Thank you so much, Chair.
Thank you, Minister, for being here, and Mr. Harris and Mr. Freeman as well.
The voted appropriations in the supplementary estimates (B) for 2024-25 are for $942.5 million. It indicates that the vast amount of that, $819.4 million, is for pain and suffering compensation. I'm looking at this, and that's a 51.6% increase compared to what was in the main estimates.
In the explanation documents in regard to this, it says that it's because of an increased number of applications, but also “a higher-than-expected number of Veterans opting for a lump-sum”, and then it goes on to say that when they apply for their pain and suffering compensation, it goes into monthly installments by default and that they have to submit a written request for a lump sum.
The goal was that they thought this would incentivize our veterans to go with a monthly installment because they have the potential to live longer than the time the lump sum will last. It's surprising to me that this is the route this is going.
I have a question right away around having to submit a written request for the lump sum. When they're applying for the compensation, are they aware that it's a default? Is there not a way to say you can make a choice here for a monthly payment or for a lump sum? Is that not part of the application?