Thank you very much, folks, for coming in today.
First, let me congratulate you on this document that you've put together. It's quite comprehensive. It outlines everything quite cleanly, succinctly, and it's a very good read in understanding where we go in changing the charter.
Let me ask two questions, and if there's any time left, Madam Sgro has a couple of questions as well.
With regard to the recommendations--in particular, strengthening the family support services and 1.4 and 1.5, where we say provide more support to family members and support to survivors and families--you've got some strategies outlined here in this document. About the strategies, the VIP program, and how this program is helping veterans now, could you highlight some of the things that you would really like to focus on improving in the VIP program? It is a good program, but I'm sure we could make it better. The second part of that is providing respite care services. Could you elaborate a little more on that? You also talk about decommissioning some beds recently. It is an issue in my province, where there is a Department of Veterans Affairs thing there, and some modern-day veterans can't get access to the beds. So maybe you could elaborate on those two things.
Secondly, General Sharpe, when you mention losing track of veterans, I am astonished that Veterans Affairs Canada is not allowed to track our veterans and maintain a database of our veterans. I really think that is something we need to do, because unless a veteran comes to Veterans Affairs, there's no way to do outreach. It's so important to have outreach and maintain a list of veterans from DND over to Veterans Affairs so you can do the outreach.
It's just something we've talked about around this committee four or five times, and it amazes me that we don't have that ability. We can track everything else, but government is not allowed to track our veterans.