Thanks, Minister.
Our committee is just finalizing its review of the Veterans Review and Appeal Board. We've heard that Canada is the only country in the world that will actually fund a lawyer to review your benefits. For greater clarity, if a veteran receives a determination of benefits, they can then take that determination to a lawyer, have the lawyer review all of that for them free of charge—a second review, if you will—and then if some appeal needs to be made, we will actually fund the lawyer for them as they go before VRAB.
This has universally been applauded. Veterans have come forward...just about every veterans advocacy group has come forward to say how truly necessary and remarkable and truly generous this is, especially when we compare ourselves to every other country in the world.
You've recently made some appointments to that board, individuals with military or medical backgrounds. Can you explain for us why you chose to make those types of appointments?