Thank you for asking that question. I'm really glad you asked it.
We are on a fixed income when we're on disability. The cost of living is going up and we're watching our brothers and sisters in uniform actively struggle right now. We are feeling the exact same pain because as the cost of living index goes up, the money coming in doesn't change. We are getting a pay cut every day. That's what's happening right now. Again, there's a bit of an abandonment issue from not being supported.
The only reason I'm saying this is that we do go through and ask. It is organizations like the Legion and food banks and other organizations that pick up the slack. Currently, I am doing work with the Veterans Association Food Bank in Calgary and conducting programs with it.
Military sexual trauma, again, is not being covered. MST in Afghanistan is different than it was back in Canada. All of it is very heinous. There are issues with a lot of those things that are not being recognized.
Veterans Affairs is behind the ball on a lot of things. The cost is hurting and Canadians are leaving. What has not been talked about is that veterans are leaving and going to Mexico, Thailand and the Philippines because they cannot afford the cost here. This has not been discussed.