Thank you very much, Mr. Chair, and thank you, Minister, for being here.
Madam Tining, it's a pleasure to see you.
I have a number of questions.
I want to begin with your statement, Minister, that we have many modern-day vets. Indeed, I see them all the time, the former peacekeepers, in my riding. I have one who is a Bosnia vet. His job was to go in and open the mass graves. Needless to say, emotionally and physically he is not well. I'm very concerned about these people.
I have a veterans hospital in my riding: Parkwood Hospital. You say that the closing of the beds at places such as Ste. Anne's or at Parkwood will not be problematic, because these vets will get provincial care.
It would seem to me that the federal government is responsible. We sent these young men and women to war. We sent them on peacekeeping missions. Is it not the responsibility of the federal government, not the provincial government, to make sure of their care?
I have this terrible feeling that the federal government is, quite literally, washing its hands of its responsibility to the men and women who put their lives on the line and for whom life is not pleasant, happy, or productive right now because of their service.