Good day, Minister, Ms. Tining.
This is my first time ever serving on this committee. I'm getting myself up to speed on the important veterans file and I'm starting to pour over the background material. The Montreal area is home to Ste. Anne's Hospital. Because of the situation in Afghanistan, the number of wounded veterans in need of care is increasing. Does your budget provide for an increase in services at Ste. Anne's for these veterans? I'm also aware that you have announced some major renovations to this facility. Are these renovations in line with the timetable and the budget announced?
I've read in the various documents that post-traumatic stress syndrome is a major problem. I personally lost a friend several years ago. He took his own life after a military mission. You provide services to victims of post-traumatic stress syndrome. Are victims now acknowledging more readily that they are suffering from this disorder? Have services been decentralized in order to make them more accessible to Quebeckers and Canadians?