Veterans Affairs committee  That's a very good question. And you're quite right, we've been doing some focus group work with younger veterans to find out how they want to be recognized and how they want their service to be recognized. It is different. They often see their service a little differently, at least initially.

Veterans Affairs committee  Our funding is available for remembrance activities at any time of the year. It is the Royal Canadian Legion that has instructed its branches not to approach us for the specific ceremonies on November 11 because that is part of their core activity. We're available to provide funding to groups.

Veterans Affairs committee  First of all, with relation to the National Aboriginal Veterans Monument on Elgin Street in Confederation Park, the major ceremony that takes place at that monument each year is in June, on National Aboriginal Day, and there's usually a fairly substantial ceremony then. There are over 6,000 cenotaphs and monuments across the country recognizing service and sacrifice of Canadians in wartime.

Veterans Affairs committee  No, I wouldn't say that money is the number one factor; there are a variety of issues. There has to be a specified purpose for gathering information on Canadians, and collecting an overall list of veterans is not something the government has done historically,

Veterans Affairs committee  We have a budget for the Canada Remembers program that covers all our activities throughout the year. It's not broken down into specific parts for a particular day or anniversary; there is an overall budget. There is a program that provides assistance to community groups to organize commemorative activities.

Veterans Affairs committee  There are a number of ways that we do communicate with veterans. The broadest way is Salute!, our newsletter, which has a distribution list of approximately 250,000 veterans and, in some cases, survivors, those receiving benefits with whom we have had contact and have agreed to provide us with their mailing address for receipt of the newsletter.

Veterans Affairs committee  The other question raised in the last meeting that I said I would follow up on and get further information about was the vignette that has been produced for Veterans' Week and for the Veterans' Week advertising and promotional campaign this year. It was questioned whether that would be available on DVD as well.

Veterans Affairs committee  Thank you very much, Mr. Chair. As the chair mentioned, I wanted to provide a little additional information or clarification on one of the questions that came up in our discussion three weeks ago related to Remembrance Day as a statutory holiday. One thing I'm not sure I was completely clear on at the time is that November 11 is a statutory holiday within the federal jurisdiction.

Veterans Affairs committee  That's through the website as well. Under the Veterans' Week part of it you will see the calendar, and it will have instructions on how to post your event.

Veterans Affairs committee  There are teachers in—

Veterans Affairs committee  You're absolutely correct. There are many teachers and many schools that do fabulous jobs. One area that has been very prominent in recent years has been the Durham region. A coalition of seven high schools has come together as “Durham Remembers”. They have organized many activities in Canada as well as overseas.

Veterans Affairs committee  I'll have to check on that and get back to you. I know we have it on DVD. I'm not sure what we do in terms of distribution of that on DVD. We will certainly find out and get back to you on that. It is available on our website, as well, at all times, and it will be seen on television sets across the country.

Veterans Affairs committee  If you go into the Veterans Affairs website and click on “Canada Remembers”, you will find a wealth of information. There's a youth and educators section that lists a whole host of materials and activities for young people. There is “Heroes Remember”, which is a collection of interview clips.

Veterans Affairs committee  Not this year. That's printed in millions of copies already. That's a very good point, and it will not say that next year.

Veterans Affairs committee  Regarding this year's poster, you're right. I'm not sure whether there are women in the poster. Yes, there are. There's a woman in it. In fact, if you look back over the last number of years' posters, you will find that they do reflect the makeup of Canada, in terms of aboriginal veterans as well as visible minorities, men, women, French, and English.