Veterans Affairs committee  Yes.

Veterans Affairs committee  No, never. When I said I'd started a business to save my life and help my peers, I was asked to send in my tax returns. At the time, the café was operating at a loss, but for these people, it was income. At the time, I had started the restaurant with a friend. I was asked to pay $27,000.

Veterans Affairs committee  Yes.

Veterans Affairs committee  No, never.

Veterans Affairs committee  I have two recommendations to make. If someone files a complaint inside the organization, whether it's for sexual or psychological assault, and there's a recognized investigation, there needs to be follow-up outside as well, and sanctions be possible. The person who has been assaulted needs to know what has been done.

Veterans Affairs committee  I would say that more than half of women are not sent on missions.

Veterans Affairs committee  Yes.

Veterans Affairs committee  There are men who are harassed too.

Veterans Affairs committee  Yes, and I've been psychologically harassed by women, too. The last one was a woman, who was probably the men's puppet. My unit sergeant-major said that he'd never spoken to me, even though he knew full well that I'd said to his face, “Get me out of here, because I'm not feeling well.

Veterans Affairs committee  Following post-traumatic stress disorder, there was fibromyalgia, which Veterans Affairs Canada still refuses to recognize. I have bladder and bowel problems. As soon as I have a moment of stress, it affects my bladder, and I have diarrhea. I won't hide my ailments from you. I go to the bathroom, wipe myself and there's poo.

Veterans Affairs committee  It's most likely because I was a woman, I was older than the average person and I wasn't the beautiful doll they would have liked. I've had physical injuries too. When you have them, you're worth nothing, and it's very difficult to get treatment. We're told it's all in our heads.

Veterans Affairs committee  I bought this café to save myself, first of all. Following my diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder, I also started having fibromyalgia. This coffee shop gets me moving. I have 15 cats, named after my friends who died by suicide or died in Afghanistan. Every morning, if I'm not feeling very well, I look at my cats and think of my friends to whom I've paid tribute.

Veterans Affairs committee  Thank you, Mr. Chair. I'd like to thank the committee for inviting me to appear today. I joined the Canadian Armed Forces in 2007, when I was 31 years old. I had a bachelor's degree. I was offered entry into the forces as an officer, but I wanted to see what it was like to be a non-commissioned member first, before pursuing my dream of being an officer at some point.