Thank you very much, committee members, for inviting the National Association of Federal Retirees to speak today.
I would like to begin by recognizing that my colleagues and I are joining you from Ottawa, the traditional unceded territory of the Algonquin Anishinaabeg people, who have lived on this land since time immemorial.
The National Association of Federal Retirees is the largest national advocacy organization for active and retired members of the Public Service of Canada, the Canadian Forces, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and the federal judiciary, as well as their spouses and survivors.
With 170,000 members, including more than 60,000 veterans and their families, the association has been committed to improving the financial security, health and well-being of our members and all Canadians for over 60 years.
Federal Retirees is also proud to co-chair the Women Veterans Research and Engagement Network, or WREN. WREN's mission is to work collaboratively to ensure equitable lifetime outcomes for all veterans.
I am here with the association's CEO, Mr. Anthony Pizzino, and our staff director of advocacy, Sayward Montague. I will share my time with Mr. Pizzino, and we would all be pleased to respond to the questions the committee members may have at the end of the meeting.
Our remarks today are supplemented by a written brief, and our association stands by to participate in other areas identified for study by this committee.
I will turn to Anthony.