Veterans Affairs committee  Perhaps I can offer some insight on the actual processing. I'm not trying to speak exactly to the impact in the way in which the question is framed but to earlier questioning and information shared related to how often something is approved or not approved, how difficult it is or why the Veterans Review and Appeal Board approves something.

Veterans Affairs committee  We have a number of veterans who obviously have come forward. An emergency fund was set up through our new program about five years ago to be able to respond to veterans in crisis, in emergencies, who need short-term assistance on any number of things. It could be something related to immediate housing.

Veterans Affairs committee  The medical file of a particular Canadian Armed Forces serving member or released member is not a property of Veterans Affairs. What we ask for are relevant sections of a veteran's medical file to be provided to us to be able to adjudicate in cases—

Veterans Affairs committee  —where claims, be they disability or otherwise, are being made.

Veterans Affairs committee  Veterans can get access to their medical files, but it's not through Veterans Affairs Canada. They can make the request to be able to access their medical file—

Veterans Affairs committee  We would not have a veteran's entire medical file. We're not considered to have a need to have an entire veteran's medical file, from a privacy point of view and others.

Veterans Affairs committee  Thank you very much. I would just try to explain the purpose for which Veterans Affairs obtains medical files in looking at a veteran's application for any number of programs, most specifically disability benefits. We do access information from the Canadian Armed Forces and the Department of National Defence in support of those applications for which we have to determine a service relationship for an injury or illness that's been suffered by a Canadian Armed Forces member, transitioning member or veteran.

Veterans Affairs committee  That's correct. We just work with her in supporting her role from a Veterans Affairs point of view. That said, we do a lot of work with our Canadian Armed Forces colleagues at the ADM level and throughout many working groups as well, so we're in close contact with them. Her role as Associate Minister of National Defence is focused mainly on personnel.

Veterans Affairs committee  No, and I think that actually speaks to the seamless nature of it. The deputy minister works with his partner at DND—

Veterans Affairs committee  I'm not able to speak on behalf of the minister herself. What I can say is that we continue to work to ensure that the transition for every Canadian Armed Forces member is handled efficiently and effectively.

Veterans Affairs committee  I can share information with you. Yes.

Veterans Affairs committee  Sure. I can—

Veterans Affairs committee  I'm happy to jump in. It's nice to see you, even though I feel like a leftover. The answer to the question is that we actually already do what you've indicated in terms of communicating back and forth and working with our Canadian Armed Forces colleagues on anything we see as a trend line.

Veterans Affairs committee  Sure. What I was talking about from a high-level perspective is that the groups work together to share any information. If we see trends that are different between men and women veterans—

Veterans Affairs committee  I might start, and then I might ask Mr. Tessier to talk a little bit about research from that point of view. We are consistently looking at the testimony that appears here. We look forward to the recommendations and to the report that comes back from the committee on this very extensive research into women's health.