Human Resources Committee on June 18th, 2026

[Sarah Vandal]

We recently took part in a consultation specifically on July 1, and we realized that it was already a bit late to tackle the problem.

Generally speaking, when it comes to people at risk of homelessness—particularly those who might find themselves without a lease—housing authorities often already have measures in place to enable access to services and to provide last-resort assistance to those at risk of homelessness.

For us, the challenge lies more with people who are already at risk of homelessness. They often do not meet the criteria for these programs. Take, for example, someone living with mental health issues or substance abuse problems, or someone experiencing chronic homelessness. Often, these people do not fall within the eligible client groups. We cannot put them on waiting lists and, in the Memphremagog region, we cannot support them in this way.

For other people at risk, however, we are able to put in place rent supplement measures and things like that. We can also support the individual and work in collaboration with providers of more affordable housing.

In my view, there are really two types of service users. On the one hand, there are those at risk of homelessness, for whom we already have certain tools in place and who often have a slightly stronger support network. On the other hand, there are those who are already experiencing a relatively chronic situation of homelessness.

[Andréanne Larouche, Bloc, Shefford, QC]

I have barely 30 seconds left. I'll finish with a suggestion for a preventative measure.

You're talking about young people, you're talking about older people. Should income support for older people and vulnerable individuals be increased to prevent homelessness?

As we can see, many are affected by rent increases or renovictions.

Should we rethink the support we provide at an earlier stage?

[Sarah Vandal]

Actually, in my view, the support we should be providing is more holistic. It is not necessarily a good idea to simply increase a person's benefits. Even if people receive additional financial support, they will not necessarily receive more support when it comes to their mental health, their risk of homelessness and so on.

In my view, the focus should instead be on support and the resources that can help, on the work that can be more complementary.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bobby Morrissey]

Thank you, Ms. Larouche.

We will go to Madame DeRidder for five minutes, please.

[Kelly DeRidder, Conservative, Kitchener Centre, ON]

Thank you, Chair, for extending the time to speak.

I want to start by thanking Mr. Miles and Mr. Thiessen. Thank you so much, gentlemen, for being here and sharing your stories. From one recovered addict to another, I know how hard it can be to come forward, but it's important to do so so that we can change lives in Canada.

We've heard so much today about the importance of all parties coming together and all levels of government coming together and of ensuring that people with lived experience are part of the solution. We've heard great success stories today, such as Dr. Boozary and Mr. Miles working together in Toronto and having amazing success by ensuring that lived experience is part of this.

Mr. Thiessen, your program is phenomenal as well.

I'd like to turn the conversation a bit towards hope and to those who might be wanting to take the first step into recovery.

Mr. Miles, you spoke about how you didn't walk that journey alone; your family walked that journey with you. A stopping point for me in the beginning was guilt because of the decisions I had made and the effect they had on my family. What would you say to someone wanting to take that first step about your family and the fact that they're still there?

[Jason Miles]

That's a difficult component for sure. I carried a lot of shame and guilt, certainly, for a lot of the things I had done. The types of things I did to survive and to feed my addiction were things I never thought I'd be capable of doing. A lot of people got hurt. I did a lot of theft and that kind of thing. You really feel as if once you've gotten to that point, there's no coming back for you now. I saw all the time I spent in jail and all the things I did. You get this view that you're not worth it anymore.

If I can instill anything in anyone, it's that if somebody like me who did all the things I did can find their way back again and not just live a life that's sober but live a meaningful one—I'm involved in my community and make life better for other people—there's hope for everyone. Just keep trying. You're worth it.

[Kelly DeRidder, Conservative, Kitchener Centre, ON]

Thank you so much.

Mr. Thiessen, you spoke about how, really, healing sucks. I know healing sucks. You've cried for two hours. I've cried until my body ached to get through that healing. However, on the other side of that healing is a big, beautiful, happy, healed and healthy life.

Although it sucks, what would you say to someone so they start their journey towards healing?

[Earl Thiessen]

It is a difficult process to begin with. I love the word “hope”. You take a chance on yourself. We're so hard on ourselves. Jason said it: It's about the shame and the guilt. You know this first-hand, Kelly, as well.

I fully believe that you have to speak to heal. That's where the big risk comes up. A lot of people in business say that in order to be successful, you have to take a risk. Well, in order to recover, you have to take a risk as well, but do it for yourself.

