Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.
Mr. Chair, members of the committee, thank you for inviting me to appear before the committee today to speak about some of my priorities as the Minister of Veterans Affairs and the Associate Minister of National Defence. To be entrusted with this important portfolio is both an honour and a privilege.
I'm from Dieppe, New Brunswick. This small Acadian town was renamed in 1946 to commemorate those who lost their lives in action in Dieppe, France, during the Second World War. Growing up, we all heard about the Dieppe raid and the sacrifices made by many in the name of peace, freedom and democracy.
After all these years, it's an honour for me to work on behalf of the hundreds of thousands of Canadians who have donned our country's uniform in times of war, military conflict and peace.
As minister, my first priority is to make sure THAT Canada's veterans have access to programs and services, and to support them when and where they need them, as quickly and as efficiently as possible. I am aware of the many challenges that Veterans Affairs has experienced with processing benefit applications and getting veterans into the system. Addressing this continues to be my top priority.
Like my predecessor, I am fully committed to resolving this issue, and I am confident that we will continue to make considerable progress to that end.
As of September 30, the number of disability claims in excess of the 16‑week service standard stood at 5,433, approximately 16,000 fewer cases than as of June 30, 2020. During that period, the total number of pending claims also dropped by over 13,000, from 45,296 to 31,481.
Our efforts have resulted in a reduction of the backlog of over 75%, but we are not stopping there. We will continue to explore all options and opportunities to improve how we support veterans and their families with the programs and services they need and to which they are entitled.
Another priority of mine, Mr. Chair, is to ensure that our veterans are always remembered and honoured for their service and their sacrifice, whether they fought at Juno Beach or helped respond to the Swissair disaster in Nova Scotia.
Twice in the past few years I have joined delegations that have travelled to Europe to visit Dieppe and other historic locations where Canadians have sacrificed and shed blood to defend democracy, human rights, peace, freedom and security. Both times, I have to say, I was humbled to hear from veterans about how their combat experience shaped their lives, and I was honoured to pay them tribute for the sacrifice they made on our behalf.
In September, I travelled to Nova Scotia to mark the 25th anniversary of the Swissair Flight 111 crash, and to Germany to celebrate the 2023 Invictus Games. Those two events reminded me that our servicemen and women continue to face enormous risks that most of us will never understand. These soldiers deserve all our gratitude for their service, as we continue to pay tribute to the valiant Canadians who participated in the major conflicts of the 20th century.
Finally, I want to tell the committee and all Canadian Armed Forces veterans that I am committed to ensuring that every veteran knows that we are attentive to their needs and responsive to their concerns.
Veterans have the right to receive services that correspond to their unique needs and unique experiences. That is why my department established an indigenous veterans engagement team that builds on the work the team has already been doing to support women veterans and also 2SLGBTQI+ veterans.
This dedicated team, comprised entirely of indigenous employees, has been meeting with indigenous communities across the country. Since May 31 of this year, they've conducted more than 30 outreach visits to ensure that first nations, Métis and Inuit veterans are aware of the programs and services available through Veterans Affairs and that they are receiving the support that they need.
As minister, it is my top priority to ensure that every veteran, regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, language or religion, receives the quality care and support he or she deserves, as quickly and efficiently as possible.
Once again, thank you so much for inviting us to be here today.
We are now pleased to answer your questions.