Veterans Affairs committee  We are looking at that entrepreneurial space as part of our analysis, but we don't know what tools.... We're still trying to figure out if there are, in fact, gaps. We have some of the anecdotal.... In the consultations, we heard some of the same things. There were statements made about barriers or frictions in the entrepreneurial space.

Veterans Affairs committee  It was mentioned that we have the veterans employment unit within Veterans Affairs Canada, and they have an existing network of employers that are actively engaged with them, involved in discussions and participate in our social media, including the “Hire a Veteran” LinkedIn group.

Veterans Affairs committee  Thank you, Mr. Chair. Yes. We try to use as many channels as possible. For instance, as someone is going through the transition process, it's not just an electronic or digital process. There's an actual physical series of touch points with the veteran, both while they're serving and immediately after they are serving, where they go through interviews within the CAF and with VAC that provide and align them with the services and supports they need, including those career transition supports.

Veterans Affairs committee  One of the findings that we found through the consultations is that there are some challenges with getting into it. I wouldn't say there are barriers, but there are challenges and friction to getting into the public service. One of them is the complexity of the application process.

Veterans Affairs committee  Thank you, Mr. Chair. I was part of that consultation process. It was a very robust discussion involving a number of employers and third party organizations that I've mentioned and that we've been talking to. Some of the key take-aways were with regard to the communication. Call it the ability of veterans to communicate what they are bringing to the table or the value proposition of their skills and experience, and the employers' ability to understand what that value proposition is.

Veterans Affairs committee  It's a great question. There are a couple of things that we have done through the consultation. First, we have used a public forum that we have called “Let's Talk Veterans”, which had very significant uptake. We had over 1,000 responses from across the veteran community—so, it's statistically relevant—that identified this.

Veterans Affairs committee  Absolutely.

Veterans Affairs committee  I would also add that the intent with the strategy is that it's going to have an integral performance measurement and follow-up mechanism so that we can do continuous improvement. As we develop this and do the performance metrics to watch those populations you mentioned, the intent would be to introduce measures as part of the strategy to specifically address those issues.

Veterans Affairs committee  Within the ecosystem in veterans employment, there are a number of governmental and non-governmental organizations and for-profit enterprises. One of the ones specific to entrepreneurship is a non-profit organization called the Prince's Charities. We maintain linkages and communication with that organization, which provides a number of education and awareness programs around entrepreneurship specifically targeting veterans.

Veterans Affairs committee  As Steven just alluded to, we are in the midst of formulating the strategies. It's in the very early stages. We are really analyzing the problem. As for things that we do know, we have to do things to improve the public service hiring mechanisms, the processes, with the outcome really being more veterans in the public service.

Veterans Affairs committee  Yes. It's an interesting number, and we don't have the exact demographic breakdown because it would be variable. You're looking at a combination of people who have medical conditions that preclude them from going into the workforce and some who are truly retired, as you mentioned.