Veterans Affairs Committee on Dec. 5th, 2017

[Bob Bratina, Liberal, Hamilton East—Stoney Creek, ON]

Thanks, General.

I have a question about commemoration and how the veterans feel about society appreciating their service.

In our case, in the city of Hamilton, when our young Afghan veterans came back, we struck a pin. It was the City of Hamilton Overseas Service Pin for Afghanistan. This went over quite well, so we did it again with Korea and others.

I'd like to ask you whether there are any issues at all with your veterans and how they feel the public is appreciative of the service that they did for their country.

[BGen Bernd Mattiesen]

I would very much like to tell you that the work with—you call them veterans—former soldiers is on three pillars. First is the benefit and personnel support. Second is health support, whether it's medical or psychological. The third, which from my perspective is a very important one, is acceptance into society and mental support from society.

Our former soldiers are very keen on being supported and being accepted, and we have the feeling sometimes in Germany that there could still be some improvement.

[Bob Bratina, Liberal, Hamilton East—Stoney Creek, ON]

That's great. Thank you very much.

[The Chair, Liberal, Neil Ellis]

Thank you.

That ends today's questioning.

I'd like to thank the brigadier general for testifying and for all the knowledge you brought to us today. Hopefully, we'll get some of this knowledge into the report.

If anybody has any questions or if they want to receive answers back, you could get them to our clerk.

[BGen Bernd Mattiesen]

Thank you very much. It was nice to talk to Canada today.

[The Chair, Liberal, Neil Ellis]

The meeting is adjourned.