Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
I'm pleased to be here today to respond to members of the committee on questions they have regarding the proposed veterans bill of rights. I met with the clerk of the committee and the library research officer supporting this committee yesterday morning, and they provided a briefing on the committee's consideration of this matter to date.
With me today is Melanie Mortensen, Parliamentary Counsel, Legal. She helped me pull together on short notice as much background material as possible in preparation for this meeting. We quickly examined the report on the veterans ombudsman, as well as the transcripts of the previous committee meeting at which this topic was discussed.
I understand that the basic question I am asked to address is whether the proposed veterans bill of rights could be done as legislation, as an act of Parliament. The answer is in the affirmative, Mr. Chairman, but there will be much that would need to be sorted out. The devil is in the details, as we often hear said.
I would only add that an act of Parliament should not be limited to words on paper. It should also provide for a series of appropriate mechanisms to ensure its application.
Mr. Chairman, Ms. Mortensen scanned the legislative field last night, and if you would permit, I would ask Ms. Mortensen to report to the committee on what she found and how the architecture of other acts might provide some insight to committee members on the legislative options for a veterans bill of rights.