Veterans Affairs committee  The funding is a major part of what's going on, obviously, but it's not the only difficulty that is faced. Even the transformation is going to cost a fair amount of money, particularly putting everything on electronic records and so on. It's a good idea, but I would support what Mr.

Veterans Affairs committee  I think there are a lot of positive things in the charter. The House and the Senate went through this quickly, because they believed...I'm sure they believed it would help veterans. That's a positive side. But it never got the review it required. For some years now, we've been trying to make the changes to the charter necessary to bring it to what was intended when it was brought into being.

Veterans Affairs committee  I'm not very proud of it, but I don't have a tremendous amount to do with it. What turns a veteran off, what turns him to anger, is the sort of situation you describe, where the answer is that benefits won't be cut. Last October, we said we accept that benefits won't be cut. But if you cut first-line staff, you're going to hurt the veterans.

Veterans Affairs committee  It would depend largely on the level of injury. In very short form, the worst-off soldier or veteran is hurt the worst by the new Veterans Charter. If he is in really bad shape, he would be better off under the old Pension Act. There are entitlements under the old Pension Act, including financial ones, that would serve him better than what he'll get under the new Veterans Charter.

Veterans Affairs committee  Mr. Chairman, ladies and gentlemen, CAVUNP, which is the short form for the Canadian Association of Veterans in United Nations Peacekeeping, has been around for roughly 25 years. The organization began essentially as a social organization, but we soon came to realize that no legislation or programs treated casualties of peacekeeping operations.

Veterans Affairs committee  And this poor chap is a member, too.

Veterans Affairs committee  No. We don't always agree.

Veterans Affairs committee  I would. They are members of the local chapter, the John Gardam chapter: the president of the local chapter, Major MacCulloch; the Colour Sergeant, Boots Boutilier; and fighting in the corner is Dan Drapeau.

Veterans Affairs committee  Absolutely.

Veterans Affairs committee  May I respond? One can't argue against what you're saying. I agree with what you're saying, but as Mr. Leonardo has referred to in the letter that went to the minister from the stakeholders—and this is not new—there are hundreds of recommendations that have been made based on extensive study and work by people like Mr.

Veterans Affairs committee  I did not mean to imply that at all. If they're there, they will work. If they're not there, they can't.

Veterans Affairs committee  The minister has assured us several times that the money destined for programs will not be cut. But he was in no position, when he gave those assurances, to assure us there would not be cuts to the department. If the cuts to the department remove front-line workers, veterans will suffer.

Veterans Affairs committee  I'm sorry, I'm not going to answer your question very well, but I'm going to give you a personal opinion. The Veterans Affairs people at the front line are dedicated to helping veterans. That is my view. That's not a view shared by all veterans. Our worry is that some of those people are going to disappear if there are budget cuts.

Veterans Affairs committee  No, ma'am.

Veterans Affairs committee  Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The length of our title can be considerably reduced. We just call it CAVUNP. CAVUNP certainly appreciates the opportunity to address this committee, because we believe this committee can be very influential in how Canada treats her veterans. Our association was formed a little over 20 years ago, when we felt that there were some needs in existence that were not being met by the organizations of the day.