It's great to have you here on D-Day. We thank you very much for your service. You're an incredible human. I think all of us around this table have a lot to be grateful for today, on D-Day. Thank you for that.

Ms. Hughes, I'd like to jump into this, because I think it's pretty shocking that you have veterans and Canadian Forces military personnel who can't afford housing. I'd like you to expand on this.

Recently I visited Gagetown and the Oromocto food bank. Gagetown, as you know, is one of the largest military training facilities in Canada. They serve 450 people a month at the food bank. Behind Jane, the woman who runs the food bank, there was a big map of Gagetown. For some reason I said, “But you don't serve anyone from Gagetown.” She said, “Yes, Michelle—up to 50 families a month.”

You have the lowest recruitment you've had, I think, in history right now in the Canadian Forces, and, she said, then you have the carbon tax on all of these houses where these military families are living, and they can't afford the heat and they can't afford the rent.

What do you want to say about the current state of that for military families?

9 a.m.

Director, Veterans Services, Royal Canadian Legion

Carolyn Hughes

It's not just the cost of housing. It's the cost of food. It's the cost of fuel. If they have a home and they're paying a mortgage, they may have had significant increases in their mortgage over the last few years and need assistance from other avenues, such as food banks. Veterans are not unique in this situation. I feel that, when anybody has a decent job, they shouldn't have to go to food banks. If they're able to work, be employed and have, as I said, a decent income, there's no reason that anybody in Canada should be going to food banks.

I've seen myself that the cost of food has gone up at least double, I believe, for a lot of things. You hear on the news that it's 20%, but we see that the cost of peanut butter has more than doubled in the last couple of years. The cost of fuel, with the new carbon tax, is not attainable for most people. Unique situations are calling for food banks. We're assisting. If something out of the ordinary happens and a car repair is needed and they can't afford it, we can step in and help with that. As I mentioned in my testimony, though, it's not an ongoing solution. We can't provide so much every month to help veterans or still-serving members. I think it's an economy-wide problem.

9:05 a.m.

Conservative

Michelle Ferreri Conservative Peterborough—Kawartha, ON

Have you ever seen it this bad, Ms. Hughes?

June 6th, 2024 / 9:05 a.m.

Director, Veterans Services, Royal Canadian Legion

Carolyn Hughes

I'm seeing an increase in those coming forward for assistance, both still-serving and veterans. Some of our older veterans are also on fixed incomes. They're living hand to mouth every month on their pensions.

It has gotten worse.

9:05 a.m.

Conservative

Michelle Ferreri Conservative Peterborough—Kawartha, ON

It's just so decimating to morale.

We had a motion put forward by one of the Conservative MPs that read:

Given that...rent for Canadian military personnel [living on bases is increasing] this April, and at a time when the military is struggling to recruit and retain personnel, the committee report to the House, that the government immediately cancel all plans to increase rent on military accommodations used by the Department of National Defence....

The Liberals voted against that motion. I assumed that would be something.... You would not expect anybody to vote against that.

9:05 a.m.

Director, Veterans Services, Royal Canadian Legion

Carolyn Hughes

We're apolitical.

I would call for any government to set in motion some measures that are going to help.

9:05 a.m.

Conservative

Michelle Ferreri Conservative Peterborough—Kawartha, ON

I appreciate that.

I want to thank you, Ms. Hughes, and all of our witnesses.

I'll do this as quickly as possible. I'd like to put a motion on verbal notice. It ties in quite relevantly to the testimony we just heard.

This is the motion I'm moving:

Given that a recent report from Food Banks Canada indicates that:

a. “Canada has reached a critical turning point as poverty and food insecurity worsen in every corner of the country”;

b. Nearly half of Canadians feel financially worse-off compared to last year;

c. 1 in 4 Canadians is experiencing food insecurity; and

d. 33.3% of Canadians are experiencing an inadequate standard of living, while 23.7% of Canadians are experiencing a severely inadequate standard of living; and

that Food Banks Canada has graded the federal government’s commitment to addressing this crisis as a “D”, the committee recognize and report to the House that Canada is facing a rapidly worsening affordability and food insecurity crisis; and, pursuant to Standing Order, 108(1)(a), the committee invite the Minister of Environment and Climate Change and officials, as well as representatives from Food Banks Canada, to appear before the committee to testify in relation to these findings as soon as possible, for no less than two hours each, and that the committee find additional resources if necessary to facilitate this meeting.

This was sent in on May 30 and I'm moving it now.

Thank you, Chair.

9:05 a.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Bobby Morrissey

Thank you.

So we're clear, it was stated verbally, but the motion is in order to be moved today.

9:05 a.m.

Conservative

Michelle Ferreri Conservative Peterborough—Kawartha, ON

Thank you.

9:05 a.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Bobby Morrissey

Ms. Ferreri moved the motion. It is in order. The motion must be dealt with before we return to the witnesses.

Mr. Fragiskatos, go ahead on the motion.

9:05 a.m.

Liberal

Peter Fragiskatos Liberal London North Centre, ON

Can I request a suspension for a couple of minutes, if it's possible?

9:05 a.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Bobby Morrissey

Sure. We'll suspend for two minutes.

Witnesses, please stay online. We'll have a two-minute suspension. Then we'll come back to you.

We're suspended.

9:10 a.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Bobby Morrissey

The committee is back in session.

