First of all, there are fewer veterans. We track this on a quarterly basis. As I noted in my opening remarks, we are seeing the number of Canadian Forces veterans increasing, passing for the first time the number of war veterans.
I don't want to get into a lesson on the government budgetary cycle, but at the beginning of the year, there's a certain amount of money provided. Then, as we go through the year and we see the trends, we go back for what's called a supplementary estimate. We go back with it.
I think it's really important to note here that when I say that we're going back to get our top-up, if I can call it that, which averages $150 million, the programs to which veterans are entitled are quasi-statutory. What that means in layperson's terms is that the government must provide the money to us. We don't have to go back to cabinet and ask for additional funding: veterans have a right to various programs and services, and these are statutory in nature.
So when we go back in the fall, we usually say these are the trends and the Treasury Board provides us with the funds in that year to make sure that we can continue to provide services and benefits. So there is no risk here. I want to be clear that there is no risk of money not being provided for the benefits and services to which veterans have a legislated right. There is no risk.