Veterans Affairs committee  Mr. Chair, if the member is looking for a precise number, I'd have to come back to the committee, but I believe the number is five, one senior representative and I think four intake investigators. I would have to confirm that. I have not had a chance yet to visit Charlottetown. I've put that lower down on my priority list, after getting around to the veterans.

Veterans Affairs committee  Mr. Chair, as I mentioned, I came into the job expecting it would be at the level of an EX-4, which I believe is the level for the DND ombudsman, because I expect I will deal, at a minimum, at the ADM level. Moreover, the chief of staff or second-in-command or director general I was referring to, I feel should have the experience of an EX-2 to be able to work within the larger system, if you will.

Veterans Affairs committee  Mr. Chair, if I may just refer back to my discussion of the advisory committee, the current question reminded me that I omitted the consideration of aboriginal representation on the advisory committee--veteran aboriginal people. Regarding the standing up of the office and the timeline, I've articulated it roughly as it is.

Veterans Affairs committee  Mr. Chair, I would sort of characterize that my mission is to serve the veterans. My staff will have the same selfless dedication that I will. The “buddy” is the veteran. So the mission is to ensure that we are pursuing fair treatment for all of our veterans in terms of the delivery of the services they should be entitled to.

Veterans Affairs committee  Mr. Chair, that's absolutely the case. I think I have three hallmarks that will characterize the office. The first one is consultation and collaboration with the veterans. We have to be one with them. Regarding the second one, I have been doing a lot of pontificating, if you will, or philosophizing about this particular job, because it's been stressed to me by several ombudsmen that I should be impartial.

Veterans Affairs committee  Mr. Chair, I get the impression, certainly on the feedback I'm personally receiving, that the veterans community at large is certainly aware of my taking up the post. I think because of my notoriety with Afghanistan, aspects of the media that wouldn't normally be interested in the appointment may have taken it on.

Veterans Affairs committee  Mr. Chair, as I said earlier, my intention is to treat this as I would have a higher command position in the military. I will find a chief of staff, a director general of operations, or a second-in-command, if you will, who understands the machinations of government and knows how to make things happen.

Veterans Affairs committee  Mr. Chair, at this point, we have not had sufficient trends for me to be able to comment. I think they cover the full spectrum, from too long a cycle to get decisions made to difficulty preparing cases, interpretations of length of service, and those sorts of things. With the number of cases, I don't think we can establish a trend at this point.

Veterans Affairs committee  Mr. Chair, to an extent I addressed that in the discussion of the mandate earlier, in that I consider the absence of specific direction or guidance to be an opportunity and not a constraint. In terms of latitude, I see all sorts of ways that I can value-add in ways that are more than just between the lines, but right off the page of the mandate as written.

Veterans Affairs committee  Mr. Chair, once again, we're still in the formative and I'd say philosophical phases, but I think I can address the member's question satisfactorily. As I've said, to date we've had some degree of success in standing up the office, but I must say that the staffing process has been painfully slow.

Veterans Affairs committee  Mr. Chair, to understand the question correctly, is the fact that I have taken up the post been advertised, or is it in terms of the hiring?

Veterans Affairs committee  Mr. Chair, I'd rather not respond to the question. I am the veterans ombudsman. I've made my statement that their cause is indeed my commitment. There's no question that a person in need who has served overseas, whether it was the so-called peacekeeping missions that were out of sight, out of mind, when we were bringing body bags back home anonymously in the old days....

Veterans Affairs committee  Mr. Chair, I'd be lying if I said I wasn't surprised at the designation of the office, knowing the level the DND ombudsman and having read the report and the recommendations. In fact, the veterans ombudsman is the equivalent of an EX-2 or a DG. My family is not going to starve.

Veterans Affairs committee  Mr. Chair, I am indeed a veteran, by any definition of the word, through service in special duty areas, or merely having taken my retirement from the Canadian Forces.

Veterans Affairs committee  Mr. Chair, as was mentioned by one of the members of the committee, former members of the Canadian Forces who have finished their engagement and who have retired are considered to be veterans.