Thank you, Mr. Ayoub.
In fact, close to 98% of this sum of more than $177 million will be allocated to the three following programs:
disability awards, earnings loss benefit, and other health and purchased services.
These programs already exist.
I am sure that you know that the government announced new programs in the 2017 budget. These programs were presented to Parliament in the supplementary estimates (B), so in November. This will be reflected in the main estimates, 2018-19.
This sum of more than $177 million is for programs that already exist. These increases are due to demographic factors. As the number of veterans increase, so do the costs for mental health services.