Veterans Affairs committee  I could tell you about the greatest feedback we're getting, and that's not answering your question....

Veterans Affairs committee  Okay. I'm getting closer. The greatest feedback that we are getting is that there are very, very bad feelings about the economic benefits.

Veterans Affairs committee  Yes.

Veterans Affairs committee  I think we have to take some measures now. For example, on giving away priority access beds in long-term care facilities because of normal attrition, if we don't look at that and say that in the coming years we will still need a basic minimum of beds in these facilities, those be

Veterans Affairs committee  I'll answer your two questions. The first one on SISIP is a very good question, because it brings attention to what I would call a fundamental problem with the new veterans charter, which is that it is still an insurance-based program. The new veterans charter has felt bound to

Veterans Affairs committee  That is right, if the person has not been deemed eligible for a pension.

Veterans Affairs committee  Yes, but today, you are no longer eligible for a pension according to the new Veterans Charter. This is the case only under the Pension Act.

Veterans Affairs committee  We are suggesting that we solve this shortcoming, not by giving access to all modern veterans, but at least to those who have served in a special duty area, such as Afghanistan, or to those who have obtained a medical discharge.

Veterans Affairs committee  The lump-sum payment was probably established in 2004. At that time, we had already begun to prepare the new program, which was finally presented and adopted in 2005. In 2004, when we compared the lump-sum payments to those awarded by civil courts, the department felt that the l

Veterans Affairs committee  I could almost turn to our president to answer this one, but I might just suggest off the bat that we are very aware that we must transform ourselves. We're trying to do that, but we want to do it without government support.

Veterans Affairs committee  As for your first question, the document states:3.1 General eligibility for health care programs is derived by virtue of being recognized: a) As having been granted a pension from Veterans Affairs Canada; We are talking about a pension here, not a lump sum payment. Some modern s

Veterans Affairs committee  I agree with you that the principle is well founded. We should aim to have our citizens socially engaged and contributing to society. The programs in the new veterans charter were designed to do that, with the best of intentions, as far as I can tell. I must admit that I was ther

Veterans Affairs committee  Yes, with what has happened in theatre and what has happened in reality. Again, in looking at it, we can anticipate that this modern veteran with a brain injury will be required at one time in his life to go into long-term care, probably before the age of 65 because of the after-

Veterans Affairs committee  Unless they meet very, very specific criteria here, which almost exclude them.

Veterans Affairs committee  Mr. Chairman, members of the Standing Committee on Veterans Affairs, I am very pleased to be here today. You have been briefed by Veterans Affairs Canada officials on the new veterans charter program and on the continuum of care in the context of veterans health care programs.