The closing of the ranks between DND and Veterans Affairs Canada is significant. That, quite frankly, started when Admiral Larry Murray was a deputy minister at Veterans Affairs. He shook things up; he established the Canadian Forces Advisory Council, and we got rolling on how to improve service to the veterans.
Part and parcel of that was that at one time when an individual was in the service...you finished your service and then you dropped off the end of the table. Your documents and so forth went to somewhere here in Ottawa--the microfiche and so forth--and then when Veterans Affairs had to pick up that file, they had to find the microfiche, get the documents, and call them forward, etc.
We like to think that has improved, particularly with the new Veterans Charter, where DND and VAC are like this now. When they get out, including our colleagues coming out of Afghanistan or wherever, they are released from the forces and there is a transition team of not only DND but also VAC. So when Bloggins and Smith get out, it's mandatory they go through this. Are there gaps in that? Are some people dropping through the cracks? Of course. This is a big system and the level of service varies across the country. That's only human nature. For an individual who is getting out, one of the questions I'm sure they'll be asked is, “What injuries did you suffer and are they recorded? What is not recorded?”
We've had a couple of cases where people applied, including some of our members, for some type of treatment-cum-annuity before April of this year. They were turned down. Our answer to that is appeal, appeal, appeal, which drives VAC crazy, but that's just the way it is.
Since then, we've also advised them to go back and apply again, because some of the benchmarks changed with the new Veterans Charter. They're getting picked up, but it's going to take a long time.
Does that answer your question, sir?