Veterans Affairs committee  Should he or she be removed after three or four years? With just cause, they can be removed anytime. But what you're saying is they're going to do a three- or four-year term and then he or she is going to be replaced.

Veterans Affairs committee  That's a political question. In my personal opinion, I don't think that should be the case. If you're going to remove the ombudsman, for whatever reason, who suffers? The veterans, the things that are on his or her plate. I'm not saying to put the ombudsman above Parliament--heaven forbid, you're the governing authority in this country.

Veterans Affairs committee  Thank you, sir. I can't respond in French because I'm a unilingual Calgarian. It's a very good question, and it's almost a political question that you're asking of a soldier. My personal opinion is that reporting to a committee would be awkward. With all due respect to this committee, sometimes committee decisions take forever.

Veterans Affairs committee  How about doing it both ways? He responds to the minister, but he cannot be removed from his position without the consent or approval of committee X.

Veterans Affairs committee  Yes, and he should be an ex-Patricia with fourteen years and tours overseas--and I volunteer.

Veterans Affairs committee  It's a good question. I never thought I was going to be asked that, but it's very similar to becoming a member of the Veterans Review and Appeal Board. There are a number of ex-military people, including one from our regiment who was taken on board a week ago in the official announcement.

Veterans Affairs committee  It is because soldiers are soldiers. I say that, having come through the infantry throughout my career. It may sound macho, but when you're on a realistic training exercise, or you're jumping out of airplanes, or you're on the back of a carrier or a tank, or whatever, and you fall and have an injury, in a lot of cases it's called suck it up and catch up to the rest of them.

Veterans Affairs committee  The closing of the ranks between DND and Veterans Affairs Canada is significant. That, quite frankly, started when Admiral Larry Murray was a deputy minister at Veterans Affairs. He shook things up; he established the Canadian Forces Advisory Council, and we got rolling on how to improve service to the veterans.

Veterans Affairs committee  No. I have my own notes and the notice of meeting. Nothing else. I have a clean sheet.

Veterans Affairs committee  Okay. Thank you for that. It would have made it a little easier if I'd had them last night, but that's all right. I've got a clean piece of paper here. Remember, these are my personal opinions only. The ombudsman should report to the Minister of Veterans Affairs. He or she should be authorized to provide a confidential, unbiased, and neutral alternative to the existing redress system of VAC for both the veterans and their families.

Veterans Affairs committee  Thank you, Mr. Chairman and committee members. It is indeed an honour to appear before this committee. In fact, as I indicated to a couple of members, I've been out of Canada for the last three weeks. I was caught short last week when I finally heard that I was on for November 6, which is coincidental with our activity in the Senate chamber this morning and the release of the Gerontological Advisory Council report to Veterans Affairs at the press conference at 12:30.