Obviously, you're right. That's the piece we've identified. When we talked about our spectrum of care, obviously you start at one end with VETS Canada and getting people off the street, the veterans transition program, which is geared towards individuals, and some of our other support programs. Then you get to our newer programs. We have Tribute to Your Service events, which are geared for couples. You can't come by yourself. You have to bring your spouse so they can get together and learn lessons. Our couples program, COPE, is based on the best practices of the veterans transition program, and applying that to couples.
The assistance about which we have talked to both ministers is in terms of those who are still serving, and encouraging commanding officers to grant leave so they can take these programs, perhaps providing transportation assistance to get to the programs. We funded it. It's built. I guess to quote the Field of Dreams movie, we built it, now we need them to come.
Of course, one of the challenges as an independent charity is that we fully fund the programs and everything we do at no cost to veterans. It takes a lot of effort. This year we'll spend $1.4 million in direct programming for veterans and their families. Unfortunately, some of that programming money goes into airline fuel, because it's a big country in which to get people from coast to coast. Therefore, assistance in getting people to programs would be the simplest place to start, I think, and a very practical place to start, and then move on from there.
I know we've had some discussions with the CMP on providing some transport to our COPE program. They're very interested in that, so we've had some very meaningful discussions with both departments on that issue. Yes, we can work together on these things.