Finance Committee on Feb. 5th, 2026

[Jill McKnight, Liberal, Delta, BC]

We are protecting benefits and services. We are not making cuts. This budget shows a readjustment.

[Jean-Denis Garon, Bloc, Mirabel, QC]

Okay, so you're protecting services. That's excellent. I'm glad to hear you say you're going to protect services. That's comforting news for our veterans, since, according to the ombud's report, many veterans have to wait 18 months to get service from your department.

Is that what you want to protect?

[Jill McKnight, Liberal, Delta, BC]

The investment that we are making is about stabilizing and modernizing our service delivery so that we can continue to serve veterans.

I appreciate the feedback from the veteran ombud. We have an ongoing dialogue as she continues to highlight opportunities for refinement, improvement and growth. We will continue to serve veterans.

[Jean-Denis Garon, Bloc, Mirabel, QC]

Thank you.

I understand you have a binder and that the department wrote a few things for you, but we're concerned and our concerns are legitimate. It's our role to bring these concerns to your attention. We also have concerns about French-language services.

You know, there are two official languages in the federal government: English and English to French translation. It shows in the services offered to veterans, who have trouble getting services in French in Quebec.

Is it this poor quality of services in French that you want to protect, by reducing expenses by 15%?

[Jill McKnight, Liberal, Delta, BC]

Again, I will emphasize that we are not cutting services for veterans. Veterans are entitled to receive services in the official language of their choice. I know my department has made a great deal of progress on this.

I would turn to my officials to share more specific details on this.

[Jean-Denis Garon, Bloc, Mirabel, QC]

I understand you think people complain for nothing, but veterans are calling our offices to tell us.

Moreover, departments will be cutting staff. Have you already told Minister Lightbound and the Minister of Finance how many public servants your department will let go?

[Jill McKnight, Liberal, Delta, BC]

As I said, this budget does not have cuts. It has—

[Jean-Denis Garon, Bloc, Mirabel, QC]

Maybe my question wasn't clear. I'll rephrase it.

Can you guarantee that over the next three years, not a single public servant—not one—will be laid off in your department?

[Jill McKnight, Liberal, Delta, BC]

What I can commit to is that in budget 2025, we are making an investment of $184.9 million, with ongoing funding of $40 million a year, to ensure that we can stabilize and modernize the service delivery for veterans.

[Jean-Denis Garon, Bloc, Mirabel, QC]

Madam Chair, it's as if we were talking to the Minister of Finance. We have a parliamentary privilege, which is to get answers. My question is crystal clear, as my uncle Gilles would say, but I can't get an answer.

Did Minister Lightbound and the Minister of Finance give you a staff reduction target number? Do you have that number somewhere in your office? Did they send it to you?

I don't want to hear about your investments. We're talking about a number of employees: Did they share a staff reduction target number with you, yes or no? Have you received a document or a request on the matter?

[Jill McKnight, Liberal, Delta, BC]

Right now we have received funding, through budget 2025, to stabilize and modernize the benefits and services we deliver to veterans.

[Jean-Denis Garon, Bloc, Mirabel, QC]

Do you know what's going on in your department, Minister?

My 14 month-old child would have understood the question. I'm asking you—

[Carlos Leitão, Liberal, Marc-Aurèle-Fortin, QC]

Madam Chair, I have a point of order.

[The Chair, Liberal, Karina Gould]

Go ahead, Mr. Leitão.

[Carlos Leitão, Liberal, Marc-Aurèle-Fortin, QC]

The question has been asked more than once, and I think the minister has answered it.

[The Chair, Liberal, Karina Gould]

Thank you, Mr. Leitão, but that's not a point of order.

Mr. Garon, you may continue.

[Jean-Denis Garon, Bloc, Mirabel, QC]

Madam Chair, Mr. Leitão can share his opinion when it's his turn to speak. I hope you don't take that intervention out of my speaking time.

My question was clear. The Prime Minister said public servants represented an ongoing expense and that he would cut back on day-to-day spending. We're in Parliament. We want to know where these cuts are going to be made. We're concerned about that. This is a concern for our veterans who are having trouble getting French-language services. That's a concern for veterans who are waiting 18 months to get service.

I realize the minister has made an effort and that she cares about veterans, but here's what I want to know: Did Minister Lightbound or Minister Champagne send her a staff reduction target number, yes or no? Does she have that?

[Jill McKnight, Liberal, Delta, BC]

We have been tasked with implementing the budget investment to stabilize and modernize our service delivery.

[Jean-Denis Garon, Bloc, Mirabel, QC]

Thank you, Madam Chair.

[The Chair, Liberal, Karina Gould]

Thank you, Mr. Garon.

We will continue with Mr. Kelly for five minutes.

[Pat Kelly, Conservative, Calgary Crowfoot, AB]

Thank you.

Minister, your department was successfully sued for $817 million, I think it was, for underpayment in compensation to veterans. In your opening statement, you said that the provisions in Bill C-15 do not retroactively cut benefits, and you said that it's the same formula as in the past. You've lost in court—you've been sued in court—over the formula that's been used in the past. The ombud was very clear in her letter to you that the provisions in the BIA are meant solely to correct an error and to deny compensation for the overcharge.

You said that the formula will remain as in the past. Is it the position of your government not to make veterans whole who were undercompensated under the formula used in the past, which incorrectly denied them the formula that they should have been entitled to according to the provisions of the Interpretation Act?

[Jill McKnight, Liberal, Delta, BC]

The budget implementation act amendments clarify how veterans' benefits have been calculated and how they will continue to be calculated. Veterans will continue to have the same access to supports and benefits today that they did yesterday. We will continue to deliver enhanced services for the long term.

[Pat Kelly, Conservative, Calgary Crowfoot, AB]

The point is that you were not compensating them fairly before today. You had not correctly applied the formula in law for compensation for veterans in the past. This act is going to give you legal cover for failing to compensate veterans in the past. Is that—

[Jill McKnight, Liberal, Delta, BC]

These amendments are clarifying what has been done in the past and what will continue to be used in the future.

[Pat Kelly, Conservative, Calgary Crowfoot, AB]

So, it's too bad for the veterans in the past who were not fully compensated, and too bad for future veterans who will be compensated without the full benefit of the understanding of what is meant in law when you say that provinces are to include territories.