Evidence of meeting #50 for Government Operations and Estimates in the 45th Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was armoury.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Kelly McCauley
We're a bit past our time. I'm going to have to cut you off, but I think we'll probably find some time in our next round for you.
Ms. Hirtle, please go ahead for six minutes.
Liberal
Alana Hirtle Liberal Cumberland—Colchester, NS
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Welcome to all of the witnesses today.
I will start with you, your worship, Mayor Rob. Thank you for being with us again.
Amherst is in northern Nova Scotia.
Liberal
Alana Hirtle Liberal Cumberland—Colchester, NS
It's very north, just under the border. What is the population of Amherst, please?
Liberal
Mayor, Municipality of Amherst
I would say that we're a mixed population. We've been growing, with 10% to 15% growth in the last five years. I would characterize us as a heritage town that wants to make sure we're taking care of our people.
Liberal
Alana Hirtle Liberal Cumberland—Colchester, NS
Well said.
What challenges does the community face regarding affordable housing?
Mayor, Municipality of Amherst
We have many challenges. We have a considerable number of homeless, and even within those homeless there are veterans who are dealing with that issue.
If I were to break it down, I would say that the challenge is to ensure we have affordable housing not just for veterans but for anyone who needs a place to stay. That is our largest challenge from a public perspective. Maybe the second part of it would be that our fiscal challenge to cover the cost of development is very high.
Liberal
Alana Hirtle Liberal Cumberland—Colchester, NS
Thank you.
What do you think would be the impact of a revitalized armoury for the community of Amherst?
Mayor, Municipality of Amherst
It would be nothing but positive, of course, and the project that has been proposed, based on the assumption that DND does not want to reinstate a presence here in Amherst for the Highlanders to do proper reservist training, would be to convert the property into 20 units for veterans. By the way, I know that Elizabeth mentioned 16, but it's a 20-unit facility.
To me, the project would be a success story, not just for Amherst but for the federal government and for DND, and a way to see things become a success instead of a sad story.
Liberal
Alana Hirtle Liberal Cumberland—Colchester, NS
Absolutely. Thank you.
In July, I hosted a meeting in the riding with the Minister of National Defence, David McGuinty, to talk about the future of the armoury. You weren't able to be there, but your CAO attended on your behalf. What would you say is the value of having ministers come to the riding to see first-hand what the needs are?
Mayor, Municipality of Amherst
It's invaluable, because they can see for themselves what's really happening. When they closed the building.... I was in that building a week before that and I couldn't see what was being discussed or stated as the problem. Yes, there were things that had to be fixed but, quite frankly, for whatever reason, the decision was to close the building.
I think by having a minister see the site hands-on, understand the problem and understand the solution, you can make an appropriate decision.
Liberal
Alana Hirtle Liberal Cumberland—Colchester, NS
Absolutely. Thank you. I appreciate your support throughout this last year as we've tried to come to some reasonable solutions.
I think you've outlined much of what the framework could look like, and I appreciate the thought you've put into that. Can you share with me a bit more about what role you think the municipality could play to support the transition of the armoury to housing and wraparound services for veterans, etc.?
Mayor, Municipality of Amherst
We started off by putting some money forward just to get things kicked off in terms of a proper presentation that we could present to the government. The role I think Amherst would play is one of a partner in the project. What that partnership would be.... We have the contacts and we have the people who can make things happen, so I think we would play an important role in the project. However, because of the combination of federal silos, as Elizabeth pointed out, it would need someone who has a handle on how to deal with the federal government.
Liberal
Alana Hirtle Liberal Cumberland—Colchester, NS
The point is well taken. Thank you for that.
In my last 45 seconds, I'll ask Mr. McKay this quickly: How do you see a revitalized Amherst armoury? How would it support veterans and address local housing issues?
Veteran, As an Individual
I'd like to see it hopefully have, like I said, wraparound services, so psychological, physiotherapy and massage therapy services. It's hard in our area of the province to get even proper psychological treatment because we're in such a rural setting. I'll give you an example. When I was dealing with some of my service-related issues, I had to travel to Halifax to see the proper psychologist, or do it over Zoom. It's not easy for some guys to travel like that.
If we have more services in a rural setting like this, it would make life for those veterans easier.
Conservative
Bloc
Marie-Hélène Gaudreau Bloc Laurentides—Labelle, QC
It's nice to hear music that makes us smile. That's important.
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you to all the witnesses.
This is our second meeting, and I'm now realizing that the study is becoming very specific. Unless I'm mistaken, here at the Standing Committee on Government Operations and Estimates, the objective is to look for guidelines. I can talk about this, because my colleague is well aware of the issues we studied at the Standing Committee on Veterans Affairs. Public Services and Procurement Canada, at this committee, is really a broad issue.
At our last meeting with the deputy minister, we were told about a request for proposals regarding what would be done with the available buildings. Here, there are obviously many opportunities to express dissatisfaction. I can tell you that at every meeting of the Standing Committee on Veterans Affairs, it is unfortunately obvious that the department is not considered an important one.
That said, we will take this opportunity to offer the deputy minister the committee's help and to really question what we can put in the report to help him. We could all say that there could be a pilot project in each province.
Now, Mayor, I would like to take advantage of your presence here. If the federal government transfers a piece of land, the municipality will obviously inherit needs that include water systems, streets, sewers, sidewalks and snow removal.
What do you expect from the federal government regarding these costs? That's what we want to know.
Mayor, Municipality of Amherst
The short answer is that those would be shared costs with the municipality. We would decide what those costs would amount to. I'm sure that we'd come to some agreement on some shared responsibility for those costs.
Bloc
Marie-Hélène Gaudreau Bloc Laurentides—Labelle, QC
What would you like to see in terms of upstream consultations? The municipality could be involved in the consultations before the federal government comes up with a preplanned and orchestrated project. I'm giving you an opportunity.
Mayor, Municipality of Amherst
I would like a coordinated effort that includes representation from the Town of Amherst and the proposed developer to firm up the costs associated with the development that we discussed—or any development, for that matter, that supports the concept of improving housing for veterans and making this a real success story for DND and the federal government.
Bloc
Marie-Hélène Gaudreau Bloc Laurentides—Labelle, QC
Thank you, Mayor.
Mr. McKay, you are in daily discussions with veterans. What are the most common requests, the ones that come up most often, regarding a potential contract and the rules it would contain?
Veteran, As an Individual
A lot of it is the wraparound services. It is hard to find services in our area for various health-related needs, specifically for veterans. The company Echelon Wellness, as an example, is out of Halifax, Fredericton, Ottawa and Kingston. It's around only the bigger bases and bigger centres. We would benefit from a company like that providing a satellite office in our area for services.