Evidence of meeting #22 for National Defence in the 39th Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was families.
A recording is available from Parliament.
5:15 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Rick Casson
Is there anybody else? Thank you.
Mr. Cannis, you have five minutes, and then we'll go over to Mr. Harris to finish up.
5:15 p.m.
Liberal
John Cannis Liberal Scarborough Centre, ON
Great. Thank you.
First of all, thank you for your presentation, and welcome to our committee.
I want to follow along the lines of my colleague Claude Bachand on the topics of budgeting and expenses, because some of the statements you made were very constructive--that it is time to do more, that things that were once manageable are now not manageable, that family members deserve to be served and have earned the right to receive exceptional service.
Let me assure you that we all agree with that. Nobody is disagreeing with that. If anything, this committee is undertaking to see how we can address some of the things we've heard. When we ask some of the questions, let me assure you that at least on my part--I'm sure on the part of everybody--it's all well-intended. It might be a bit tough at times and difficult for you to answer, but we'd like you to give us your blunt opinion. I'm going to be very blunt with what I am about to say.
It all boils down to money, dear friends. We heard just last week from former military service people who were not treated properly, where certain people made decisions that, no, they were okay. We also heard from the service providers. It was a wonderful story, I will tell you. But then last week I kind of was shocked, if I may say. As I said, I think it boils down to money.
I have a question. Do the military family resource centres receive a budget, per se, from the overall...? We have youth service centres and different types of service centres in my city of Toronto to address specific needs--youth, seniors, people who have come out of difficult relationships. They get funded by various departments, whether they be municipal, provincial, or federal.
Do the military family resource centres receive specific targeted funding for the service they provide, or is it just through fundraising?
5:20 p.m.
Director, Military Family Services
For my office, it's targeted funding. So for those service categories that I provided to the committee, that's what I'm funding them to provide. There are a series of outcome measures that are associated with those.
5:20 p.m.
Director, Military Family Services
It comes from the Department of National Defence, Canadian Forces C108. That's my responsibility.
5:20 p.m.
Liberal
John Cannis Liberal Scarborough Centre, ON
Great; there is a specific amount allotted for your services.
5:20 p.m.
Liberal
John Cannis Liberal Scarborough Centre, ON
Excellent. I'm pleased to hear that.
So the message, if I understand it correctly, for all of us to understand is that as much as these resources are there, we're strained. Can I use that word?
5:20 p.m.
Director, Military Family Services
I think what we're starting to see across the country are some very dedicated people who have been working very hard for a really long time. I think we've counted on these staff members and other volunteers working very hard for a very long time. This operational tempo is hard on families, but I would suggest it's hard on staff as well.
5:20 p.m.
Director, Military Family Services
So when I'm being tasked to transform the program in the next three months or so, I believe that's the full range of what they want me to look at. They want me to take care of it.
5:20 p.m.
Liberal
John Cannis Liberal Scarborough Centre, ON
No question, you've been very straightforward with me. What I'm really driving at is that we do need the helicopters; we do need the hardware, the software, and so on. But sometimes, in my view, if the helicopter is there, unless the individual who is to operate it is properly ready, mentally, physically, and so on, really that piece of hardware doesn't do us any good. So I'm just driving in the direction of trying to find a balance to address the needs.
5:20 p.m.
Director, Military Family Services
I believe what you're saying is exactly being echoed by the CF leadership currently. They know and have been very clear in their direction to me: we need to take care of—
5:20 p.m.
Liberal
John Cannis Liberal Scarborough Centre, ON
Let me tell you something that hurts me and upsets me personally, as an individual, and I'd like your comments on it or how we can address it.
We are a prosperous nation, a nation that has done its duty internationally and domestically. We are blessed to find ourselves in surpluses and balanced budgets, but it upsets me as the son of a veteran when I see undertakings in various communities, in my community specifically, to raise money.
I will give you two examples of that: not just for our military, but for our athletes to go and represent Canada at the Olympics. I find that very upsetting when I see other nations that are literally bankrupt compared to us, and none of that unfolds.
I find it very disappointing that we have to conduct fundraising to support our families. Why?
Again, I'm putting this on the table constructively, because it hurts me, it upsets me, it embarrasses me as a member of Parliament as well. I find it difficult to answer these questions that I'm being asked when I find myself in my riding: “Why are we raising moneys for the families; why don't you guys take care of them?”
I know that back in 1994-95, even after program review, we addressed the payroll problems that were there, and slowly, as we came about doing that, we started to improve housing and so on. But what can we do to address this and to show the world out there that we ask our people to sign up and we are compensating them properly? Can you elaborate on that?
5:20 p.m.
Director, Military Family Services
I think the funds being raised by the military family services program are to augment programs and services for families. I don't think you'll get a lot of disagreement, certainly from the panel here, that it's time to transform those programs and services and to bolster them. By the same token, this isn't a financial question for families.
Thank you.
5:20 p.m.
Conservative
5:25 p.m.
Conservative
Dick Harris Conservative Cariboo—Prince George, BC
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Can I start by complimenting you on your presentation? It was very informative. Apart from that, I can hear the dedication and the commitment to what you're doing just in how you presented that. Certainly it's such a vital role that you play.
I'm going to end up talking about budgets, because I'm concerned about that as well. I have an organizational chart here. I just want to make sure I have it right.
Ms. Thompson, you're employed by DND as the director of military family services.
You other ladies are executive directors of the base military family resource centres, and the board of directors within your communities appoint you.
So do you answer to them as well as...?
5:25 p.m.
Executive Director, Military Family Resource Centre, Halifax and Region
We don't answer to her.
5:25 p.m.
Voices
Oh, oh!
5:25 p.m.
Conservative
Dick Harris Conservative Cariboo—Prince George, BC
Okay, so it's the board of directors that oversees what you do. If you have concerns or you need more money or you want to expand your work, you go to the board of directors to seek approval. Is that correct?
5:25 p.m.
Executive Director, Military Family Resource Centre, Halifax and Region
It's usually a need that's recognized by sometimes the chain of command. They come to us and say, “I really need day care, because I'm losing people left, right, and centre.” Then we go out and raise the funds to provide that service to them.
5:25 p.m.
Conservative
Dick Harris Conservative Cariboo—Prince George, BC
But the board of directors, of course with your input as the executive directors, course, control the operation at the local base level. Is that correct?
5:25 p.m.
Conservative
Dick Harris Conservative Cariboo—Prince George, BC
Now I want to talk about funding.
Ms. Sabourin, you mentioned that your budget was $2.2 million for your base. I didn't understand what you meant; when we were talking about budget shortfalls, you said $2.2 million, and then you mentioned $923,000.
What's the relationship between those two numbers?