They're all employees of the Government of Canada. I'll get the particular section and report back to the committee, but there is a particular section in the Department of Veterans Affairs Act that creates the office of the Bureau of Pensions Advocates as an independent entity that is fully protected in terms of solicitor-client privilege. They're independent actors, and the deputy has no right of interference in the operations of their business. They are similar to special advocates who are used in the immigration context, but they are employees of the Government of Canada.
On May 31st, 2016. See this statement in context.