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Thank you, Chair.

I'd like to thank our witnesses for joining us today. Sometimes it's not easy for us to hear some of the testimonies, but to make changes, we need to. I'd like to thank you for your service.

Ms. McIlmoyle, I want to let you know that we have been hearing testimonies from mostly senior officers, so we're grateful for your participation in this testimony today.

The question I'd like to start off with is for Ms. Hughes from the Legion.

Over the last little while, whether it's been through a focus on studies of women in the military and of Veterans Affairs or just from men and women, we've heard several testimonies about the record-keeping at Veterans Affairs. Often their medical records are hard to find and difficult to transfer to health care providers, who might require them to look after the vets. We've heard testimonies from organizations that have done independent audits, such as the ombudsperson, the PBO, the Auditor General and our own committee, that say sometimes the records even within VAC are lost. They're very, very difficult to keep track of, which is very disappointing, because your medical file is so important for your care.

What do you think about creating a system that would give veterans more control over their medical records, especially when they release and they move to a different community? What are your thoughts on that?

Thank you for your answer.

You know, one of the things I noticed in the media a couple years back was that Legion numbers were going down. Has that changed? Has that trend changed and are they starting to increase?

With respect to the number of women, would you say that—

Okay. That's great.

In my questions in the previous meeting, I noted we're seeing a lot of veterans released from the military who are too disabled to serve. When they're released, they're not able to acquire the benefits they should be entitled to. Would you agree that the Canadian Armed Forces and Veterans Affairs should be using a single standard for injury assessment and that they should get the same care? We were told it was too costly and too expensive, and I'd like to get your opinion on that.

We see that a lot of military, when they leave.... They've been in a community. Maybe they've been in Petawawa and then they decide, “You know what? I like Trenton better. I want to release there.” Would you say that's because of accessing doctors there?

Okay. Thank you for your answer.

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Chair, and thank you to our guests this evening.

To those who have served, thank you very much for your service, and thank you for joining us by Zoom.

A lot of information has been shared with us today. I apologize—I know we'll have quite a few questions for you.

I'd like to start off with Ms. MacLean.

One of the questions I have for you is.... Last year, you co-authored an article published in the Frontiers in Public Health journal, entitled “Lessons Learned From Presumptive Condition Lists in Veteran Compensation Systems”. In this article, you discuss presumptive condition lists used by the U.S., the U.K., New Zealand and Australia in their departments of veterans affairs. What has stood out for us is that all these countries have presumptive condition lists, yet Veterans Affairs Canada does not.

Can you speak to your findings on this, and elaborate a bit for this committee?

Make it your own.

Okay. Here's what I'll do. I'll switch bait, and make it a bit easier for you. How's that?

If you prepared in equity, I have a few questions concerning that as well. Why don't we go down that pathway?

You talked about equity after the military and the challenges facing women once they've been released from the military. You talked about part time work and how women will become caregivers.

Who are they becoming caregivers for? Is there a link here? Is that something we should be looking at?

Okay. Thank you.

One of the numbers you threw out—not threw out. I apologize. That sounds derogatory. One of the numbers you used, and it was difficult to get in your research, was that 13% of the population is female veterans releasing from the military. Is that from the military?

Earlier on, Atlas talked about the Athena project and using 10 RCMP veterans. Do your numbers include that?

Have you included female veterans from the RCMP? Have any of your studies or research done any of that?

As a quick summary, do you see a difference in equity between officers and NCMs who have released?

Yes. I'll be brief. I concur with this motion. We're good with this.

Thank you, Chair. I'd like to focus on and to question the Atlas group.

When you're in the military, and if you're in the search and rescue area, you go as fast as your slowest person when you're trying to find someone who is lost or downed. We've spent a lot of time focusing on veterans, and when we talk about veterans I think we've been focusing a lot on the military.

You brought up the RCMP. In your conversation, you were very surprised that you had 10 female RCMP vets who are going to be a part of your Athena project, if I'm not mistaken. Is that correct?

I hope you're following my line of thinking. They are a minority of a minority, so I just don't want them to be lost in this. As a committee of veteran affairs, we're suppose to be looking after veterans of the RCMP as well.

Could you elaborate a little on their response and what kind of feedback you have had so far with them?

It's just very early stages. Is that what you're saying?