Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Good afternoon, colleagues.
Thank you for being with us, Ms. Hogan.
Personally, I devoured your report. It is interesting, and it confirms some aspects of the situation. I note, primarily, that the disparity between women and men has decreased. We are on the right track and the situation is progressing well. It is no longer the problem we had before.
However, and you are not responsible for this situation, your report dates from June 30, so the figures date from June 30. The quarterly reports we have show there are still fluctuations.
The disparity between women and men is not really a concern any longer. The size of the backlog has also decreased to an acceptable extent. I think efforts have been made in that regard. On the other hand, because I am in Quebec and I am francophone, I find the way francophones are treated very disturbing. We are talking about wait times of 42.8 weeks for francophones but 29 weeks for anglophones, and that is absolutely and totally unacceptable.
It is not your fault. It is a finding that has been made once again. The ombudsman has already dealt with it and reported it. I have raised it on numerous occasions. This committee has spoken to the fact that the disparity between francophones and anglophones was unacceptable.
As well, you again note that this disparity is significant. Hearing that the department's response to your recommendations is positive does not stop me from being seriously concerned, because we have seen recommendations like that being made for six years. Those recommendations say that this or that must not be done, that one aspect or another has to be improved, people have to be hired, and so on. For six years, the department's response to these recommendations has always been positive, but no reduction of the disparity between francophones and anglophones has materialized.
I conclude from this that there is a systemic problem in this case. Yes, a group of people have been hired in Montreal. I may have questions to ask you a bit later. Nonetheless, I conclude that there is a systemic problem, a structural problem, which means they have not managed to eliminate this disparity.
I have been on the committee for only three years, or a bit more than two years. In view of the information you are giving us, would you be prepared to consider a supplementary audit at Veterans Affairs Canada? This time it would relate specifically to applications made by francophones.