Thank you.
Thank you, committee members, for inviting the National Association of Federal Retirees to speak today.
I would like to begin by recognizing that I and my colleagues are joining you from Ottawa, the traditional unceded territory of the Algonquin Anishnaabeg people, who have lived on this land since time immemorial.
The National Association of Federal Retirees is the largest national advocacy organization representing active and retired members of the federal public service, Canadian Armed Forces and Royal Canadian Mounted Police, and retired federally appointed judges, as well as their partners and survivors.
With 170,000 members, including over 60,000 veterans and their families, the association has advocated for improvements to the financial security, health and well-being of our members, and all Canadians, for nearly 60 years.
Federal Retirees is also proud to co-chair the Women's Veterans Research and Engagement Network, or WREN. WREN's mission is to work collaboratively to ensure equitable lifetime outcomes for all veterans.
I am here with the association's CEO, Mr. Anthony Pizzino; and our staff advocacy and policy officer, Monsieur Patrick Imbeau. I will share my time with Mr. Pizzino, and we will all be pleased to respond to any questions that committee members may have.
Our remarks today are supplemented by a written brief, and our association stands by to participate in other areas identified for study by this committee.