I'd like to welcome our guests today.
I always have a great deal of difficulty when it comes to veterans, but I can assure you that I feel a great deal of gratitude toward them. With respect to the matter of an ombudsman, I have trouble understanding that the National Council of Veteran Associations, whose president is Mr. Chadderton, has no difficulty with the idea of an ombudsman, while the Royal Canadian Legion disagrees with the concept. Could that be because an ombudsman might interfere in your area? I don't know anything about this.
We have heard reference to the Veterans Charter. Most Canadian associations agree with the charter, with the exception of the Legion to some extent. We also talked about the Veterans Independence Program, the VIP. Society should be somewhat opposed to this program. I want to tell you about my father, André Perron, who spent 50 years of his life working underground in the copper mines in Rouyn-Noranda, in the Abitibi region, and who died of asbestosis. Unlike veterans, there was no program to help him. He too gave his life for the well-being of everyone seated at this table. He gave his life so that copper wires could be manufactured for our lighting and air conditioning systems. And yet he got nothing for that. The problem with Canadian society at the moment is that it is aging and people who made a direct contribution to Canadian democracy are not enjoying the same support as our veterans.
Based on what I've said, I would like you to explain the role the Canadian Legion should be playing in 2006.