Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I would like to thank everyone for being here today and taking part in our study.
I'd like to pick up on something my colleague was talking about, the delays right now, the backlog at Veterans Affairs. I think we all share the concern about that backlog, the delay, and how it actually has real impacts on veterans and their families.
Would you agree, though, Ms. Douglas, that one of the reasons there is a backlog is that there are significantly more applications coming forward now because there's more awareness of programs and benefits and of the enhancement of the benefits and services available for veterans?
Would you also agree that hiring 460 new staff over the last couple of years is helping to at least curb some of the backlog and delay that would otherwise exist?