Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Mr. Tolmie, I really liked your question. For once, it was really relevant. I'm only joking. I'm in a teasing mood tonight.
Mr. Bilodeau, I was surprised when you said that there was excellent cooperation between the Canadian Armed Forces and Veterans Affairs Canada, because I swear to you, that is absolutely not what the committee has heard so far. I've been on this committee for three and a half years. It's not because of you or any of you, but the two departments are not sufficiently connected.
A soldier on the ground, who is also an individual, a person, a human being, sees their status changed overnight as soon as they leave the Canadian Armed Forces. I'm getting goose pimples as I say this, because I know you're all going to go through this. It bothers me that these transitions don't go well. The crux of the problem is the connection between the two departments. You're doing what you can on your end, and Veterans Affairs Canada is doing what it can on its end, but there's no link between the two. There's a separation, a fissure, a divorce, and that troubles me. For years now, the committee has been hearing veterans tell us about all the hardships they're facing.
I'm speaking to you because you talked about excellent cooperation. However, I don't see it and I don't get it. In your area alone, if you had full authority, you would have to facilitate the transfer of files and follow up on them. In fact, you didn't answer the question I asked you earlier. In an ideal world, a Canadian Armed Forces doctor would see new veterans for a few months. Since they would be familiar with the person's pedigree, that is to say their file, they could facilitate their transition and help them with their multiple applications.
Do I have any time left, Mr. Chair?