Mr. Speaker, more and more veterans' widows are dissatisfied because Bill C-50, as presented by the Minister of Veterans Affairs, has abandoned them.
The minister says that he has not forgotten them. We, however, claim that he has. Ten thousand of these widows will enjoy the benefits of the veterans independence program, while 23,000 of them will be excluded. This is unacceptable.
Did the minister consult with the veterans organizations before he proceeded with a regulatory amendment that deprived 23,000 widows of access to this program?