Veterans Affairs Committee on Feb. 12th, 2024

[Randeep Sarai, Liberal, Surrey Centre, BC]

Go ahead, Mr. Roy.

[Mark Roy, Area Director Central Ontario, Department of Veterans Affairs]

From a Veterans Affairs perspective, we work hand in hand with our colleagues at the Canadian Armed Forces as a part of the continuum of transition. When we start working with members at the time they are transitioning, we work with them to identify any potential benefits or services they may need when they move on to civilian life. At the same time, we also work with them to identify any potential risks or potential barriers to transition that may impact them.

At that point, that's when one of our veterans service agents may work with them to offer benefits and services. If we find we are going to need more hands-on work with the veteran, we'll then offer case management services so that we can ensure the transition is smooth and that the veteran receives the services and benefits they need in an opportune time.

[Randeep Sarai, Liberal, Surrey Centre, BC]

How is the new transition process different from the services that Veterans Affairs was previously providing to support transition?

[Jane Hicks]

Thank you for your question.

The main difference, I think, is that previously the focus on transition was really on the ill and injured, and also others but not in such a formalized way. Right now, it's all those releasing, so it includes the ill and injured and those who are non-medically releasing. That is the biggest difference.

Depending on the year, roughly 75% to 80% are non-medical releases. It's a more coordinated approach. We get systematically notified when members are releasing. With the stand-up of the transition centres and transition advisers, VAC staff are co-located in teams at the transition centres. It's a much more coordinated approach than in the past.

Then there's some post-release follow-up that wasn't in place before.

[Randeep Sarai, Liberal, Surrey Centre, BC]

Thank you.

I also think there's a gap for those non-medically releasing, and you just were alluding to Canadian Armed Forces members who underwent a largely administrative process without support. Is the new military disability and transition process addressing the gap, and if so, how?

[Cmdre Daniel Bouchard]

Thank you very much for the question.

It's really by working closely, as Ms. Hicks mentioned, with the transition adviser. With the newly established process for the transition advisers, they will develop the plan for the members and their families to be in a better position to assess that transition process.

The transition advisers will also ensure that the members and their families know what services are available to them. As we've standardized the process, we're also learning from best practices, and we're sharing those across Canada under one unity of command, allowing the process to get better across the 27 transition centres.

[Randeep Sarai, Liberal, Surrey Centre, BC]

Then there's data and information shared between the 27 centres.

My next question is in terms of spouses. Are spouses given transition assistance when members are going from CAF duty to being a veteran? If so, is there any vocational programming for them? What kinds of transitional services would spouses and their families get?

[Jane Hicks]

In terms of spouses, I think it all starts with transition and the transition process. The information at the transition interviews is intended for the military members and their families or spouses, so they're certainly welcome to attend and participate in the process. Then they can attend the transition interviews. If members, when they're releasing, are not able to access rehabilitation, for example, then a spouse may participate in the vocational assistance program.

We also have career transition services that are available for serving members and their families, veterans and spouses. That is for pre-release and post-release, so it can assist with job-finding assistance, résumé writing and things like that. As veterans or members are moving across the country, sometimes they need that extra assistance, so that is available. The uptake is still primarily veterans or members, and a smaller proportion of spouses access the program.

[Randeep Sarai, Liberal, Surrey Centre, BC]

Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Emmanuel Dubourg]

Thank you very much, Mr. Sarai.

I now turn the floor over to Luc Desilets for the next six minutes.

[Luc Desilets, Bloc, Rivière-des-Mille-Îles, QC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Good afternoon to my colleagues and thanks to the witnesses for being here and submitting to our torture chamber.

Mr. Harris, you said that 30% of veterans transitioning to civilian life have difficulty adjusting and that twice as many experience mental health or psychological problems.

However, those aren't exactly the figures that the Library of Parliament has provided. It reports that 60% of veterans releasing for non-medical reasons have difficulties during their transition. So we can assume that even more experience difficulties for medical reasons.

How do you explain this percentage discrepancy?

[Steven Harris]

First of all, I said that 39% of releasing veterans report that they're having difficulties.

I'm not familiar with the study that the library submitted, but I can tell you that, according to a study conducted by Veterans Affairs Canada, and which I believe contains absolutely accurate data, approximately 40% report that they are having difficulties.

You're right in saying that the difficulties veterans experience aren't always medical in nature. They may be related to veterans' employment searches or the way they're adjusting to civilian life in general as they seek a new path. Medical difficulties aren't always the biggest problems for them. The issue may simply be a very big life change.

[Luc Desilets, Bloc, Rivière-des-Mille-Îles, QC]

I sense you're going to take up all of my six minutes.

Would you agree with me that transition is distressing for far more than 39% of veterans?

[Steven Harris]

I don't think it's distressing for them, but they may find it difficult.

[Luc Desilets, Bloc, Rivière-des-Mille-Îles, QC]

Do you think that's true of more than 39% of people?

[Steven Harris]

I don't know. I can only refer to the survey that I've seen. I don't know the numbers from the other surveys. It definitely appears that transition is a difficult time for many veterans.

[Luc Desilets, Bloc, Rivière-des-Mille-Îles, QC]

All right.

You mentioned rehabilitation services. Who provides those services at the transition centres?

[Steven Harris]

For members who haven't yet left the Canadian Armed Forces, rehabilitation services are provided by the armed forces' vocational rehabilitation program. I can let Commodore Bouchard tell you about that. If veterans experience service-related difficulties following release, rehabilitation services are provided by Veterans Affairs Canada through a group that we often work with called Partners in Canadian Veterans Rehabilitation Services.

[Luc Desilets, Bloc, Rivière-des-Mille-Îles, QC]

That's the private group that the department hired a year ago, isn't it?

[Steven Harris]

Correct.

[Luc Desilets, Bloc, Rivière-des-Mille-Îles, QC]

Excellent.

Ms. Hicks, you said something that surprised me, and that's a good thing. You said that, once they've left the forces and have become veterans, members can access telemedicine services for one year post-release. Is that what you said?

[Jane Hicks]

It's a pilot that we have right now that is for members who are medically releasing for one year post-release. They can have access to the telemedicine for the veteran, the family and their children. It includes prescriptions, referrals and whatnot.

[Luc Desilets, Bloc, Rivière-des-Mille-Îles, QC]

Are you saying that all veterans are entitled to one year of coverage?

[Jane Hicks]

It's for medically releasing veterans. It's a pilot at this point in time. It was intended for medically releasing members, because it was perceived that those were the ones who needed it the most at this point in time. We'll evaluate the results.

[Luc Desilets, Bloc, Rivière-des-Mille-Îles, QC]

I see. So my understanding is that it's for veterans who have been medically released from the forces. Can those veterans also use the telemedicine program to complete their applications?