Thank you, Mr. Richards.
I understand your concern. As you know, it's extremely important for us, and I think for all members of the committee, to work for and listen to veterans.
At the same time, I have to tell you that you have elected a chair and we also have a clerk working with us. We are doing everything we can to have the committee functioning correctly.
Sometimes it's happened, as in this situation.... Right now we have one hour with three witnesses, and we were supposed to have two witnesses for the second hour. The clerk deals with those witnesses every day. One of them said at the last minute that she was sick and couldn't be present. Even this morning, the clerk got in contact with her again and she said that she was not available.
With the other one, there was a lot of discussion, and we are pleased that in the end he said that he was going to buy a headset and would be able to participate.
I saw that we had one hour with one veteran—one witness. Also, this is our last meeting on that study, so we have to give instructions to the analysts to do the report. It has to be in camera.
We also have the budgetary allocations.
The agenda is extremely tight. That's why the chair, in discussion with the clerk, came to that conclusion. Even during the weekend we discussed that. You have to be confident in the chair with the schedule.