Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I am sure, Minister, you're aware that a recent study by the Rand Corporation indicates that at least 20% of U.S. soldiers returning from Afghanistan and Iraq are already suffering symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, and some estimate this rate will rise beyond 30% due to repeated and extended tours of duty. Other studies indicate the suicide rate among returning veterans is a rising cause of concern and is a significant and tragic addition to the official casualty rate.
Clearly, the mission in Kandahar since 2006 has placed Canadians in circumstances where they too may suffer dramatically higher rates of PTSD than was the case with the mission in Kabul and the Gulf War or our peacekeeping missions around the world. As Sean Bruyea and Louise Richard are very keen to remind us, 18 years have not healed the operational stress injuries suffered by many veterans in the Gulf War.
So clearly we're facing a very long-term struggle where just the loss of productivity and potential employment will average at least $10,000 per affected veteran per year. I wonder if you could give us some idea about the long-term planning with respect to budgetary considerations, among others, of the department, and whether the department has adjusted to accommodate the inevitable results of a five-year mission in Kandahar and potentially several thousand veterans who may need PTSD treatment for decades to come.