The ombudsman would report directly to the minister and not the department, in bringing forward veterans' issues.
Both Mr. Hillier and I have regular meetings with the ombudsman, because we need to find out what's going on from a veteran's point of view. He may find a veteran who is not getting satisfactory responses. By having regular meetings with Mr. Parent at the most senior levels of the department, we can find out what's going on, and sometimes find more expedient solutions to those questions.
We may have different roles and different reporting relationships, but we're all there to support veterans and to provide better services to veterans, so there are no barriers to good ideas. If the ombudsman has a great idea like the benefits navigator, we'll take it and run with it. We have this positive sharing of ideas with the ombudsman's office.