Hon. David Richards: I’ll answer very quickly. I’m glad for the Auditor General’s report. We have been saying the same thing since I went into Veterans Affairs five years ago. The problems of wait times can kill a veteran in one way or another. The problems of homelessness and the dependence on drugs are also real.

I think there should be programs in every province to alleviate wait times. Also, I think there should be occupational training and psychiatric availability long before they leave the service. Our Canadian public should be aware of this. If we do not think our men and women in uniform are important, try doing without them.

Senator, you mentioned our veterans in the First and Second World Wars. I, as a young boy, used to see the First World War veterans drinking themselves to death on the banks of my river. They had no one except us kids of eight and nine who were their friends. We used to pick up their hats, get them to their feet and try to take them home.

I wrote a poem about that a long time ago called For Such Men Who Fought in Battles when I described how our country had neglected them. I hope we don’t fall into the same morass.

I think the Auditor General’s report on the disinterest of our government is not disheartening if our government finally takes it to heart. I’ll leave it at that, senator.