Thank you, colleagues.
Thank you, Chair.
This has to do with the veterans-related measures. Many of you have probably received some letters from veterans or may be familiar with this. Clauses 373 to 375 of Bill C-15 would retroactively redefine “province” to exclude the territories in the veterans health care regulations in relation to accommodations and meals payment for some veterans in long-term care. In so doing, Veterans Affairs Canada would effectively legitimize its past overcharges to veterans and nullify ongoing litigation aimed at securing reimbursement for affected veterans.
Canada's veterans ombud, retired Colonel Nishika Jardine, has written to the Minister of Veterans Affairs asking that these provisions be removed from the bill, noting this:
I believe that using retroactive legislation to correct administrative errors is both inappropriate and unfair and undermines confidence in government decision-making, sets a troubling precedent, and denies justice to those who served our country. Normally, retroactive provisions are limited to changes in legislation or regulations only back to the date of a formal government announcement of such intended change; for example, a change in tax rules announced in a budget and made retroactive in a budget implementation act to the date of the budget announcement. In this case, however, retroactivity of almost 30 years is extraordinary; the amendments proposed in Bill C-15 should be prospective only.
Ultimately, it is clear to the Veteran community that Bill C-15 sections 373-375 are meant solely to correct an error made by the Department and to deny them compensation for the overcharge. VAC already faces growing reputational backlash over the manner in which it communicates with Canada’s Veterans, their families and Survivors. I fear this retroactivity measure, if enacted, will only increase the deep distrust in Veterans Affairs Canada that, sadly, I hear about far too often.
Colleagues, I would ask that you vote against that. I guess you can't, but I'm on the record.