Minister, I have two questions to ask you, and I'd like your answers to be brief enough to fit into the five minutes available.
Let's start with the backlog at the Appeal Tribunal. In my view, you're not going to solve the problem by adding staff, but rather by improving this service within your department. I spoke to you about the case of Armand Pilon. I don't understand how you can tell that man and his wife that you believe their testimony without changing the decision rendered. These people deal with this kind of case every day. Mr. Pilon has been fighting since 1987. The only and dirty solution remaining for him is to take his case to the civil courts and to fight your department, simply because, at the Appeal Board, they can't or don't want to give him the benefit of the doubt.
I believe in Mr. Pilon. I believe in what he, his family and his children tell me. He came to ask me for help because he couldn't get any from the Department of Veterans Affairs. The problem stemmed from the Appeal Board. That's where the problems arise in the majority of cases, and that's why this department has such a backlog. Now I'd like to hear your comments.