Veterans Affairs committee  First of all, we should understand that most new businesses fail at a higher percentage than franchise businesses do in Canada. That's because the tried-and-true model of the marketing, the advertising campaign and the discipline in how the business is run is already written up for the person who's going into the business.

Veterans Affairs committee  You have a remarkable resource out there. There are people who have served in the military who I think would be glad to mentor a new business entrant simply because of their relationship with the military. You have the same thing happening with other things, like law enforcement.

Veterans Affairs committee  Absolutely. The weather in the Vancouver area right now is about 14°C. There was sun this morning. It's a bit cloudy this afternoon and quite pleasant.

Veterans Affairs committee  I am presently in a building called Honour House in New Westminster, British Columbia, which has given 19,000 free bed nights to veterans, service people and first responders coming to Vancouver to get treatment for PTSD, any medical appointment or anything their family needs. It is a very beautiful home, and it is a place of safety and security for those folks coming to Vancouver.

Veterans Affairs committee  My name is Rich Coleman. I am a businessman. I was in the naval reserves in my youth, and the RCMP after that. I started a number of successful businesses. I went into public life in 1996 for 24 and a half years. I am the former deputy premier of the Province of British Columbia.