Madam Chair, it is the essential question for all of us, because without the care for Canadian Forces members and their families--those leaving for missions, those training for missions, those returning from missions--we could not accomplish any of the objectives that we have been talking about today.
There is no higher priority for this government than serving our veterans. The men and women who serve in uniform are our best and bravest. They face exceptional challenges, both in today's missions and in coping with the legacy of past missions.
As such, the Department of National Defence and Veterans Affairs Canada are working in lockstep, hand in glove, to make care available to injured soldiers and their families and to address their needs in a timely, meaningful way. That is why the Minister of National Defence announced in September 2010, the government's intention to spend $52.5 million over five years to establish a legacy of care to improve the quality of life for our seriously injured personnel and their families.
This legacy of care for those severely injured as a result of wounds received in high-risk operations includes the following measures: barrier-free transitional accommodations, support services for transitional accommodations, the Canadian Forces attendant care benefit, the Canadian Forces spousal education upgrade benefit and a caregiver benefit.
Since first being elected, this government has invested more in veterans initiatives than any government has since the end of the Second World War.