Mr. Chairman, I think once again I'd have to reflect on my comments.
First, I think the culture within the Veterans Review and Appeal Board and the department must be changed, and it would not be difficult at all, with direction from the top, to do so in the short term. Likewise, the Veterans Ombudsman should be a veteran himself or herself so that he or she can relate to veterans and that position should be established as a matter of urgency. I have provided an outline drafting instruction that based on my experience over the last three years and the professional advice of my staff, I think would satisfy an imperative that veterans are looked after.
Finally, the new Veterans Charter has to be changed--urgently. I will go back to the Office of the Veterans Ombudsman's position vis-à-vis the new Veterans Charter, and I will once again say that the revision of the new Veterans Charter should follow four principles. It should be timely. It should be comprehensive. It should be transparent, because so many people have a stake in the outcome of this. Finally, and very importantly, it should be retroactive.
As it stands right now, the promise of $2 billion--by the advice that has been provided to me--won't come into effect until 2011, when we are presumably moving away from a combat role in Afghanistan. Also, it has been pointed out that those benefits will not be retroactive, so those troops that need it the most will be excluded from those types of benefits. I would just say finally I have no confidence that the system would ever allow those benefits to get down to our troops.