Veterans Affairs committee  Yes, Mr. Chair. In fact, I have heard all of this before in one form or another. One thing with respect to the Office of the Veterans Ombudsman that I'm trying to preserve is our objectivity and our impartiality. I do not want to get drawn into the discussion of the specifics. Th

Veterans Affairs committee  Mr. Chair, with all due respect, I really haven't spent too much time looking at alternative models. What I can say is that in my experiences, there have been attempts to try to influence the activities of the office, but I have, in my two and a half years, passed; I have exercis

Veterans Affairs committee  Mr. Chair, no. I can say that categorically. I think the honourable member is referring to a round table that was conducted some months ago during the proroguing of Parliament. It was my decision. I do not enter into events such as this. I'm free for any member of Parliament to d

Veterans Affairs committee  I'm sorry...?

Veterans Affairs committee  Mr. Chair, we endeavour to. I must say that we have been overwhelmed by the amount of administration—

Veterans Affairs committee  Mr. Chair and honourable members, thank you for affording me the opportunity to appear before you once again. As I understand it, you have asked me back to comment on the new Veterans Charter. You're probably aware that, since January, I have travelled coast to coast with my te

Veterans Affairs committee  Mr. Chair, I'll just clarify that again. It's really a strategic study of the situation, with a series of recommendations on what the department could do as they move forward in planning to address the situation of homelessness. I have read that particular strategic study.

Veterans Affairs committee  There are two different questions there, Mr. Chair. Did it give us any ideas? No. I can say with the utmost confidence that the people I have right now, who have studied the Australian, American, and British approaches, are ahead of the power curve on that. But it does contain

Veterans Affairs committee  No, sir. As of the close of business on the 31st.... We're in the process now of finishing a draft, and it will be submitted in the future. It reports on the period up to the end of the fiscal year.

Veterans Affairs committee  It's going to be at a bit higher level than pamphlets and posters. We're still in the process of putting it together.

Veterans Affairs committee  Mr. Chair, I think that about sums it up. What's lacking right now is leadership and direction from the top. There are initiatives going on across the country in all sorts of areas. I used the story about the Harley-Davidson motorcycles. But what is missing is clear commander's g

Veterans Affairs committee  I can say that I've met with about two dozen--20 or so. In terms of homeless veterans who we were asked to help, there were two we actually referred to the department. So in terms of just meeting and speaking with them, the number is much greater than the number of people who act

Veterans Affairs committee  Mr. Chair, we are in very early stages here, and despite the recent public controversy that's arisen over the homelessness issue, this is really the first time we've ever cut our teeth on anything that's anywhere near to controversial. I'm not deterred by this. I don't take it pe

Veterans Affairs committee  As we drew attention to the issue, an individual within the department tasked with putting together this study, along with one of my staff who had been in the lead in our liaison with people in the United States and the United Kingdom, provided some advice based on their findings

Veterans Affairs committee  I have a document on the Westminster system, a brief that was provided me by the Privy Council Office that describes it. I would be happy to share this with the committee in the future. It basically describes the parliamentary system, the parliamentary privileges, the relationshi