Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Thanks very much to all of you for coming here today and thank you to Mr. Gray as well.
Louise, as long as I've been a member of Parliament, you've been at committees. I think this is my twelfth time with you at a committee. I've always admired your stamina in doing this, because as you know, as I'm sure each and every one of you knows, when a veteran calls up DVA and is refused a first time, in many cases they just say, “Well, that's it”. They go away and don't fight it anymore because either they are arguing or suffering various concerns, either physical or mental, or they are aged. I dealt with an 88-year-old veteran the other day who was denied a hearing claim. He doesn't want to pursue it anymore, because he just doesn't have the wherewithal to fight it.
We have I think anywhere from 700,000 to 750,000 retired veterans and RCMP officers, with their spouses, and I believe that DVA has a client base of around 220,000, so there are many people in the veterans and retired RCMP communities who aren't receiving benefits. Maybe they're unaware of it or whatever, but I will try to defend the department as best I can.
As long as I've been here, I've noticed that there have been positive changes in the ability of Veterans Affairs to meet the needs. I honestly believe that each and every member of the department I've met has the sincerity to help veterans where possible. The problem in many cases, of course, is the legislation and the bureaucratic willingness to make that change. It is always a challenge.
One that I'd like you to comment on is the SISIP. Two DND ombudsmen, this committee, the Senate committee, and everybody else has said to fix it. It's a simple fix. I'd like to know why, in your opinion, that hasn't been done.
I always like to give a plug to folks, and I'd like to mention Albina Guarnieri, the former minister's staff, and the current folks we have now. I want to give a plug to Taylor Codie and William Olscamp, who are assistants to the current minister. Every single time I've called up with an issue, they have been there front and centre.
Was the problem resolved in the way I would have liked? Maybe not, but they at least gave me an answer in a short period of time so that I was able to move the assistance on. They are just two examples of many people within the department.
My last question, if you can answer this, is on the ability of what we call the living document. What sold many people on it was that it was a living document and could be changed. I'd like your comment on that, plus the fact that in many cases we hear the term “benefit of the doubt”, such that if there is a difference of opinion between you, the veterans, and the DVA, the benefit of the doubt must apply to the veteran's case.
Louise, we've been working with a fellow in Montreal. Ask me if the benefit of the doubt has ever applied to his particular case? I will just leave that with you.
Thank you. Again, on behalf of all of us, thank you so much for your service.