If you had some thoughts or recommendations on how that might be improved and what we could do as a veterans committee to support or to help move some of that to a next level, I would appreciate that. It doesn't have to be today, but I would appreciate that very much.
I think all of us agree, and certainly the veterans agree, that it is good if they can keep their independence longer within a community, within their own social structure. I was very much interested in your comments about what has happened in Australia with aging veterans who actually don't want a handout, who want to feel worthy, who want to pay for it.
Obviously there will be some who can't, but I think in Canada we tend to think that we have to not do those sorts of things and give people their independence. One thing that happens, though, is that to keep people in their homes, whether it be in their homes or in a seniors complex...and you know, quite honestly, in some places that works well. They actually are with other people of the same age, enjoying recreational facilities and the entertainment that comes with it.
But we have trouble in Canada, as I think many do, with the numbers of professional people in our towns. We don't have doctors in our towns, and we don't have some of the other professional people needed. Obviously when we get to veterans, we have the same issues if we're going to provide some of these services to our veterans to keep them longer in their homes.
I'm wondering if any of you have any thoughts on how we can coordinate or work with the public sector to try to make sure we have professional services for our veterans who need those services that will help keep them in their homes.
I don't know if there is an answer, quite honestly.