Mr. Chair, if I may, in responding to the honourable member I might note that my father also was a veteran. He served in the Second World War. I, being a Newfoundlander, note that my father served with the Royal Navy for a number of years and did a number of tours in some very interesting places around the world. So in responding to this and the ombudsman, I'm truly pleased to have a job where I can actually help veterans, both modern-day veterans and traditional veterans, because it's almost like helping my father.
Having said that, I will say with regard to the ombudsman that the ombudsman can pursue any item that is within the mandate the ombudsman was given through the order in council. What he can do is very clear. Whether it comes from the minister, a client, his own initiative, or his staff, the reality is that he has to operate in that zone that's been defined.
For example, with regard to the Veterans Review and Appeal Board and pension decisions, irrespective of where the request may come from, he cannot go in and overturn a decision or go into areas where basically he is not permitted to go. Other than that, within those confines, the ombudsman can talk to anyone that he may want to talk to in the department and he can see any documentation, again, with the exceptions that are noted in the order in council.