I would like to talk briefly about post-traumatic stress disorder.
When a soldier applies to the Canadian Forces to obtain the status of veteran, I am convinced that psychologists analyze his file. In addition, before soldiers are deployed abroad, their abilities are evaluated to a certain extent.
I firmly believe that all veterans should receive follow-up for a minimum of 10 years, during which professional psychological treatment should be offered automatically and on a mandatory basis. As we know, there are after-effects from combat. That's my opinion concerning post-traumatic stress disorder. As concerns education, I agree with you.
I am now going to speak about poverty among veterans. To prepare myself for today's meeting, I spoke with some friends who are veterans. One of them asked me to tell the committee that in 1967, the government of the era combined the veterans' pension and the National Defence pension, which means that today, some 40 years later, this friend of mine has seen his income decline by 22%. This figure can vary between 20% and 30%. Today, a more sophisticated term is used: withholding. My friend asked me to request that the government abolish this withholding for members of the Canadian Forces.
To ease the pressure of poverty on veterans, this withholding could be eliminated.