Good evening and welcome to the 52nd meeting of the Standing Committee on Veterans Affairs.
Tonight we will continue to study division 17 of part 3 of Bill C-59, an act to implement certain provisions of the budget tabled in Parliament on April 21, 2015 and other measures.
The meeting will end at 7:30 p.m.
I'd like to begin by thanking the committee members for agreeing to meet today on such short notice so that we could hear from additional witnesses.
Unfortunately, scheduling this meeting next week was not an option since the Standing Committee on Finance invited our committee to present its recommendations by 9:00 a.m. next Tuesday, June 2.
This evening we will have the pleasure of hearing Robert Thibeau, president of Aboriginal Veterans Autochtones; Richard Blackwolf, national president and chief executive officer, and Joseph Burke, national service officer, Ottawa, both with the National Alliance of the Canadian Aboriginal Veterans and Serving Members Association; and finally, Jenny Migneault in a personal capacity.
The representatives from each of the three groups will have up to 10 minutes to give their presentation. Afterwards, members will have the opportunity to ask questions.
Mr. Thibeau, you're first. Welcome.