Veterans Affairs committee  It will depend on the type of contract they're under. Under the reserves, it's class A, class B or class C, which has an impact on types of benefits and services they have access to. If they have a malady that's attributable to service, it's a Canadian ranger instructor who is the person who is left holding the bag to make sure that the rangers are aware of what they're entitled to and help them to get to that point.

Veterans Affairs committee  Most likely, yes.

Veterans Affairs committee  I think the first thing we have to do is go to where they are. We need to be in front of these people. We need to educate and train them. We have to make sure, when we're publishing documents that are policy, that they're in language that can be understood by the intended target audience.

Veterans Affairs committee  It's an education and awareness issue.

Veterans Affairs committee  Most likely it's in Yellowknife, and one CRPG would be based in Yellowknife.

Veterans Affairs committee  The Canadian ranger instructor would be responsible for those.

Veterans Affairs committee  When you talk about ratios, it's simply a manning issue. This is a resourcing issue. I've talked to some Canadian ranger instructors who have spent from 160 to 200 days a year in travel just out to the patrol groups. As I said, that's just not sustainable. This is a straight-up resourcing issue.

Veterans Affairs committee  I believe anything is achievable. I would go back and pound the drum again that we cannot continue to increase those ratios. We have to bring those into line to something that's sensible and can be managed. For someone to have 1:239 and probably 16 or 17 communities to visit and then there are patrols they have to conduct every year, if we're going to resource it properly, attracting the rangers is one issue.

Veterans Affairs committee  Personally I went to Yellowknife and Behchoko, and Gimli, but these ladies have travelled extensively across the country, to all five CRPGs.

Veterans Affairs committee  I believe that ratio will not be balanced across the country. When you look at some Canadian ranger instructors, their patrol groups can be within 200 or 300 kilometres of where they are. Other patrol groups may be considerably farther than that and they may have more groups. I think the ratio will have to be dependent on the geographical situation and the size of the patrol units that the instructor is overseeing.

Veterans Affairs committee  I would fully agree with that. Yes, it would be a great opportunity to get them at the first stage.

Veterans Affairs committee  There is a program that has been put in place where they're bringing the rangers closer to the centre to do some heavy training and to give them orientation for a few weeks. I think that is starting to have a positive effect on the ground, but it's going to be a while before that ripples across the organization completely.

Veterans Affairs committee  As I said, there is no mandatory retirement age for the rangers. They serve, and they serve for life. I've met rangers who have been in their seventies, elders in their community, with a wealth of information and they stay engaged. To give a definite number for veterans who have left the ranger cadre, it's a number I do not have.

Veterans Affairs committee  It is a very unique group.

Veterans Affairs committee  Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. I want to once again thank you for inviting representatives from this office to appear before your committee to discuss issues that are pertinent to current and former members of the Canadian Armed Forces and their families. Joining me today are Robyn Hynes, Director General of Operations, and Amanda Hansen-Reeder, Acting Director, Systemic Investigations.