Thanks very much, Mr. Chair.
Perhaps I could do the same and run through a number of questions that I have. Feel free to provide our committee with those responses in writing afterwards, just so that we can go through as much content as possible.
What we're looking to do, as you may know, is compare the types of services and benefits that are provided to Canada's veterans with those provided by some of our top allies: the United States, United Kingdom, and France. Obviously, our goal is to ensure that our veterans are very well served. We certainly owe an enormous debt of gratitude to them for their sacrifice. We want to ensure that Canada continues to be, as it has been under the leadership of this Prime Minister, a world leader in providing services and benefits to our veterans.
The first question I have for you follows on Ms. Mathyssen's question. How much did Canada spend on long-term care in 2012?
The second question that I have relates to our rehabilitation program. Could you please outline what is provided through Veterans Affairs Canada's rehabilitation program, and then also, more importantly, what the success rate is of the rehabilitation program?
On a separate question, when it comes to the new Veterans Charter, and the financial benefits there, could you please briefly outline the increased support for the earnings loss benefit, the increased access to the permanent impairment allowance, and changes to the disability award payments through the new Veterans Charter? Did veterans ask for these changes and how are they beneficial?
Could you also separately highlight which aspects of Veterans Affairs Canada's benefits and services that are offered are unique to Canada? I think that might be of particular interest to us.
Could you additionally advise whether you feel it's valuable that Veterans Affairs Canada has external entities, such as the Veterans Ombudsman and the Veterans Review and Appeal Board, which provide oversight and avenues for veterans to voice their concerns?
Would you say that the services and benefits provided to Canadian veterans have been increasing and are the most comprehensive programs ever offered through Veterans Affairs Canada?
That really is the key, in a nutshell. Perhaps you might be in a position to offer some advice on that last question: would you say that the services and benefits provided to Canada's veterans have been increasing and are currently the most comprehensive programs ever offered through Veterans Affairs Canada?