We currently have a motion on the floor by Ms. Ferreri. It is now open for discussion and debate.

Mr. Fragiskatos, go ahead on the motion.

9:10 a.m.

Liberal

Peter Fragiskatos Liberal London North Centre, ON

I move to vote, Mr. Chair.

9:10 a.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Bobby Morrissey

We have a motion to go to a vote.

Is there further debate?

Mr. Boulerice, go ahead on the motion.

9:10 a.m.

NDP

Alexandre Boulerice NDP Rosemont—La Petite-Patrie, QC

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I just want to tell the committee members and the people keeping up with our work that I have a number of questions for the Minister of the Environment on many topics. These topics include the climate crisis, Canada's greenhouse gas emissions record, the Trans Mountain pipeline cost and his decision on the Bay du Nord development project.

However, I don't think that the Minister of the Environment needs to come here to talk about food insecurity or increased food bank use by people in Quebec and Canada. I find this motion rather odd. I've been here in Parliament for quite a while now. I think that we're stretching the boundaries.

9:10 a.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Bobby Morrissey

Thank you.

Ms. Ferreri.

9:10 a.m.

Conservative

Michelle Ferreri Conservative Peterborough—Kawartha, ON

Thank you to my NDP colleague for his comments.

He said he finds it strange that we would want to question the Minister of Environment and Climate Change about the carbon tax and the increased use of food banks. I think that is quite strange because, quite frankly, the farmers are the ones who grow the food. If you're going to talk about climate change and the environment, why wouldn't you bring in the people who are the environmental stewards of this land and the farmers—the people who are actually growing our food? What restrictions are on them? How are they best doing it? What practices do they have in place?

If he wants to question him, I think this is a great opportunity. Is there an amendment he could offer? There is something here, I think, for the NDP. For somebody who obviously cares about food prices—it has been their opposition motion put forward in the House—why wouldn't he support something like this?

I will also say, on the record, Mr. Chair, that I cosponsored the event where they released this food bank report card. Not one NDP member was there. This is the worst report card we've ever had from Food Banks Canada. Why wouldn't we want to study this and ask the minister further questions, so that we can help repair it?

9:10 a.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Bobby Morrissey

Seeing no further discussion on the motion of Ms. Ferreri, we'll have a recorded vote.

(Motion negatived: nays 7; yeas 4)

We'll return to the agenda with Mr. Coteau for five minutes.

Given that we're over, I want to conclude the second round as scheduled. I will ask people to respect the timelines.

9:10 a.m.

Liberal

Michael Coteau Liberal Don Valley East, ON

Thank you very much.

Thank you to our witnesses today for joining us to study a very important issue for Canadians.

I want to start with the director of veterans services for the Royal Canadian Legion.

Ms. Hughes, thank you for being here.

You did say that the issue facing veterans and people within the armed forces is not unique. It's an issue that's felt by many people across this country. In many ways, this comes down to affordability. Affordability is an important issue for Canadians. I just had a town hall on the issue.

One of the ways to mitigate the challenges that occur when someone is taking on these challenges is to put in programs and services but also to look at increasing wages to help fight against some of those challenges. Just for the record, there was a piece in the budget last year, in 2023, to increase the pay of people within the Canadian military, and the Conservatives voted against increasing pay for people within the military services. I think that's a perfect example of a solution to help people take on those challenges.

In addition to that, during my town hall, we talked about new national programs like the child nutrition programs, the pharmacare program, child care, the tax benefit and the dental program. These are national programs designed to help Canadians overall.

Ms. Hughes, are these types of programs welcomed by the membership within your organization and the families you're speaking on behalf of, as well Canadians in general?

9:15 a.m.

Director, Veterans Services, Royal Canadian Legion

Carolyn Hughes

With veterans and still-serving members, most of them are eligible to continue their public service health care plan, which they start during the military. Many have coverage through that. Not everybody does, but many do. There are problems with it when a spouse marries over 60, but I'll leave that aside for now.

In terms of the question about whether they're favourable to it, every little bit is going to help, definitely. Could it come out faster for some? Yes. With veterans, when they have disabilities, if it's agreed that it was caused by their service, they're covered for health care benefits through Veterans Affairs Canada. For example, if somebody hurt their back during service, any treatment they need for their back over the rest of their life will be covered.

It doesn't affect service-related disabilities, but for other things like eyeglasses, dental, things like that, it will help those who are not in receipt of the public service health care plan or the dental plan that we have.

9:15 a.m.

Liberal

Michael Coteau Liberal Don Valley East, ON

Would you agree that these types of programs, which the Conservatives have continually voted against, will benefit Canadians overall and help take on those challenges of affordability?

9:15 a.m.

Director, Veterans Services, Royal Canadian Legion

Carolyn Hughes

I will not get into partisan debate, but yes, any benefit will help Canadians.

9:15 a.m.

Liberal

Michael Coteau Liberal Don Valley East, ON

Prior to the national housing strategy being put forward, what was the relationship like with government for the not-for-profit sector within the housing world? Do you have any reflections on that relationship?

9:15 a.m.

Director, Veterans Services, Royal Canadian Legion

Carolyn Hughes

No, my specialty here is dealing with the immediate needs that veterans have. As far as relationships with government go, it's mostly with Veterans Affairs Canada.