I think what many veterans would want to know and, of course, what Canadians as a whole want to know, is that the response from the department and from the government is matching the urgency of the moment and the need.
All of us in this room can reflect and perhaps know of or have encountered or met with veterans who are transitioning across very difficult terrain and are navigating, along with their families, the consequences of their service and the after-effects of that. Then we have those who are severely impacted and find themselves in conditions we can't even begin to imagine.
It behooves the government, as well as the department, to answer with compassion, sensitivity and urgency to make sure priority is being put on ensuring the proper use of the facilities that are there, and if there are surplus federal buildings that match a need, they are being identified now and are repurposed to align with those emerging needs.
There is one area that I was made aware of this morning, in fact, when I received a note. There is a chapel that's part of the Canadian Armed Forces base in Gagetown called St. Luke's Chapel. It has long served the military families and the veterans of our region. Was Veterans Affairs consulted on the decision to repurpose and basically deconsecrate the chapel and convert it to a multi-purpose facility?
I know many veterans and their families rely on chaplaincy services. That aspect of their lives is so important, especially in times of crisis and need. Is Veterans Affairs aware of this decision, and were you consulted?