Veterans Affairs Committee on April 26th, 2007

[Betty Hinton, Conservative, Kamloops—Thompson—Cariboo, BC]

The Peacekeeping Centre and the Peace Building Coordinating Committee.

[Brent St. Denis, Liberal, Algoma—Manitoulin—Kapuskasing, ON]

Yes, but those are not veterans.

[Betty Hinton, Conservative, Kamloops—Thompson—Cariboo, BC]

All right.

[Brent St. Denis, Liberal, Algoma—Manitoulin—Kapuskasing, ON]

They're NGOs and the like.

[Betty Hinton, Conservative, Kamloops—Thompson—Cariboo, BC]

If you're comfy, I'm comfy.

[The Chair, Conservative, Rob Anders]

I sense, then, that the consensus of the committee would be to invite all the people on the first panel for the Tuesday, if we can get them for that day. If they can make it, great. If not, then at least they've had the invitation.

[A voice]

Send a letter.

[The Chair, Conservative, Rob Anders]

Yes, that's what I said.

Mr. Sweet.

[David Sweet, Conservative, Ancaster—Dundas—Flamborough—Westdale, ON]

There's just one other thing. Should we invite departments that are involved, departmental officials from DND, Veterans Affairs, and Heritage Canada?

[The Chair, Conservative, Rob Anders]

From what I understand, Heritage Canada does not feel as though they're directly implicated with regard to the issue at hand, whereas the other two have not been approached or talked to. Really it's the will of the committee.

[David Sweet, Conservative, Ancaster—Dundas—Flamborough—Westdale, ON]

I'll throw it out, then, that we should advise them. We should invite them, as well, to give their input.

[The Chair, Conservative, Rob Anders]

All right.

Mr. Shipley.

[Bev Shipley, Conservative, Lambton—Kent—Middlesex, ON]

How much flexibility do we have in terms of inviting? Say we put out the invitation to the departments and to the first panel, but out of the departments we get the two, and out of the panel we get two. If we set two days, we're going to have two come in for two hours and another two for two hours.

If we end up finding out that we can put them all in the one day, then let's try to do that. I just don't see the need for two hours with DND and the VAC officials.

Similarly, if it ends up that there are two or three vet organizations, in the two hours we can use five witnesses. In other committees we are on we've had six witnesses.

I don't know if that's a fair request to the staff in terms of organizing that or if that's acceptable to everyone for consideration.

[The Chair, Conservative, Rob Anders]

Just to let everybody know, Mr. St. Denis gave his apologies. He's heading off to consider a transport issue, I think.

Monsieur Perron.

[Gilles-A. Perron, Bloc, Rivière-des-Mille-Îles, QC]

Let us not forget that this bill has, I believe, two clauses. It's really just motherhood and there is nothing in it that anyone could really oppose. I think that everyone around the table would acknowledge that the only issue is the date for the National Peacekeepers' Day. I think that is the only point that we might have to discuss because I recall that when the debate was held in the House, everyone agreed on this except the day. Would it be the 1^st of August, the 23^rd of September, etc.? If one goes back to the statements made in the House, I believe that is the only point of contention one would find. The bill should take a maximum of one day. That is why I think that if we invite as many witnesses as possible they will be coming here for nothing. We just want to know what date they prefer.

[The Chair, Conservative, Rob Anders]

I guess, Monsieur Perron, it's based on the interjection of Mrs. Hinton, that if they choose to come, they probably have some interest in it.

What I sense so far, then, is that we invite the first list here, along with Veterans Affairs Canada and DND. If it turns out that we can fit it into one day, then we'll fit it into one day...hopefully, the Tuesday. Is that fair? Okay.

Monsieur Perron, I remember at the last meeting that you were interested in the issue of concurrence and what have you. I know you've spoken to the clerk with regard to this matter. I'll let you have the floor, if you wish to pursue this.

[Gilles-A. Perron, Bloc, Rivière-des-Mille-Îles, QC]

I think that the committee members are in agreement to vote on our ombudsman report as soon as possible. My goal is to use the most effective means to force the House to include this report on the list of items they will be voting on. I would like to have a discussion on how we can do this, if we want to do this, and so on. That is what I wanted to raise this morning.

[The Chair, Conservative, Rob Anders]

Okay. Do we have any discussion on that matter?

Mr. Shipley.

[Bev Shipley, Conservative, Lambton—Kent—Middlesex, ON]

I'm maybe missing something. My understanding is that process with the ombudsman is in place. The selection for that individual is likely happening. I'm not sure of the date, but maybe that's what you're trying to find out.

[Gilles-A. Perron, Bloc, Rivière-des-Mille-Îles, QC]

I'm wondering if the government will take our ombudsman report into account, an issue that was unanimously voted on in the House, and that was calmly and seriously discussed and debated. Could this end up like the Canada Veterans Charter? Do we run that risk? That is one of my concerns and one of my questions. Will the veterans affairs minister follow the recommendations in our unanimous report? If the people on the other side can confirm to me that the veterans ombudsman process will be based on—even if it is not necessarily identical to—our report, then I can live with that. If not, then I cannot live with that at all. I have some concerns. Given what happened during Easter break, I am somewhat wary. Is it a yes or is it a no? Will Mr. Harper do another Canada Veterans Charter trick? That is my concern and I am being honest enough to tell you this amongst ourselves rather than making a public statement. I am doing this with an extended hand and an open mind. We worked on this and it should at least result in something.

[The Chair, Conservative, Rob Anders]

I'm going to recognize Mr. Sweet next, but all I can say for certain is that I know the person's in the process of being hired.

Mr. Sweet.

[David Sweet, Conservative, Ancaster—Dundas—Flamborough—Westdale, ON]

Just a point of clarification. Could the clerk tell us how long the government has to respond when we submit a report for recommendation. Is it 60 days?

[The Clerk of the Committee, Mr. Alexandre Roger]

We didn't ask for a government response in the report.

[David Sweet, Conservative, Ancaster—Dundas—Flamborough—Westdale, ON]

Is that not automatic when a report is submitted?

[The Clerk]

No, it has to be decided by committee, when the committee reports to the House, whether they're going to include a government response or not.