It is quite similar how you've addressed this concern about the various agents you've worked with—DDT and others. Years later people develop serious forms of cancer. This report indicates that the onus of proof is now on DVA and not necessarily on the individual.
A few years ago at a committee we talked to people who were affected by depleted uranium. The government's position was that depleted uranium was not cancerous. Yet European studies have indicated that it may cause cancer. Some of our veterans from the first Gulf War were coming back with the same arguments that Mr. Cotter made.
It's also quite ironic that the folks in Gagetown with Agent Orange are making the same types of arguments. Of course, we hear “Most of you guys in Korea were smokers, so if you smoked for 40 years, was the lung cancer caused by your smoking or was it caused by the chemicals you interacted with?” I like the DVA's willingness to accept the report and put the onus on the government. That's very important.
You mentioned the law on marriage after 60. An ombudsman doesn't have legislative authority over government. He can't tell the government it must do something. He can only make recommendations to the government. I am playing the devil's advocate. Do you not feel that the ombudsman may be another level of bureaucracy, not unlike the Veterans Review and Appeal Board?