My name is Elphège Renaud. I am the president of the Association du Royal 22e Régiment.
I know that the government members may not like what I have to say, but I believe the $40,000 minimum announced by the minister is a form of income replacement that has nothing to do with war-related injuries or disabilities.
On the matter of the lump sum, nothing has changed. Veterans will not get a single penny more. It is merely the payment method and terms that have changed. So instead of one payment, they will get the money in several installments.
I see that the maximum allowance has improved slightly to $1,609, but in order to be eligible to receive that money, you have to have a disability assessment of 100%. The same goes for the additional $1,000 for life. In order to receive that $1,000, you have to be eligible to receive the $1,609. You have to be fully disabled, 100%. So very few veterans will be able to access that money, which means that the government will not have to pay out very much. Veterans have told me that they were asked to stop complaining—