Thank you, Mr. Chair.
This is all factual, no speculation.
I want to add my accolades to you, Colonel, and I'll call you Mr. Ombudsman, for your years of service to our country and now taking on another challenge. It sounds as if you're up for the challenge and looking forward to the opportunities and helping your colleagues and veterans throughout our country.
I represent Kelowna--Lake Country in the interior of British Columbia. We have a number of seniors and veterans, and I look forward to having you come as well to the.... Bill Tanner, whom I was speaking to yesterday, is our local champion representing a lot of the veterans, and he said to pass along his congratulations to you as well. I know the many others who have come to my office after your announcement are looking forward to the positive results to come.
One of the issues this committee has been discussing--and I'm fairly new to it--is the issue of talking not only to our veterans but also to our existing members in the service. You served for a number of years, and as a newly retired member now sitting as the ombudsman, do you think there's some value in this committee going around to the different forces and talking with some of the members on the bases to find out how they feel about veterans? Can you recall, as a serving member, seeing how Veterans Affairs Canada treated veterans?