Veterans Affairs committee  Thank you very much. First of all, I want to compliment Guy on the chart he's produced. We saw it for the first time last evening, and I certainly encourage the committee to take a look at that. Mr. Opitz, I think one of your comments, which I am quite attracted to, is that the

Veterans Affairs committee  I'm doing better, Mr. Chair.

Veterans Affairs committee  Could I speak to that for a second, Mr. Chair?

Veterans Affairs committee  Actually, I can go back to 2009. The New Veterans Charter Advisory Group was set up by this government in 2007. One of the more fundamental priorities that we identified was eliminating the SISIP program as part of VAC's income replacement culture. Just quickly, Mr. Chair, when

Veterans Affairs committee  I wouldn't disagree with that, but I also think we're at a particular juncture at which it's time to continue the momentum that we've just built up. There are many more points, but I've identified six points this morning that have to be addressed in order to complete this current

Veterans Affairs committee  I appreciate that. I would just share our pain in the veterans' community. In 2006 the Veterans Charter was enacted and we were promised, as a basic veterans stakeholders' group, that this was a living charter and that each year there would be a total review, as we're doing this

Veterans Affairs committee  The first comment I have regarding these new announcements is that I do give the minister credit for at least proactively involving himself in the staffing question. One of the concerns we have had, Mr. Chairman, is that as a veterans community we have been told over the last nu

Veterans Affairs committee  I think to be fair, Mr. Chair, through you to Mr. Valeriote, what is now being put on the table by the deputy minister, Mr. Natynczyk, is a new modus operandi with regard to the establishment of medical and disability findings. As you may know, our understanding is that the VAC c

Veterans Affairs committee  The conclusion that we really wanted to talk to you about is that there is work to be done. There is a lot to be done in the charter. There are inequities in the charter. I think we all agree.

Veterans Affairs committee  We'd like to urge this committee to actually obtain a formal commitment from the minister that he will look at these changes in the timeframe of the future that he can define, or that this committee can define, as a follow-up to the passage of this bill.

Veterans Affairs committee  Yes, but I think it's important—

Veterans Affairs committee  Thank you. There's an important consideration when we're looking at the family caregiver relief benefit. Our belief is that the government is reinventing the wheel and that in the Pension Act we effectively have had an attendance allowance provision for many decades. The attenda

Veterans Affairs committee  What my conclusion would have been.... I thought I'd suggest it, Mr. Chair, if you'd allow me to get to that conclusion.

Veterans Affairs committee  Let me just suggest that we would urge you strongly as a committee to obtain a commitment from the minister on the future course of action.

Veterans Affairs committee  Let me be very clear, Mr. Chair. In my remarks, I indicated that there are positive elements to these recommendations and in the bill.