Sure. Actually, you're right, and this is quite an amazing story when we look at the number. I was quite surprised myself to see that we are investing on an annual basis, since our Conservative government took power in 2006, $750 million more per year. One of the reasons why that is so is that we have introduced the new Veterans Charter, and we also introduced enhancements to the new Veterans Charter more than a year ago.
The whole reasoning behind the new Veterans Charter is aimed at helping veterans to transition in a seamless manner from military to civilian life. The other great thing about the new Veterans Charter is that it enables a veteran who has been released from the Canadian Forces, but who may experience some challenges in the course of his life that are related to his military service, to come back to Veterans Affairs Canada.
That's why I've been coming quite consistently before this committee for more funding, because there has been a strong uptake from the veterans community for those programs. As you know, the core of those programs is a recognition of the loss a veteran may have encountered during his military service—what we refer to as the disability award—but there is also financial compensation while the veteran is re-embarking, if I may say, into civilian life. That's what we call the earnings loss benefit.
There is also an array of services provided regarding the rehabilitation service. There's also mental health support, as well as other services that are needed. It's an array of services that is quite extensive, and the veterans community is benefiting from it and using the services we are providing.