Veterans Affairs committee  Absolutely. I don't need to give you a long answer. On caregivers and family members, I would just differentiate very slightly. You can have a family member who isn't the caregiver or isn't in receipt of caregiver recognition. I believe family members, whether they're caregivers

Veterans Affairs committee  I have had some experience with the veteran and family well-being fund since it was created, having collaborated with some of the organizations that have actually made applications. Some have been successful—therefore, getting funding—and some have been unsuccessful in getting fu

Veterans Affairs committee  Yes. Those individuals, whether they're parents, spouses or kids, who've lost a loved one due to their military service—whether it's directly due to their military service, to a condition that developed such that they pass or to suicide—are probably some of the most affected indi

Veterans Affairs committee  Given the Australian model is something that I raised, I would say that the only barrier to doing that would be the willingness to do it. If you have the will, I believe it is within the power of the government—within the power of the department—to do that.

Veterans Affairs committee  Who is going?

Veterans Affairs committee  I will make three quick points. One thing that's in the budget is mental health treatment while awaiting care. To me, that is an admission of failure. If we cannot get people access to mental health care in a timely fashion, what more processes are we going to put in place to get

Veterans Affairs committee  Thanks very much, Mr. Chair. In the end, I think we have to be clear on what this benefit is about. Is it a token, a $1,000 token, to somebody who is having to carry on with the care and support of the veteran? Is it to really compensate them for the time, the difficulty, the lo

Veterans Affairs committee  I certainly will. The Australian situation is one that we would welcome, whereby veterans' family members can get access to care through Veterans Affairs in their own right, without having to rely on the provincial system, which often has a very lengthy wait time and doesn't hav

Veterans Affairs committee  Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, members of this committee, and fellow panel members, good afternoon. I'd like to thank you for the invitation to appear today. Before I get into the substance of deliberations, I'll give a brief background of myself. I am a veteran of 41 years'