Veterans Affairs Committee on March 5th, 2013

[The Vice-Chair, NDP, Peter Stoffer]

I'm sorry, that's it.

Mr. Minister, with your indulgence, could we have just a couple more minutes of your time? My colleagues Mr. Hayes and Mr. O'Toole would like to ask you a couple of quick questions as well before you go. Thank you.

Mr. Hayes, please.

[Bryan Hayes, Conservative, Sault Ste. Marie, ON]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Mr. Minister, I think the announcement on the Year of the Korean War Veteran was great. The forgotten war; it's great we're no longer forgetting it.

I understand commemorative events have already taken place this year to mark the Year of the Korean War Veteran. Could you outline what events have taken place, what events might be forthcoming, and also whether or not there are funds available to communities who may wish to honour the Korean War veteran? Thank you.

[Steven Blaney, Conservative, Lévis—Bellechasse, QC]

Absolutely. I thank you for your question.

Under the leadership of our Prime Minister, we have launched a community partnership program. Every organization that is willing to organize and even pay a tribute to our veterans can go to our website, fill out the form, and have access to funding through this program. That means we can support initiatives, and we are doing it already, throughout communities so that we are paying tribute to our veterans.

Of course throughout the years as a government, as I've mentioned, we intend to pay a special tribute to our Korean War veterans during Remembrance Week. There have already been special events, like the Imjin River hockey tournament that took place here in Ottawa. There are some exhibitions, and there are events happening throughout the country as well.

[Bryan Hayes, Conservative, Sault Ste. Marie, ON]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

[The Vice-Chair, NDP, Peter Stoffer]

Mr. O'Toole, please.

[Erin O'Toole, Conservative, Durham, ON]

I'd like to thank my colleague Mr. Hayes for allowing me part of his time so I could ask a question. Thank you, Minister.

As the rookie on this committee I want to echo the comments of Mr. Zimmer. I had the good fortune in my work with the True Patriot Love Foundation for military families and veterans to see you at Criée d'automne in Valcartier, with the veterans transition program, even at Remembrance Day. I think you're one of the most hands-on ministers this department has seen in a generation.

[Steven Blaney, Conservative, Lévis—Bellechasse, QC]

Thank you.

[Erin O'Toole, Conservative, Durham, ON]

My question specifically is on the veterans independence program. You have eliminated red tape, which is terrific. I note this program is generally drawn upon by older veterans. I noticed the pension and benefit payments are slightly decreasing, while the veterans independence program is slightly increasing. I would imagine that's partially due to the fact that widows and survivors can maintain this program and in some cases access it for the first time.

Could you speak a little about that? I think it's important to talk about how after the veteran passes away, their surviving spouse receives that benefit.

[Steven Blaney, Conservative, Lévis—Bellechasse, QC]

Sure, Mr. O'Toole, and if I may return the compliment, it's always great as a member of Parliament to have among us a Canadian who has served our country, and who has a great and respected experience. I think it's an asset for all parliamentarians to have you as a former member of the military in our Parliament.

Regarding your question, through VIP our government has taken the initiative to make sure that every time we lose a veteran, the veteran's partner, whether a man or woman, a widow or widower, can have the same access to the same benefits the deceased veteran was entitled to. This is an expansion of the veterans independence program. That's why there are more than 30,000 widows throughout the country who are benefiting from the program.

Hopefully by the end of this committee I will be able to tell them that I got the support from the veterans affairs committee so we are able to move forward with the supplementary estimates and with the main estimates as well.

[The Vice-Chair, NDP, Peter Stoffer]

Thank you, Mr. O'Toole and Mr. Minister.

That concludes our time with you this morning. Thank you very much for coming.

I remind the committee that Madam Chaput and Madam Stewart will be here shortly afterwards. We will suspend for a couple of minutes to say our goodbyes.

Minister, before you go, we understand one of your employees, Derek Sullivan, who did a tremendous job on Canada Remembers for many years—I have travelled with him on several occasions—is leaving us and leaving the department eventually.

