Veterans Affairs committee  It's a political game. They want to show people that they are giving a lot by spending little money. That's politics. They say they are giving a big cake when in reality it is just a small May West. When they are making announcements, everything seems great. Not all the informa

Veterans Affairs committee  Are you asking me to add what I want? I want the amounts to be more reasonable than the $1,609 and the $1,000. Trying to get the $1,000 is like reaching for a star. So the eligibility criteria should be less strict. I suggest that the government go back to the previous system.

Veterans Affairs committee  I do not want to jump all over the minister for the step he took. I said it publicly on Radio-Canada. I even commended him for it. It is a step in the right direction but does little to solve the problem. It makes for a fine announcement, though, especially when he talks about t

Veterans Affairs committee  Based on the assessment, his disability was not even at 100%. What does it take? Should he have lost both arms and legs? The eligibility criteria are very strict to be able to get those amounts of money.

Veterans Affairs committee  People who see this in the media only see the extra $1,600 on top of the $1,000, which makes $2,600. And they think that's a great start. But who is going to get that? Not many would be entitled; they certainly would not fill this room.

Veterans Affairs committee  Do you think I did not read Bill C-55? Are you saying I said something else? It is $1,609. In order for a veteran to be entitled to that money, he has to be 100% disabled, in other words, without an arm or a leg. A veteran who is 50% disabled will get only half of that amount. An

Veterans Affairs committee  I have just five minutes to say what I have to say.

Veterans Affairs committee  This is my time, that's enough. You made me lose my train of thought. Can I continue? Overall, the government will not have to pay out very much more. The $40,000 minimum is a form of income insurance and has nothing to do with Afghanistan. Someone returning from Afghanistan ma

Veterans Affairs committee  I still have a minute. I said what I had to say. I said it very quickly, but I covered the important points. The minister announced three things. He announced a minimum, which has nothing to do with this. Forty thousand dollars sure sounds good! It is simply to confuse people. T

Veterans Affairs committee  My name is Elphège Renaud. I am the president of the Association du Royal 22e Régiment. I know that the government members may not like what I have to say, but I believe the $40,000 minimum announced by the minister is a form of income replacement that has nothing to do with war

Veterans Affairs committee  I would agree with any formula that would protect the veteran so that their financial security would be assured for life, in connection with the injuries they suffered. If you believe that the solution is a lump sum payment, you will have to prove it to me. However, as I have sta

Veterans Affairs committee  Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. I would also like to thank the members of the committee for listening to us.

Veterans Affairs committee  There were none. Well, in fact there were a few. It is normal; it is only human. Some people found that they never received the amount they wanted, for example, if they were expecting an increase of 10% or 15% and they were offered 5%. That is only human. It was easy to solve. We

Veterans Affairs committee  The current system is unthinkable.

Veterans Affairs committee  When I say that there could be a two-pronged approach to payments, I mean that there could be a lump sum payment that would be the final one. It could be in the amount of $50,000, or something like that, that would be used as a downpayment on a property, as start-up funds for a s