Welcome to meeting number eight of the Standing Committee on Veterans Affairs.
Pursuant to the order adopted on Tuesday, February 8, 2022, the committee is meeting with retired Colonel Nishika Jardine, the veterans ombud, to receive an update and recommendations on the issue of wait times and backlogs faced by disabled veterans in receiving the benefits that they are entitled to and deserve.
Today's meeting is taking place in a hybrid format pursuant to the House order of November 25, 2021. Members are attending in person in the room and remotely using the Zoom application. The proceedings will be made available via the House of Commons website, and the webcast will always show the person speaking, rather than the entirety of the committee.
Today's meeting is also taking place in a webinar format. Webinars are for public committee meetings and are available only to members, their staff and witnesses. Members enter immediately as active participants. All functionalities for active participants remain the same. Staff will be non-active participants and can, therefore, view the meeting only in a gallery view.
Before speaking, please wait until I recognize you by name. If you are on the video conference, please click on the microphone icon to unmute yourself. If you are in the room, your microphone will be controlled as normal by the proceedings and verification officer. When speaking, please speak slowly and clearly. When you are not speaking, your mike should be on mute. I would remind you that all comments by members and witnesses should be addressed through the chair.
With regard to a speaking list, the committee clerk and I will do the best we can to maintain a consolidated order of speaking for all members, whether they are participating virtually or in person.
I now wish to welcome our witnesses, retired Colonel Nishika Jardine, veterans ombud, and Duane Schippers, acting deputy veterans ombud.
Ms. Jardine, you will have the next five minutes for your opening statement, after which, the committee members will ask you questions.
Please go ahead.