Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Minister, for being here.
I have a number of questions and I'd like to go through them, and then we'll wait for your response. These questions are in regard to long-term care for post-Korean War veterans.
I know the history of the devolution of veterans hospitals to the provinces, and I know about the mandate these hospitals operate under, but, Minister, mandates can change if there's political will.
I refer now to the case of retired Colonel Neil Russell, a 33-year veteran of the Canadian Forces. I know that his wife, Elsa, has written to you.
Neil has a spinal injury and was treated at Parkwood Hospital in my riding, but he can't walk or stand and he needs long-term care. Unfortunately, there are no provincial beds available to him for one or two years from now. He's to be discharged from Parkwood on December 1 and he has nowhere to go. His wife, Elsa, doesn't drive and she cannot take care of him.
Many post-Korean War vets, I've discovered in the last while, are completely unaware that they can't receive long-term care in a veterans hospital. My question is threefold. Why “no” to the centres of excellences that could provide this long-term care? Why the refusal to change the veterans hospital mandate so that modern-day veterans can get the federal government support that they've earned and they deserve?
Finally, I know that Elsa Russell wrote to you. Have you responded to her letter and her plea? I'd like to put her plea into the record. She says:
I wish to reiterate that Neil loyally served Canada for 33 years doing his share to protect Canadian and Allied interests during the Cold War. It would seem just that Canada should help in his time of need.
Is Canada prepared to help Neil Russell in his time of need?