Evidence of meeting #22 for COVID-19 Pandemic in the 43rd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was chair.
A video is available from Parliament.
1 p.m.
Liberal
Lawrence MacAulay Liberal Cardigan, PE
Thank you very much, Mr. Chair. I appreciate my honourable colleague's question.
Of course, I appreciate Mr. Dalton's input and all that he has done for veterans. We've discussed it many times. I've done everything and worked with him in order to make sure that we bring the proper compensation to veterans—
1 p.m.
Conservative
Cathay Wagantall Conservative Yorkton—Melville, SK
As a result of that study, are the financial outcomes Canada seeks to provide for ill and injured veterans now clearly defined within the Department of Veterans Affairs?
1 p.m.
Liberal
Lawrence MacAulay Liberal Cardigan, PE
Mr. Chair, as the member would know, I am to bring a report to the veterans affairs committee, and there are a number of things done in order to make sure that report is—
1 p.m.
Conservative
Cathay Wagantall Conservative Yorkton—Melville, SK
Then I would suggest that we get our committee up and going as it should be. Where are these financial directions published?
1 p.m.
Liberal
Lawrence MacAulay Liberal Cardigan, PE
Well, of course, [Technical difficulty—Editor] lockdown, but just under $90 million that the government put in supplementary estimates to make sure we address the backlog for Veterans Affairs. It's a major help—
1 p.m.
Conservative
Cathay Wagantall Conservative Yorkton—Melville, SK
Minister, are Canadian Armed Forces members provided with a copy of this document?
1:05 p.m.
Liberal
Lawrence MacAulay Liberal Cardigan, PE
Mr. Chair, my honourable colleague would have to ask the Canadian Armed Forces that question.
1:05 p.m.
Conservative
Cathay Wagantall Conservative Yorkton—Melville, SK
There are three different [Technical difficulty-Editor] providing lifetime benefits for ill and injured veterans. In Ombudsman Dalton's recent report, did any one of these three provide the best compensation in all nine scenarios that were studied?
1:05 p.m.
Liberal
Lawrence MacAulay Liberal Cardigan, PE
Of course, as she knows, there's been a lot of work done in order to make sure that we provide the proper compensation to veterans. We're working very hard, with a lot of help from Mr. Dalton, to make sure that the appropriate—
1:05 p.m.
Conservative
Cathay Wagantall Conservative Yorkton—Melville, SK
In the undisclosed settlement of Sean Bruyea's legal case against Seamus O'Regan and the Liberal government, a joint statement says “...Canadians, especially all Veterans and their families, are encouraged to enter the public debate about policies and programs that affect our Veterans and their families.”
Does Mr. MacAulay agree with this statement?
1:05 p.m.
Liberal
Lawrence MacAulay Liberal Cardigan, PE
I can assure you that anybody is welcome to enter any discussion on compensation of veterans. We're always open to what we can do in order to make sure that we provide appropriate compensation. I don't think the term would be “appropriate”, but it would provide some compensation to veterans who truly deserve it. They defend our democracy—
1:05 p.m.
Bloc
Andréanne Larouche Bloc Shefford, QC
Mr. Chair, I have a point of order.
The interpretation hasn't worked for a few interventions. It's difficult to follow the exchange between the hon. member and the minister.
1:05 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Anthony Rota
We're having a problem with the interpretation.
Minister and Ms. Wagantall, you are joining us virtually. I'm wondering if you have the right language on at the bottom of your screen.
We'll start with that for troubleshooting.
1:05 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Anthony Rota
Very good. Then we'll check on our side.
Ms. Larouche, did I understand correctly that the interpretation didn't work for both speakers?
1:05 p.m.
Bloc
Andréanne Larouche Bloc Shefford, QC
The sound didn't allow the interpreters to do their job. It seemed to be a problem with the sound.
1:05 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Anthony Rota
In that case, I would ask both members to maybe put their mike a little bit close to their mouth. We'll see how that works. I'm looking at the screen, and I notice the mike is a little bit far. Could we bend it in a little bit more? I appreciate that.
Thank you for your patience. We'll give it another try.
Ms. Wagantall, please go ahead.
1:05 p.m.
Conservative
Cathay Wagantall Conservative Yorkton—Melville, SK
On a point of order, quite often while I'm trying to speak, there are lots of other voices in the background.