Veterans Affairs committee  That is a good question, Mr. Chair. We support the veterans throughout their process, right up to when they are recruited for the occupation they have chosen. We know what union they are affiliated with and we know the name of the company they are working for. Yes, we always follow up with them.

Veterans Affairs committee  Right. I'm going to speak in French. We offer the same support for our veterans' spouses and dependants. There is no difference, no discrimination. We use exactly the same process as for the veterans. I'm glad you asked the question. The spouses and their children follow the veterans from one end of Canada to another, as very often happens.

Veterans Affairs committee  I would like to add one last thing, if I may. Our organization, Helmets to Hardhats, also helps our veterans experiencing homelessness. We help them find a job, provided they want one. A veteran is a veteran 365 days a year, not just on November 11.

Veterans Affairs committee  Thank you very much for that question. We currently have just over 20 Afghan interpreters registered in our program. As Mr. Bury said earlier, the local 27 carpenters in Toronto are encouraging and engaging these Afghans. Why is it to be expected that we would work with them? We must not forget that in Afghanistan, where Mr.

Veterans Affairs committee  I hope so.

Veterans Affairs committee  Mr. Chair, I don't have those figures, so I don't know. I can't say, and I don't want to lie, so I can maybe find the answer, but right now, madame, I can't.

Veterans Affairs committee  It comes from Canadian Forces bases and garrisons. It's from the transition group and from the base personnel service officer. They send us the invitation as a third party to speak about whatever program they have, and the veterans know that we are a tool in their tool box.

Veterans Affairs committee  Mr. Chair, they have a lot more representatives, not only H2H. There are groups all over the place.

Veterans Affairs committee  Yes, definitely. We speak with everybody who registers with us. The reason is that I'm an old-fashioned guy, so I like to speak with people. After that, we can leave and say, “Okay, we're on the same track.” We go from there, and the work starts. We send the file all over the place in the places where the member, the veteran, wants to go.

Veterans Affairs committee  Thank you, Ms. Michaud. Yes, in the public service, where applicants are equally qualified, the service member will have priority. That is not the case in the private sector. So we would like veterans to be recognized outside the public service as an underrepresented group in the same way as women, whom we hope to see in the construction industry, and as indigenous people and visible and other minorities, to encourage them to apply for jobs.

Veterans Affairs committee  There is one point I would like to add, briefly. I want to thank Veterans Affairs Canada for the funding it has granted us for offering construction site safety training. As you know, everyone who goes onto a construction site must have received training on occupational health and safety.

Veterans Affairs committee  What we have at present, thanks to the Veteran and Family Well-Being Fund, is ideal. In fact, I don't want to pat ourselves on the back, but it is Helmets to Hardhats that approached Veterans Affairs Canada in 2014 to have a fund like the one in the United States created. The department listened to us, and we now have this fund and it is working well.

Veterans Affairs committee  If I had been able to finish my speech, I would have answered some questions. We visit military bases and we make sure that people know about the Helmets to Hardhats program. People are then able to register free of charge. We explain the program and what we can do to help them in their new career.

Veterans Affairs committee  Yes, we are. We understand. We know.

Veterans Affairs committee  Yes, definitely. Not everyone uses it, but we know that this allowance is very widely used. We ourselves encourage veterans to take advantage of this allowance when they need it and they meet the requirements, like having a minimum of six years' service.