If you can, please offer on behalf of the committee and our chair, Greg Kerr, our sincere wishes on a happy retirement for him. He has done a tremendous job for veterans and for Canada when he serves overseas in those remembrance programs. If you can give him our very best, we'd appreciate it.

[Steven Blaney, Conservative, Lévis—Bellechasse, QC]

I sure will.

[The Vice-Chair, NDP, Peter Stoffer]

Thank you for your time.

[Steven Blaney, Conservative, Lévis—Bellechasse, QC]

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.

[The Vice-Chair, NDP, Peter Stoffer]

We'll suspend for two minutes, and then we'll come right back.

Thanks.

[The Vice-Chair, NDP, Peter Stoffer]

In continuing our discussion today, first of all I want to apologize to Mary Chaput; I was pronouncing her name incorrectly. I'm sorry. I apologize for that.

[Mary Chaput]

That's okay.

[The Vice-Chair, NDP, Peter Stoffer]

We're also joined by Charlotte Stewart.

Thank you both very much for coming.

We understand that we're going to go directly into questions. Just to remind everyone, we need to be done by around 10:30 so that we can get on to the votes on the estimates as well. So if we can, let's make it very quick.

I'm going to reduce turns to four minutes so that everybody can have a chance.

We'll start off with Mr. Chicoine, please, for four minutes.

[Sylvain Chicoine, NDP, Châteauguay—Saint-Constant, QC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Good morning, Ms. Stewart and Ms. Chaput. Thank you for being here today to answer our questions.

I have a question about the line in the main estimates that mentions housekeeping and grounds maintenance. We see that $251 million is projected for 2013-2014. I don't understand at all. By comparison, about $36 million is allocated for services to veterans. I don't understand that $251-million amount. That's almost $200 million more. I'm confused.

[Mary Chaput]

I'll have Charlotte add to this when I'm done, but the costs you're looking at, sir, relate to the program in its entirety. As the minister has explained, it's a demand-driven program based on market rates and usage by veterans, so the figures go up and go down for different components of the program. All the increases you see are associated with the expenses that veterans will incur for groundskeeping or housekeeping, for which, as the minister explained, we now provide upfront funding to avoid the veteran's being out of pocket.

Any increases you see related to the veterans independence program very definitely flow through the department into the pockets of veterans.

Charlotte, did you want to clarify further?

[Charlotte Stewart, Acting Assistant Deputy Minister, Human Resources and Corporate Services, Department of Veterans Affairs]

No, that's correct.

We do of course forecast our demand based on the number of veterans we expect to use these programs. What's very important is that, because of the demand-driven nature of our programs, we adjust our forecasts and adjust our requested funds to reflect increased demand. This program is a reflection of the fact that we expect to have more veterans who will avail themselves of it.

[Sylvain Chicoine, NDP, Châteauguay—Saint-Constant, QC]

I don't understand your explanations. There is no figure for real years 2011-2012. We see $36 million under the estimates to date in 2013. However, for 2013-2014, the amount is $251 million. I don't understand your explanations. There is probably an explanation, but I still don't understand.

[Mary Chaput]

I think, sir, that what you're perhaps looking at is the increase we see in the supplementary estimates—

[Sylvain Chicoine, NDP, Châteauguay—Saint-Constant, QC]

Yes, that is right.

[Mary Chaput]

—and what amount that brings the total spending for this program area to. The smaller number is the increment in these supplementary estimates; the total number is the spending associated with the program in that year.

You would see the same thing in the main estimates. The number would go up or go down, and you would be presented with a new total.

Does that help?

[Sylvain Chicoine, NDP, Châteauguay—Saint-Constant, QC]

Yes, that helps me. I did not understood the whole explanation.

An additional 2.3% is allocated to the Veterans Review and Appeal Board, or VRAB. Does that increase include an amount allocated to help VRAB publish the board's decisions? Will an amount be set aside to enable the board to do that?

That is what the board's representatives mentioned to the committee. They did not have enough money to publish their decisions, even though the ombudsman requested that. Will a decent amount be included in that 2.3% increase in the future, to enable them to publish their decisions?