I call this meeting to order.
Welcome to meeting number 66 of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Veterans Affairs.
Pursuant to Standing Order 108(2) and the motion adopted on Monday, October 3, 2022, the committee is resuming its study on the experience of women veterans.
Today's meeting is taking place in a hybrid format.
To ensure an orderly meeting, I would ask that all comments by members and witnesses be addressed through the chair.
Although the room is equipped with a high-quality audio system, feedback often occurs, causing a significant problem for the interpreters. When you are speaking, please avoid bringing your earpiece close to the microphone in order to prevent feedback and help the interpreters do their job.
In accordance with the committee's routine motion, I wish to inform you that all witnesses have completed the required sound checks.
Before I introduce the witnesses, I'd like to issue a warning regarding our study. We will be discussing experiences related to mental health, which can be a trigger for people here with us, viewers, members and members' staff who have had similar experiences. If you feel distressed or if you need assistance, please let the clerk know.
I wish to remind the committee members that we will be continuing this study on Thursday. Next Tuesday, however, we will be meeting with two ministers, as per the motion adopted by the committee.
Despite the clerk's best efforts, the ministers can meet with the committee for only an hour, whereas the motion calls for two hours. Members need to keep that in mind, and if you wish, we can talk about next Tuesday's meeting when we meet on Thursday.
Our witnesses today are, as an individual, the Honourable Beverley Ann Busson, veteran, senator and retired Royal Canadian Mounted Police commissioner; Anna-Lisa Rovak, veteran; from the Davidson Institute, Adrienne Davidson-Helgerson, director of operations, operational stress recovery, and Dr. Christina Rochford, representative; and from the True Patriot Love Foundation, Eleanor Taylor, manager, community engagement and advocacy, by video conference.
We will start with a round of questions. We also have opening statements of five minutes from witnesses. I already have a copy of the statements from witnesses.
I will now invite the Honourable Beverley Busson to start.
You have five minutes. Please go ahead.