Thank you for your question. I'll try to answer in French.
Actually, I'm going to speak in English, because I have the translation in my ear.
As I said in my statement, I think we can get very much lost in the statistics. Were the numbers over this past year or over the past four years? Are we talking about averages, or are we talking about medians?
The bottom line, Mr. Chair, is that at the moment we cannot say that there are equitable wait times for all the demographics of all the veterans, whether they're male, female, anglophone, francophone or LGBTQ. There are so many ways to look at these numbers.
I would like to ask the department what the number is of first applications where veterans are waiting for a positive decision that will allow them access to the delivery of health care treatment. To me, that is the most important thing.
I understand there are differences in these gaps. In my view, no veteran, regardless of gender, orientation or the language they speak, should have to wait one minute longer than any other veteran. They should not wait at all. Their claims should be treated in the shortest amount of time possible. There should be a very clear understanding of which veterans need a decision faster than other veterans.
A veteran who has a full pension, has access to the public service health care plan and who has secured a second job after they have left the Canadian Forces may not need that decision as quickly as the veteran who does not have a pension, cannot qualify for public service health care or doesn't have access to the rehabilitation program, but was broken by the CAF and has walked out the door with their little baggie of three months' worth of medications for a condition that is related to their service. They have to wait.
I would ask, where did 16 weeks come from? They get their medications for three months, but the service standard is 16 weeks.
I hope I have answered your question, Monsieur Desilets. Thank you.