I would have to reflect on the priorities as I presented them. First and foremost, the veterans and their families need and deserve a legislated ombudsman who can cross departmental boundaries and enter into any discussions in the Privy Council Office or Treasury Board Secretariat that involve veterans, just to keep the system honest. That's by far the most important priority.
Second, looking at my list of priorities, I think they have to tackle the department's approach to its business being that of an insurance company, to not being proactive in trying to improve the treatment of our veterans. They're very reactive in every respect, from the requirement for veterans to self-identify what they might be entitled to when they retire through to improving benefits, such as those for Agent Orange. Where the Institute of Medicine in the United States has increased the number of maladies associated with Agent Orange, they did nothing to try to push the system to increase the number here in Canada.
Finally, on the Veterans Review and Appeal Board, I simply find it shocking that I, as an infantry officer, would sit down with senior management within that department, including lawyers, and point out to them blatant errors in principles of natural justice. You've heard some of them here today.