Thanks, Chair.
Thanks to all of the folks who have joined us today to share their experiences with us. It's wonderful of you to share those experiences and your time with us.
I want to start with a question to Gus Cameron.
Gus, you and I are known to each other quite well. You do and have done, for years, incredible work in the Halifax area with the very large and vibrant veterans community here in Halifax. You've used your voice to help get veterans into hospital beds. You have used your efforts to get groceries to seniors during the pandemic. You've done Valentines for Vets. You've been there for mental health and just for people when they needed someone to be there. You've been through it all.
What the committee is studying today is different from what we usually study. Often we study the challenges that veterans face and the barriers to getting that help that they experience. Today we're really talking about people like you and the other guests who are with us today, the people who are helping veterans. I know it's hard for you to not think about the veterans and to think about yourself, but I'm going to ask you today to think about yourself in your role as a helper.
First, what can you tell us about what it is like to be a caregiver? What are the burdens? What is the drain on you? What is the hardship? What can we do better to support someone who's doing work, as you do, to help the veterans?