For federal retirees, it really boils down to three distinct areas. One of them is improved and more frequent and transparent reporting, including by having sex disaggregated and intersectional data on claims, the number of denied claims and the backlog by Veterans Affairs Canada.
We don't know what we don't measure, and there are some things we're just not measuring or that we we're not getting transparent data on. Again, that is something that committee members have commented on during the course of this study.
We're also noting the need for a systemic review to identify where and for whom the most significant barriers are to equitable treatment. The deputy veterans ombudsman mentioned that francophone women wait the longest. That's certainly an area with which to start.
Defined and accountable goals need to address those areas at Veterans Affairs. Our position is that the means to address those should include an objective of what a fair and equitable service delivery means to veterans, and to the department in the delivery of that service.
For us, it's also tailored support for women veterans. There are a number of things that we have mentioned in there that would support representation and the ability to get some scrutiny of the issues they are reporting and the places they are having difficulty.
Finally, we need to review the need for an office of equity within Veterans Affairs and how the department approaches that. We've mentioned some other pieces on reporting and connecting with stakeholders, and drawing better coordination between the Department of National Defence, the Canadian Armed Forces and Veterans Affairs in terms of research. Some of the investments that Prime Minister Trudeau suggested in the mandate letter for the defence minister would be helpful here.
Finally, it's making sure that decision-makers at VAC have access to the best available evidence to support those claims where inequities are happening.