I can add to the deputy's comments, particularly with respect to the Quebec region. I spent two days last week at Valcartier. I had the opportunity to meet with the VAC-DND team that's actually located on the base. I also had the opportunity to meet with the director and the client service team manager from the office in Sainte-Foy.
I think there are a couple of things to bear in mind. First of all, with regard to some of our modern-day veterans, particularly those who are going through the various types of rehab, whether it be vocational or psychosocial, the caseload is much more demanding. It's for this reason we recognize that in some cases, particularly where we're very close to Canadian Forces bases, we need a different mix.
As the deputy had noted, 600 is a number, but some of these people in the case mix of 600 receive a cheque via direct deposit into their bank account each month, so the actual level of intervention is very, very low.
However, for the most serious cases, we're looking at a different model. We're actually going to be testing some models in Sainte-Foy, at Valcartier, and in three other locations across Canada to see what would be a more manageable workload. Also, in those cases where the caseworker identifies that a veteran or a veteran's family member has a specific need, by giving increased delegation authority we can expedite that need through the system much more quickly. We can do that by giving more delegated authority to those who are there with the veteran. We're very sensitive to that.
As a matter of fact, in Valcartier we actually have 15 Veterans Affairs employees who are working full time. They go to work every day at Base Valcartier.
In terms of the numbers of area counsellors, we've actually increased the numbers in Quebec slightly over the last number of years. In fact, we're doing work around Saint-Jean and Bagotville as well. On April 1 we'll be opening a new note on our call centre in Montreal, so that our clients who prefer to have
for French services we'll have a single number to call. The call centre will be located in Montreal for our francophone clients. There has been a lot of pressure, and there is a lot of work to do. However, I think that now,
we're actually trying to do that balance. Part of it is that my management team and I are actually having our management meetings on Canadian Forces bases, where we're having an opportunity to interact with the men and women and to hear first-hand what some of their issues and needs are.