Veterans Affairs committee  First of all, you're making it political in the sense that you have a majority. This is just a dog-and-pony show at the end of the day.

Veterans Affairs committee  Do it. Skip the crap. Let's do it. You say, well, they're doing this, they're doing that.

Veterans Affairs committee  I think being diagnosed and attributing it to service is essential. If we have incidents where one guy loses his legs, there's a traumatic incident with 12 guys involved, and three years later the guy who bore witness to all that comes forward, it's attributable. You know he was

Veterans Affairs committee  Thank you. Good evening. My name is Michael Blais. I'm the president and founder of the Canadian Veterans Advocacy. Thank you for inviting me to attend committee tonight to speak to Bill C-59 and the creation of new programs designed to improve the quality of life for disabled v

Veterans Affairs committee  I don't know. I think people are deliberately trying to confuse the issue. I read it and there were no problems. Everyone I've spoken to when it was clearly defined that this was not a statutory holiday and that it was about equality, including that young fellow who's manning the

Veterans Affairs committee  I can honestly say that I did not hear what he said when he was speaking there and making those references. When it was presented to me, it was clearly defined as a legal holiday. There was no discussion—

Veterans Affairs committee  No, this was when—we're talking about consultation—when he spoke to me.

Veterans Affairs committee  I think we were in the process at that time.

Veterans Affairs committee  We had prior discussions too, but the bill hadn't been brought forward so I didn't know what he was doing. Once the bill was brought forward, I read it. He sent it to me. He explained that it's a legal holiday. There were no vagarities—

Veterans Affairs committee  —on our consultation. This is important.

Veterans Affairs committee  Okay, but my point is—

Veterans Affairs committee  Sure. Let me finish.

Veterans Affairs committee  Great.

Veterans Affairs committee  I think it's semantics. It's clear. I've read what has been provided. The definition of “legal” is not obscure. It's not unrealistic. It is what it is. What's happening here is fearmongering. We're scared our kids are not going to come, that they are going to go to the mall. We'r

Veterans Affairs committee  Good morning. My name is Michael Blais and I'm the president and founder of the Canadian Veterans Advocacy. Thank you for inviting me to Ottawa to speak to Bill C-597 and the sacred obligation that I believe this legislation represents. I welcome the opportunity and encourage