COVID-19 Pandemic Committee on June 15th, 2020

[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—

[The Chair, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

We'll go back to Mrs. Wagantall.

[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?

[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—

[The Chair, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

We'll go back to Mrs. Wagantall.

[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?

[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—

[The Chair, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

We'll go back to Mrs. Wagantall.

[Cathay Wagantall, Conservative, Yorkton—Melville, SK]

Minister, are Canadian Armed Forces members provided with a copy of this document?

[Lawrence MacAulay, Liberal, Cardigan, PE]

Mr. Chair, my honourable colleague would have to ask the Canadian Armed Forces that question.

[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?

[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—

[The Chair, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

We'll now continue with Mrs. Wagantall.

[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?

[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—

[The Chair, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

We'll go back to Ms. Wagantall.

Oh, I'm sorry—

[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.

[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.

[Cathay Wagantall, Conservative, Yorkton—Melville, SK]

I have English.

[The Chair, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

Very good. Minister MacAulay, what do you have?

[Lawrence MacAulay, Liberal, Cardigan, PE]

I have English, Mr. Chair.

[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?

[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.

[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.

[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.