I call the meeting to order.
Welcome to meeting number 6 of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Veterans Affairs. Pursuant to Standing Order 108(2) and the motion adopted by the committee on October 27, the committee is resuming its study of the backlog of disability benefit claims at the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Welcome to all the witnesses who have taken the time to join us. Thank you for being here with us virtually.
I'll introduce each of you and then give you an opportunity to speak. Each group will have five minutes. Both during that time and during the questions, I will signal at the one-minute-left mark. Don't panic. A minute is a long time to finish your thoughts. I tend to give people a little bit of latitude in this committee to finish, as they are all here to contribute to our good work.
To begin the introductions, we'll start with the Royal Canadian Legion. We have joining us virtually Steven Clark, national executive director; Raymond McInnis, director of veterans services, Dominion Command; and Chad Wagner, provincial executive director, Saskatchewan Command.
Welcome to all three of you gentlemen.
From the Union of Veterans Affairs Employees, we are joined today by Virginia Vaillancourt, national president; and Mike Martin, communications. From Wounded Warriors Canada, we have Scott Maxwell, executive director, joining us.
Again, thank you to all of you for being here.
We are going to start with the Royal Canadian Legion.
I believe, Mr. Clark, you're going to start us off. The next five minutes is all yours, sir.