I call this meeting to order.
Welcome to meeting 107 of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Veterans Affairs.
Pursuant to Standing Order 108(2) and the motions adopted by the committee on Thursday, March 9, 2023, and Tuesday, December 5, 2023, the committee is resuming its study of the recognition of Persian Gulf veterans and wartime service.
Today's meeting is taking place in a hybrid format, pursuant to the Standing Orders, and Ms. Blaney is participating by video conference.
Colleagues, I would like to introduce our new clerk, Marie‑Hélène Sauvé. She's new to the committee, but she's not new to the job, and she's well versed in the procedures. We're pleased to have her with us today.
I will introduce the witnesses we have with us.
I would like to welcome our witnesses with us today.
From the Department of National Defence, we have Major-General Erick Simoneau, deputy commander, military personnel command; Brigadier-General Luc Girouard, director general support, chief of joint logistics; and Dr. Sean Graham, historian, directorate of history and heritage.
From the Department of Veterans Affairs, we have people who are regulars at the committee, including Amy Meunier, assistant deputy minister, commemoration and public affairs branch.
We are also joined by Mr. Pierre Tessier, assistant deputy minister, strategic policy, planning and performance branch, and Mitch Freeman, director general, policy and research.
Welcome, everyone. You will have five minutes for your opening remarks.
We'll begin with Veterans Affairs Canada, so I invite Pierre Tessier to take the floor for the next five minutes.