Evidence of meeting #18 for Veterans Affairs in the 39th Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was veterans.
A recording is available from Parliament.
5 p.m.
Conservative
Bev Shipley Conservative Lambton—Kent—Middlesex, ON
Okay.
You meet in Legions, you say. Do the Legions know about these programs?
5 p.m.
President, National Aboriginal Veterans Association
They probably do. Their service officer probably does.
5 p.m.
Conservative
Bev Shipley Conservative Lambton—Kent—Middlesex, ON
Do you have a good, strong relationship, then, with the Legions in terms of working with those service providers?
5 p.m.
President, National Aboriginal Veterans Association
I'm a member of the Legion, but I don't.... You know, I have other things to do.
What I'm trying to get at is why doesn't DVA talk to us as a group and try to tell us what is available--as you're saying--to our families or our veterans?
5 p.m.
Conservative
Bev Shipley Conservative Lambton—Kent—Middlesex, ON
I guess it's just sort of the other way around, if you know about it. Maybe that initiative has to be taken to them for anyone--not just your organization--to ask them about the services they can provide.
5 p.m.
President, National Aboriginal Veterans Association
That's right. I would like the information to flow out to me, because I'd put it in the newsletter. Anything that comes out that veterans need goes into the newsletter. Something like that goes to all the friendship centres across Canada. The key contacts for us are the friendship centres, the Métis locals, and the first nations band offices.
5 p.m.
Conservative
Bev Shipley Conservative Lambton—Kent—Middlesex, ON
Just so I understand then, I'm not sure what you're looking for in terms of--since we've gotten into the discussion of it--this particular officer or this particular program that will help you understand the services and benefits that can be provided. Is it that we need to feed you or that you need the information numbers so you can put them in your brochures?
5 p.m.
President, National Aboriginal Veterans Association
No, I want them to contact me. The thing is that I believe it's their job to make sure all the veterans groups know about these programs. As soon as I know, that will be passed on to my membership.
5 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Rob Anders
I like showing the clock, because that way there's nothing arbitrary. They know they're over time with their questions.
Now we're going to the New Democratic Party, and Mr. Stoffer, for five minutes.
5 p.m.
NDP
Peter Stoffer NDP Sackville—Eastern Shore, NS
Monsieur Petit, I forgot to bring you greetings on behalf of Noel Knockwood, whom you know. He is the spiritual leader of the Mi'kmaq and also a Korean veteran himself.
5 p.m.
President, National Aboriginal Veterans Association
Yes, I know. I've dealt with him.
5 p.m.
NDP
Peter Stoffer NDP Sackville—Eastern Shore, NS
I called him today and said I was going to be seeing you. He said to say hello.
On the issue of communication, we hear that an awful lot as a committee, and it doesn't matter which party you're with. What's the best way to communicate? Is it through the Internet? Is it online? Is it through newsletters? Is it through public forums? Is it through the Legion? How is it? It's probably a combination of every one of them, right?
I tend to agree with you on the one-on-one, given the cultural concerns of the first nations people, because of the differences of their culture as compared to the traditional culture that we have in Canada.
As Madame Hinton indicated, that would be a challenge to do. It's easy to say that, but it's difficult to accomplish it. I'll definitely take that back.
As a sidebar, I appreciate Mr. Anders' concerns on the aboriginal regiment. I actually never thought of that myself, but I think it could have some very good merit down the road. We did have the black No. 2 Construction Battalion, the first all-black battalion in World War I. They had to go to places like Vimy Ridge with only shovels. They were only allowed to dig and work; they couldn't shoot until the very end, when someone thought, maybe we had better give these guys a gun to help them out.
You've had an opportunity now to meet with this committee, and you've had an opportunity to meet the ombudsman. Have you had an opportunity to meet with Mr. Thompson or his staff to discuss some of these recommendations you have? Have you requested an opportunity to meet with him at a time that's convenient to go over some of these recommendations?
5:05 p.m.
President, National Aboriginal Veterans Association
These are new recommendations that came from our organization, from the different provinces and territories, because they're different. As you say, communication is different in the bands. Even as veterans, they won't talk to you. You know how it is. It's bad.
5:05 p.m.
NDP
Peter Stoffer NDP Sackville—Eastern Shore, NS
I understand that. Are you going to be requesting a meeting with Mr. Thompson when you get a chance or when he has an opportunity?
5:05 p.m.
President, National Aboriginal Veterans Association
I've requested a lot of meetings with him. I haven't touched base with him yet.
5:05 p.m.
NDP
Peter Stoffer NDP Sackville—Eastern Shore, NS
Not yet, okay.
This is my last question. A couple of years ago we went on a trip, and one of your fellows--I forget his name, but he had a ukulele. What was his name again? He was from NAVA, and he played the ukulele all the time.
5:05 p.m.
NDP
Peter Stoffer NDP Sackville—Eastern Shore, NS
Bob? I forget his name. I'm not sure of his name, but I promised him some lobsters, and I haven't done that. But he promised me one of those ties.
Thank you very much for coming today.
5:05 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Rob Anders
Thank you very much, Mr. Stoffer.
Now Mr. Sweet says he has a question.
5:05 p.m.
Conservative
David Sweet Conservative Ancaster—Dundas—Flamborough—Westdale, ON
I have just a couple of quick questions.
First, Mr. Petit, thank you very much for your service, and not only your Korean service. The Order of Canada on your chest means that you must have done something very substantial to receive that award from the Governor General, and it's appreciated.
I want to ask you two questions. There was some talk about some other organizations that have broken off from yours. What is the total number of organizations in Canada today that represent native, aboriginal, Inuit, Métis, and first nations concerns? Are there half a dozen?
5:05 p.m.
President, National Aboriginal Veterans Association
No, there are only three key groups. But as I said, they handle their own group. They're funded globally, and some of the funding comes from Ottawa to them.
5:05 p.m.
Conservative
David Sweet Conservative Ancaster—Dundas—Flamborough—Westdale, ON
Okay.
I think you mentioned that your membership is 4,000. Did I get that right?
5:05 p.m.
President, National Aboriginal Veterans Association
No, it's 400. It's something like 4,000 when we're talking about payment for--
5:05 p.m.
Conservative
David Sweet Conservative Ancaster—Dundas—Flamborough—Westdale, ON
Right; 4,000 is the potential outreach.
In terms of the outreach concern, getting the message out to the individuals and making sure they know about the services, etc., has it been your experience that once that connection is made they are happy, by and large, with the services provided to them?