National Defence Committee on April 1st, 2014

[Élaine Michaud, NDP, Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier, QC]

To wrap up, can you tell me what level of bilingualism is required of the public servants?

[Col Gerry Blais]

Once again, that depends on the region. If you are in Ottawa, for example, the requirement is higher, but if you are in Wainwright, Alberta—

[Élaine Michaud, NDP, Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier, QC]

Give me an example for Wainwright, because that is a concern of mine.

[Col Gerry Blais]

Let me make a note of your question and provide you with an answer later, because I don't have the information with me.

[Élaine Michaud, NDP, Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier, QC]

I still think that the level required is quite important for service delivery. Unfortunately, I was able to see that there is a difference between what a level means and what happens in practical terms. Levels “B”, “C”, “D”, or whatever, are not necessarily as efficient as we would like them to be. I would really like you to provide us with those details.

[Col Gerry Blais]

We can do that.

[Élaine Michaud, NDP, Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier, QC]

Do I still have time, Mr. Chair?

[The Chair, Conservative, Peter Kent]

Yes.

[Élaine Michaud, NDP, Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier, QC]

Are your volunteers specifically trained on issues that women might typically encounter? Let me explain. When women suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder after a deployment, it is not always because of the tough combat situations they have experienced. There are also cases of sexual abuse, which are specific to women. Are volunteers made aware of that issue to help them direct women who may be suffering from stress of that kind to the most appropriate services?

[The Chair, Conservative, Peter Kent]

A short response, please.

[Col Gerry Blais]

Absolutely. We make sure that employees are able to direct individuals to the services they need.

[The Chair, Conservative, Peter Kent]

Thank you, Colonel.

Mr. Opitz, you have five minutes.

[Ted Opitz, Conservative, Etobicoke Centre, ON]

Thank you, Mr. Chair, and through you, Colonel, thank you for coming again. It's good to see you.

Regarding the last question, cutting to chase, if a service member requires a particular service, whether it is in a medical field or whether it is in a particular language, is it fair to say that the CF bends over backwards to make sure that the member is accommodated and gets exactly what they need?

[Col Gerry Blais]

Absolutely. We go so far that if an individual cannot obtain the health services they need.... We had a case fairly recently where somebody in New Brunswick could not find a mental health practitioner who spoke French. We had them posted to Quebec City to ensure that they could get that service in their mother tongue.

[Ted Opitz, Conservative, Etobicoke Centre, ON]

On guidance on media, I know as a former CO myself, there are admin days once a year in all units and you get not only media guidance, you get the fire briefings, the IT briefings, all those briefings. Would it be fair to say that the media briefing consists of left and right of arc for a soldier. They can talk to media. There's no issue with that, but they speak on the things they have expertise in. They're not to speculate on things they have no expertise in.

[Col Gerry Blais]

That's exactly what it is. As you say, it is a component during briefings. There are a number of forums on the Canadian Forces harassment policy, on things of that nature. There are a number of policies, and we go over all of them. This one is just to heighten interest.

[Ted Opitz, Conservative, Etobicoke Centre, ON]

I agree with you on the process for the program, that therapeutic aspect of being able to talk to peers is very important. Now that I look at what you've written and the role of families, I think my father turned me into his own therapy kid as I was growing up because he would always tell me about these stories and of course interact with his comrades at the Polish Combatants' Association when he was a member. When I was growing up I saw the value of this kind of interaction, especially to allied soldiers who never formally had a lot of these programs back in the forties, fifties, sixties, and seventies. We've come miles in that respect, I think.

On the job front, I know you mentioned the Canada Company. I had a lot of involvement in the past with Colonel Goldring and others, but of course there's Helmets to Hardhats, Treble Victor Group. A myriad of different organizations help soldiers transition but also find gainful and meaningful employment. Would you agree with that?

[Col Gerry Blais]

Absolutely. I'm very proud to say that we are harnessing all those efforts under one umbrella: the Canada Company computer software, if you will, where the program is. It's a password-protected program for all members so we can develop a statistical database as to how well we're doing. All the individual programs, such as Helmets to Hardhats.... We've got others where we have franchise opportunities, etc. They're all under that one program so when the individual seeks employment, everything is located in one area so they don't have to go running around to find a job.

[Ted Opitz, Conservative, Etobicoke Centre, ON]

Canada Company, just for definition, is made up of Canada's captains of industry, their motto being “Many Ways to Serve”. They certainly do that.

What would you say to critics of the VAC program? As you said, there's a lot of interaction between you and VAC. You do it, guide soldiers both in and out as to what benefits they can receive. A lot of critics say there are deficiencies in that. Would you say that before a soldier leaves or a veteran comes in for treatment, they get good guidance and advice on accessing VAC programs?

[Col Gerry Blais]

Very much so. As I say, Veterans Affairs is now collocated in all the integrated personnel support centres so as soon as we have notice that a medical release is about to happen, six months prior to that the individual sits with Veterans Affairs, there's a transition interview, and a transition plan is prepared to ensure that between the Canadian Forces case manager and the Veterans Affairs case manager everything is handed over so the full knowledge base is there.

[Ted Opitz, Conservative, Etobicoke Centre, ON]

What would you estimate the satisfaction rate is for people becoming VAC clients?

[Col Gerry Blais]

The satisfaction rate—

[Ted Opitz, Conservative, Etobicoke Centre, ON]

When they interact with VAC, and the process begins.

[Col Gerry Blais]

I wouldn't be able to answer that one. That would have to be Veterans Affairs.

[Ted Opitz, Conservative, Etobicoke Centre, ON]

Okay.