Veterans Affairs committee  That's the number of decisions that have been handed down.

Veterans Affairs committee  Correct. The number of appeals filed is probably in the range of 200,000.

Veterans Affairs committee  It's a reflection of the way in which the system was designed. Since the First World War, veterans have always had an appeals process to which they could turn.

Veterans Affairs committee  The appeals process is automatic because it costs nothing to the veteran and they have access to lawyers to help them prepare their case. Naturally, when all of these services are available, a person will take advantage of them. That's always been the case.

Veterans Affairs committee  That's not so. The system in place is one based on entitlement. A person may contact the department, but may not be able to justify his request. That person must provide some proof in order to receive a service. Obviously, the person must be a veteran, an incident must have taken

Veterans Affairs committee  No, we're not. Our regular complement is 28 from an operational point of view. The law says we can have up to 29 permanent members and any number of temporary members. We got six members in the fall of 2005. We got two members in June of 2006, three more in the fall of 2006, and

Veterans Affairs committee  Our regular operational complement is 28, and we're presently at 26, so two more. I've always asked for what I call operational spares. Like a fleet manager of an airline, it's always good to have operational spares when you've got a plane down, or you've got a member down for il

Veterans Affairs committee  The answer to dealing with more complex cases is clear: it's training, training, training for the board members. The increasing complexities exist in the nature of medical conditions: not in the factual happening of the event, causative of damage or of the disability, but rathe

Veterans Affairs committee  All right. From a functional merit point of view of the board, the board works and deals with the rules of justice and natural justice. So we're in the business of being fair. We're in the business of being even, impartial. If the bill of rights comes to us and we are told to do

Veterans Affairs committee  All right. My initial reaction is that it will always be the same. Any time the legislature wishes to adopt a system, a new approach, a set of rules, a bill of rights that will improve the lot of veterans, I will support it in any way, shape, or form. So any endeavour to do so th

Veterans Affairs committee  Well, now I have a problem. This has not been my experience with the Bureau of Pensions Advocates. As a Board member, I heard a number of cases. I was a full-time Board member for several years and I listened to all of these lawyers argue their cases before me. I can honestly say

Veterans Affairs committee  As I said, I'm not familiar with his case. In any event, it would be inappropriate for me to comment on a case currently before the Board.

Veterans Affairs committee  Up until 1995, the Bureau of Pensions Advocates was an independent agency. In 1995...

Veterans Affairs committee  No, from a legislative standpoint, it operated as an independent agency prior to the 1995 reform. Subsequently, responsibility for the Bureau of Pensions Advocates was transferred to the department. The advocates who now handle the cases form a division within the department. The

Veterans Affairs committee  Well, to answer your first question, Mrs. Guarnieri--