Thank you, Chair.
Thanks, everyone, for appearing before us.
Mr. Doiron, I'm going to speak directly to you.
It's nice for certain members to bring forward the successes, or partial successes or efforts on behalf of VAC, but I have to highlight the failures, sir, just so you know.
We've had $1.13 billion in cuts retracted from Veterans Affairs that must have put some pressure on Veterans Affairs Canada in providing the services it needs. We closed nine Veterans Affairs offices, and there's been a huge impact and a huge response by the Canadian public, particularly veterans. We know from the Auditor General's report that over 15,000 applied for those benefits and we know that 24% were denied, and of that about a third appealed.
I think about how difficult it is for somebody to come out from under the cloud or the shadow of mental illness and come forward and actually seek help. Of those who appealed, 65% were successful. I think about the ones who gave up, who didn't appeal. Not just as an MP but as a person, I automatically think, my God, there must be a culture of denial at the veterans appeal board, at any level there, and not a culture of “give these people the benefit of the doubt”, those who were prepared to and do put their lives on the line and who suffer the ultimate liability.
I'm concerned, Mr. Doiron, that we are not responding.
Last year we presented a report—and Mr. Hayes was on the committee—to the then Minister of Veterans Affairs who accepted everything but virtually did nothing.
My first question is this. You said 50% of the 168 who died by suicide were not self-identified. Can you tell me if any of the 50% who were not in treatment were any of the ones who were denied treatment but had applied? Before you answer you could give some thought to this, Mr. Doiron. It says the Auditor General recommended VAC “work with the Veterans Review and Appeal Board to identify whether reasons for successful reviews...indicate a need to modify the application process.”
I'd like to hear from you about that and I want to know what's happening now, not what you will do, because we've been hearing a lot of “wills” but not a “now”.
You can go first, Brigadier General.