I doubt very much that I will take five minutes.
I would like to begin by thanking you for appearing today, Ms. Gibson.
I apologize profusely for my late arrival. I take the veterans affairs issues very, very seriously.
I was delayed because I had the pleasure of meeting a gentleman named Guy Gruwez, who is a special visitor from Belgium, and his wife. Mr. Gruwez is visiting from Ypres, Belgium. He is the honorary chair of the Last Post Association in that country, and he has chaired that position for 40 years. He had an opportunity to meet with the Prime Minister, and I was privileged to be there with him.
So I do apologize for being late. I give you my word that I will read your testimony from cover to cover. I appreciate that I have capable colleagues who stood in my place.
I did get back in time to hear a comment from Mr. Asselin, who is also a visitor to this committee today. He talked with great passion regarding veterans, which I do appreciate.
One concern I have is that you made a statement that 70 veterans commit suicide each day. I asked the clerk where that came from, and apparently it is a newspaper. I would like you to table that. That number sounds absolutely obscene, and I would appreciate very much if we could get to the bottom of that.