Thank you.
I won't take much of the time of the committee. I know it is an important time to be here, and I know you will want to engage with the minister and myself on issues that are of concern to you, but I want to thank you very much for giving me this opportunity to make a few remarks.
As the minister mentioned, l was appointed just a month ago. l have worked with the federal public service for over 30 years, both in traditional line departments and central agencies, as well as in policy development and program delivery, so I was very pleased to be asked to serve as Deputy Minister of Veterans Affairs.
l am proud and honoured to be the Deputy Minister of Veterans Affairs because this is a very special and meaningful department with a very special and meaningful mandate. I know that committee members have a really vested interest in making sure we deliver on that mandate.
l'm told that the department has an unofficial motto, which is to take care of those who took care of us. As you all know, the people in the department are very committed. They are very dedicated professionals who put the service of the veterans at the front and centre of their daily work. In the last few weeks I have been very impressed by the sense of commitment that I feel in talking with staff, people who have a deep personal interest in seeing that we do right by our veterans. I know that the members of this committee also want to make sure that our veterans and their families get the benefits and services that they so very much deserve. I will add my efforts to those of everybody in the department to make sure we deliver.
Over the past few weeks, I have learned much about the history of the Department and the evolution of its policies and programs. I am very excited about the new Veterans Charter and its early success in meeting the needs of younger veterans and their families.
This is an entirely new generation of veterans who have very different needs from the veterans of the world wars and the Korean war, and I think this new charter will enable us to really target the new needs of those veterans.
I was also privileged to attend the unveiling of the ice sculpture. I met some of you at that event during Winterlude, and this year, we'll be holding special commemorations in Vimy, in Ottawa, and in a number of regions of the country, marking the nintieth anniversary of this historic battle.
As we move forward with the veterans bill of rights and the veterans ombudsman, as well as with continuing to implement the new Veterans Charter that was promulgated last year and with meeting the needs of our traditional war veterans, 2007 promises to be a very busy year. I know the members of this committee will continue to be very active in your consideration of veterans issues. Let me assure you that Veterans Affairs is also committed to working with this committee and other parliamentarians on issues affecting our veterans, and I look forward to working with you.
Once again, thank you for this opportunity.