Veterans Affairs committee  If I might add to that, Mr. Chairman, in the briefing we coincidentally had a few minutes before we arrived here, the SISIP problem the honourable member mentioned was brought up again. The Department of Veterans Affairs is finally getting the message we've been beating them over

Veterans Affairs committee  No, members are members.

Veterans Affairs committee  I only came in when the gag order was in place, and it was one of our principal concerns. It was April Fool's Day, April 1, 2005, and we were given a comprehensive briefing. We were told at that time we were not permitted to share that advice, that information, with our membershi

Veterans Affairs committee  I think that now that we have a standing committee in the House on veterans affairs, somehow this committee has to have a part to play in the ombudsman's role too. This committee can call witnesses. And if it hears through the media, or not necessarily through the media but throu

Veterans Affairs committee  From Veterans Affairs, the assistant deputy minister, Keith Hillier, who is the project manager handling the veterans ombudsman and bill of rights portfolios.

Veterans Affairs committee  I didn't hear that, but I understand it.

Veterans Affairs committee  I understood very well. I think that within any bureaucratic structure, there's hesitancy to put a form of watchdog or overseer in place, particularly one who doesn't necessarily account to someone else in the structure. That probably causes some unease. As we know in the Canadia

Veterans Affairs committee  Mr. Chairman, one of our concerns is that we've been told—I don't know if it's true, and you gentlemen can tell me otherwise—that to get Government of Canada approval for an ombudsman, it would take probably up to five years, and that's if everything works well. In that time, usi

Veterans Affairs committee  Mr. Chair, I would add to Tom's comments that all of our members are veterans or their immediate spouses. We also are tied in with a number of regimental and corps associations within the armed forces. That allows us, as Tom mentioned in his opening comments, to have serving memb

Veterans Affairs committee  To follow on Tom's comment, I would say we often hear from Veterans Affairs colleagues—and we call them “colleagues” because we've worked closely and cooperatively with them over the years—that we have the Veterans Review and Appeal Board and it can solve all the veterans' claims

Veterans Affairs committee  Not at this time, Mr. Chair. Thank you.