Evidence of meeting #26 for Veterans Affairs in the 41st Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was employment.

A recording is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

MPs speaking

Also speaking

Cheryl Flohr  Acting Deputy Director, Pre-Discharge and Retired Pay Programs, Veterans Benefits Administration, United States Department of Veterans Affairs
Margarita Cocker  Deputy Director, Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Service, Veterans Benefits Administration, United States Department of Veterans Affairs
Michael Fisher  Program Analyst, Readjustment Counseling Service, Vet Center, United States Department of Veterans Affairs
Joel Scholten  Associate Chief of Staff, Rehabilitation Services, Washington DC Veterans Affairs Medical Center, United States Department of Veterans Affairs
Susan McCrea  Executive Assistant, Intergovernmental Affairs, United States Department of Veterans Affairs

5 p.m.

Deputy Director, Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Service, Veterans Benefits Administration, United States Department of Veterans Affairs

Margarita Cocker

I can take that.

In terms of unemployment services, the Department of Veterans Affairs works primarily with veterans with disabilities to help them bridge the gap both in education and in employment skills and seeking-employment skills. We also have in the Veterans Benefits Administration an education program, the post-9/11 GI bill, which is for all veterans who served post-9/11 irrespective of disabilities. So even able-bodied veterans who need skills to actually compete for good jobs in the community can go to school. They receive tuition payments, a dollar amount to apply towards books, and they also receive a monthly stipend to help with their living expenses while they're in school.

Also, a partner organization to the Department of Veterans Affairs is the Department of Labor. The Department of Labor has disabled veterans outreach, but also a program for non-disabled veterans. They help them with specific job placements. Veterans who come to them who may not have another benefit accessible to them are eligible for the Department of Labor benefit too, and they will help them with finding a job and getting a job as well.

5 p.m.

Conservative

Corneliu Chisu Conservative Pickering—Scarborough East, ON

For example, somebody is retiring from active duty or from the service. It is a timeline that these services can be accessed through this organization, so through you or to Vet Centers...?

5 p.m.

Deputy Director, Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Service, Veterans Benefits Administration, United States Department of Veterans Affairs

Margarita Cocker

For the VBA benefits, if the veteran has a disability they can access it up to 12 years from when they exit the military, but that can even be extended to longer if their disabilities are severe. For the Department of Labor programs, as long as they are a veteran, they continue to be eligible, so from the moment they are transitioning and for the rest of their life they're eligible for the Department of Labor benefit as well.

5 p.m.

Program Analyst, Readjustment Counseling Service, Vet Center, United States Department of Veterans Affairs

Michael Fisher

With the Vet Center program it's a lifetime benefit, so at any time during their life after the military, they can come in and use a Vet Center.

5 p.m.

Conservative

Corneliu Chisu Conservative Pickering—Scarborough East, ON

That is an access to the public service for the veterans, not disabled veterans. I understand that the disabled veterans have access. What about the veterans who just retired from the service—they are not affected by any disability, let's say, and they served the country?

5 p.m.

Deputy Director, Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Service, Veterans Benefits Administration, United States Department of Veterans Affairs

Margarita Cocker

They would be eligible if they served. Able-bodied veterans who do not have a disability who served post-9/11 are eligible for the education benefit if they choose to pursue education. If they are only in need of employment services, they would not be eligible under the VBA benefits, but they would be eligible under the Department of Labor benefit.

5:05 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Greg Kerr

Thank you. Unfortunately, we're past the time.

I do want to take the opportunity to tell you two things. One is that we almost got down there with you, just to count cherry blossoms and so on, but we missed that opportunity. We would like to have seen you in person, but we really do appreciate the time and effort you put into this. It's been very helpful, both for our study and for our colleagues here, to share the information within the department and within government.

I understand that if there are some questions, we can pursue them and get the answers in writing. I know we have a contact there, so that's fine.

On behalf of the committee, I want to say thank you very much for taking the time and doing this with us today.

Thank you, and enjoy the rest of your day down there.

5:05 p.m.

Witnesses

Thank you.

5:05 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Greg Kerr

Mr. Stoffer, you're using the time where you didn't ask a question, so if you want to use four minutes, you can.

5:05 p.m.

NDP

Peter Stoffer NDP Sackville—Eastern Shore, NS

No.

5:05 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Greg Kerr

Mr. Stoffer, I think you have a notice of motion.

5:05 p.m.

NDP

Peter Stoffer NDP Sackville—Eastern Shore, NS

Yes. I notice that the committee is not meeting next week, or Thursday, I should say, because of the budget, but we're meeting the following Tuesday.

I want to move a notice of motion to the committee so that everyone can be prepared. I move

That in the opinion of the Committee, the committee invite Mr. Harold Leduc to appear before the Committee as soon as possible for an in camera meeting.

5:05 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Greg Kerr

Okay, notice is received. Of course, we'll need the 48 hours to deal with this so—

5:05 p.m.

NDP

Peter Stoffer NDP Sackville—Eastern Shore, NS

You get more than that.

5:05 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Greg Kerr

Well, whatever Tuesday brings about time-wise.

Is there any other further business to bring about?

Are we done? Everybody is comfortable?

Okay. We're meeting Tuesday. The RCMP will be the guest. We're using the latter portion of the meeting for some committee business, including a little time for our analysts to talk about where we move with the draft and so on, and to talk about any other unfinished business on the study.

Hearing nothing further, we're adjourned. Thank you very much.