Mr. Chairman, yes, in fact, at some confidential meetings I made it very clear that my first priority to offer veterans the enduring and substantive change they deserve is to have representation inside government. I've urged not only a legislated ombudsman, but also perhaps a similar arrangement to what the Canadian Forces have within the Privy Council Office, where, for national security issues, there is a cell inside that office.
Because of the commitment our veterans make to serve the government of the day and the sacrifices they make, I think that would be appropriate. Unlike after World War II and the Korean War, there is no representation by veterans inside government. I think it might it might be appropriate to have such a cell for veterans, who are indeed public servants and bound by all of the constraints and restrictions of public servants.
Right now, I will say that the relationship of the department with the major associations is superficial, because once the door closes, much like it is for the Office of the Veterans Ombudsman, they are at the mercy of what the department wants them to hear or know.