front-line staff, whether they work in our contact centres or they're actually case managers on the ground working with the veterans. In some of the areas we're looking at in terms of reducing complexity in policies, they have no doubt arisen from ideas from staff.

Veterans Affairs committee  I think the point you're getting at, though, is that there is a delay in needed access for a veteran to get the support. The other program we are looking at within the department in terms of reducing some of that red tape and the delay is the rehabilitation program and looking at the front-end piece, because staff have given a lot of feedback.

Veterans Affairs committee  Yes, absolutely.

Veterans Affairs committee  While I'm obviously not the expert in the rehabilitation program, I certainly have a tremendous interest in it. Over 50% of the veterans in that program have a service-related disability for a psychiatric condition. Also, I believe it's up to over 70% of the veterans in the rehabilitation program who have mental health needs.

Veterans Affairs committee  We've been very fortunate since we started these transition interviews that with the new Veterans Charter we can now move them into these kinds of programs. As you indicated, there is this group previous to the new Veterans Charter who have not had the benefit of the programs.

Veterans Affairs committee  We have very good networks, on the service delivery side, for staff to provide their feedback on things that aren't working. This year we're actually embarking upon considerably reducing complexity around our policies and our processes, because of what veterans have said but also because of what staff have been telling us.

Veterans Affairs committee  We're actually considering looking at a number of things, up to and including pilot projects. Because our programs have to be evidence-based in terms of what we provide to our veterans, we need to establish that there are going to be benefits. So we're continuing to look at that.

Veterans Affairs committee  Well, certainly if there are client issues.... Are you referring to process issues or policy issues?

Veterans Affairs committee  Certainly we are looking at that body of research that exists around animal-assisted therapy. The research to date--and Raymond could certainly speak to it more than I--the body of research just doesn't exist to necessarily definitively support it as improving treatment outcomes clinically for somebody with post-traumatic stress disorder.

Veterans Affairs committee  No, it's literature research.

Veterans Affairs committee  This is the literature research that was done. I think you looked at the Americans.

Veterans Affairs committee  I would emphasize as well that most people would conclude that working with animals has certainly worked in other organizations—I don't know if they've had it in Correctional Services—where there's been supervision and a different type of program. We're certainly looking at it, not necessarily from a clinical perspective but maybe to assist veterans to better reintegrate into their communities and to provide better support.

Veterans Affairs committee  I can respond perhaps to one part of your question, certainly not to the clinic protocols. Just so that you're aware, when a veteran comes into our programs there is a full assessment that's completed on the veteran. There's also the screening for suicide as well that occurs. To the extent possible, we encourage the participation of family in the case planning, because they are absolutely key to supporting the veteran in their recovery, no question.

Veterans Affairs committee  You're referring to veterans in homeless situations. When you look at how they got there, had there been early intervention programs they wouldn't be there. Now that they are there, quite a bit of work is happening through the department in Vancouver, Montreal, and Toronto. We're also working with the Mental Health Commission.