I would say that the common denominator for all the folks we want to hire is empathy—folks who have real people skills. As the minister indicated, their whole job is about the care of our veterans, compassion, and respect.
With regard to case managers, we're looking for social workers, nurses, and psychologists who have some experience with case management. I am thrilled to see that folks are coming from across the country. Indeed, many who are contemplating retirement from the Canadian Armed Forces are applying. We're working through the public service rules, which can be somewhat challenging, but to get people in the door, as the minister indicated, we have hired in excess of 183 people thus far.
We put them through a very formal training program, which has been great. We have reinstituted a formal training program, bringing people centrally, putting them through a bit of a schoolhouse, and making sure they understand the various regulations. I was just in Quebec City recently, and I saw the great people who have come in, gone through the schoolhouse, and are getting their first few case files of veterans. As they get more and more confidence, more will come to them from other case managers who have carried quite a heavy burden.
I would also like to emphasize that it's not only case managers who are key here. It's also the veterans service agents. The veterans service agents are those individuals who care for a larger number of veterans, who have very simple, straightforward issues and requirements and illnesses and that kind of thing. The case managers manage about 9,400 cases in total. The vast majority of the others are managed by the veterans service agents. We're hiring both, and putting them both through a training program.
I would just conclude by saying that the key for all of them is a sense of empathy, of ensuring that the veterans and their families have the support they require.