I also believe that we should meet people where they are, but let's not leave them there.

[Kelly DeRidder, Conservative, Kitchener Centre, ON]

Thank you so much for everybody's time today. It was an incredibly impactful day. Thank you for being here.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bobby Morrissey]

Thank you, Madame DeRidder. I must say that the world is a better place because of you stepping forward as a parliamentarian.

To conclude, we'll go to Monsieur Joseph for five minutes.

[Natilien Joseph, Liberal, Longueuil—Saint-Hubert, QC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I would like to thank all the members of the committee and the witnesses. I would also like to extend a special thank you to Ms. Kelly for coming to the committee to offer her support.

Thank you, Ms. Kelly.

I would also like to thank Mr. Thiessen for sharing his experiences with us. I have a question for him. It is a simple one.

In your view, Mr. Thiessen, which actions or measures have had the greatest….

Please excuse me. You have no doubt realized this already this morning. It infuriates me that homelessness is being politicized. It is not normal.

I would also like to apologize to the committee for the exchange I had with the witnesses this morning, because we cannot seek to gain political advantage at the expense of people in vulnerable situations.

I'm sorry. I got a bit carried away by my emotions. I've never experienced homelessness myself, but I know people who have, including members of the LGBTQ+ community and women who sleep with people they don't want to because they just want somewhere to sleep—because it's cold outside.

So, I think I'll hand over my speaking time to Ms. Desrochers, who deals with these issues. Please excuse me.

I can't go on.

Thank you.

[Caroline Desrochers, Liberal, Trois-Rivières, QC]

Thank you, Mr. Joseph.

As we can see, this is quite an emotional moment.

I would like to thank all the witnesses who have shared their experiences with us today.

I had a question for Mr. Thiessen earlier.

How can the system, at all levels, better help? We talked about prevention. Who could have caught that you were in the situation you were in when you were young? How could we have done better with that? Is it at school? Is it at the hospital? I don't know. I'm just really looking for an answer to that question.

[Earl Thiessen]

That's a very good question. I could feel Mr. Joseph's shame. I could feel my body—and I get it. I understand.

Times have changed a lot. We really need to pay attention to our children and what they're doing. Cellphones are having an even larger impact, because we didn't have them when I was a kid.

It's not even about not letting our kids and youth go unsupervised, but about knowing where they are. I had free rein. I ended up at an older gentleman's house. He fed me alcohol. The access to it was huge. I blacked out, and when I woke up, I was being sexually assaulted.

Prevention is everything. What we need, and I think it's a big part of the focus being missed, is the lived experience piece. We have something that can't be taught. Unfortunately, a lot of us have that due to the trauma we went through, but I would rather there be fewer people with lived experience in the next 10 years who had to go through what I, Jason and so many other people went through just to be able to help.

We have to break the cycle. That's what it's about. It's about breaking the cycle—lived experience, mentors, peer support, supportive housing and all of that.

It starts at school. Some of the stuff they're introducing at school I don't think is correct. It wasn't there when I was young, so why is it there now? We had it hard enough at our age.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bobby Morrissey]

Thank you, Mr. Thiessen.

Thank you, Madame Desrochers.

Thank you, Mr. Joseph, for bringing this important study forward.

Thank you, Madame DeRidder, for sharing your experience as well.

I would ask that the committee consider providing written drafting instructions to the analysts by Friday, June 26, so they can begin working over the summer. Obviously, it's not the final part, but if the committee accepts providing written drafting instructions to the analysts on this very important study, it will be a test to see whether this study can actually move the bar on addressing this issue.

The second part, if we have agreement, is that the clerk circulated a press release announcing the winner that you chose on Monday for the Centennial Flame award. Is it the will of the committee to circulate that?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bobby Morrissey]

Thank you to the committee members.

This committee has dealt with a lot of compelling issues, notably Bill C-222, which actually effected significant change. I, for one, look forward to this report being tabled in the House and to seeing that it begins addressing some of the issues that have been so well and personally put before this committee over the past period of time.

Thank you to each one of you for participating. Enjoy your constituency time. We'll see you in the fall, unless the House gets extended into next week.

Thank you to the witnesses for sharing your personal time. Without that input, we couldn't move to begin change.

With that, is it the will of the committee to adjourn?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bobby Morrissey]

The meeting is adjourned.