Thank you very much, Ms. Khalid.
You have to understand that I spoke with senior management at the bureau of pensions advocates. Senior management is calling for stable, ongoing funding. Veterans' needs are not temporary. They are ongoing. I represent the union and its members. Senior management made this request.
Ms. Khalid, I do understand that, as you noted, this was temporary funding for three years. We know that. However, 52,000 cases will have to be processed, a backlog of 27,000 cases plus 25,000 cases for this year.
We are therefore calling for the contracts of the 96 employees to be extended for another year, and then, if the department wants to review how the disability benefits program operates, we'll work together the first year to see how it can be modernized. Additionally, the bureau of pensions advocates should be given ongoing, stable funding. It can't keep working on a temporary basis, for two to three years at a time. This creates uncertainty for everyone, including veterans.