Mr. Chair, and committee members, thank you for the opportunity to present today.
This is a very important subject for our veterans, and it's also an important subject for the nation. There is a certain promise made to veterans when they sign up and then they are disabled in the service to their country.
I'm here today because I'm seriously concerned with the way that VRAB has downturned in the last few years in not providing fair and impartial hearings that Parliament has wanted for our veterans. It has significantly changed.
I'd like to address an elephant in the room, as well. I'm sure we've all read the papers. I have an outstanding issue that's going on, with approximately 60 breaches of my privacy since I joined the board. It's the use of that information and how it was used that's under investigation, not only by the Human Rights Commission, but also I'm dealing with the minister.
I would like to put that to rest because my presentation is not about that. It's not about me. I want to end that by saying that here are my medals and my decorations. I don't wear them because I've lost pride in my service and sacrifice to this country because of the way I've been treated. I'll put that to rest.
Now what I'd like to do is go on to my presentation. As a veteran with PTSD, my heart is racing, so if I appear a little nervous or anxious, that's what's going on.