Veterans Affairs committee  I think we're here not from design but just because of circumstance. Each time there's a new theatre of operation, or whatever the military may be doing, we come in and we lay another program in place that brings its own level of bureaucracy. We were dealing with a service delivery model that was created, I think someone suggested, in 1967.

Veterans Affairs committee  I'm sorry I can't answer that. It would maybe be a good question for the veterans ombudsman.

Veterans Affairs committee  At the stakeholder summit that I spent two days at, there was a lot of talk about how to get families involved. I have seen some very encouraging things over the last couple of days about how to get families involved and how to give them access so that they are considered to be part of it.

Veterans Affairs committee  Yes.

Veterans Affairs committee  It's basically exactly that, sir. I think that first and foremost, there would be one person the releasing member could go to if they had any questions about whatever service or benefit they were applying for, to help them with that application process, and to make sure that they were ready to move forward.

Veterans Affairs committee  Most definitely. I not only want to see the member have one place to reach out to, but I also want that concierge to be reaching out to the member over time: “If I haven't heard from you in a week.... Let's just touch base to see where you are. Did you get to your appointments? Have you made your rendezvous, or wherever you're supposed to be?”

Veterans Affairs committee  We put in the report that there should be no more than a 25:1 ratio. The concierge is the face that the person sees. He's not the person who delivers all the services, but he knows who to reach out to. We're saying 25:1 should be the maximum ratio.

Veterans Affairs committee  Most definitely. It's probably the ugly thing to talk about, but one of the pillars we have to give these releasing members is a financial security pillar, one that they can stand on and one so that they can go to their families and say, “I got this. We're going to be okay.” I do believe, yes, it would help all of those things.

Veterans Affairs committee  I'm an operator. I come from the private sector. I spent 25 years delivering service in logistics and those types of things. I think we can do it fairly quickly. One of the things we have to be very cognizant of is that by holding members we can't start costing millions and millions of dollars waiting for process delay.

Veterans Affairs committee  There are two things, if I may. First of all, there will always be those who late manifest, especially with operational stress injuries. There will always be a need for Veterans Affairs Canada and the adjudication process they have. People can show up with an operational stress injury six months, six years, 10 years beyond the fact.

Veterans Affairs committee  It's possible in some cases there would be an extension. If we look at some of the issues we know that have been in the media of late, such as the delay in getting a pension, that's a processing issue. I think if anyone from the department were here, they would tell you that the pension cell the people were put in, they were taken out, they were put in, they were taken out...we have a backlog.

Veterans Affairs committee  It would have to be an agreement between the two. Veterans Affairs Canada would have to be ready to receive and the Canadian Armed Forces would have to ensure that everything was in place from their perspective to release the member. Each case is going to be unique. That's why we've recommended a concierge service.

Veterans Affairs committee  To deal with the releasing member.

Veterans Affairs committee  Thank you, Mr. Chair, and good afternoon to all. It's my understanding that this committee has taken great interest in the two recent reports I have released, “Determining Service Attribution for Medically Releasing Members” and “Simplifying the Service Delivery Model for Medically Releasing Members”.

Veterans Affairs committee  I don't think there is enough being done. I believe there is more we can do. I can tell you how much it takes to put a CF-18 in the air for an hour; I can't tell you what it takes to put a soldier on the ground somewhere. I believe we have the data. I just think someone has to have enough interest in taking that and moving it forward.