Evidence of meeting #26 for National Defence in the 39th Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was clients.
A recording is available from Parliament.
NDP
Joe Comartin NDP Windsor—Tecumseh, ON
I assume that would be part of the audit. You'd want that covered in the audit.
As an Individual
He did continue to work at the base for several months after he lost his licence. He was technically not seeing patients, but he was participating in mental health team meetings--which we're not allowed to participate in--and he was involved in case conferencing and decision-making about patients. He worked there for three months after he lost his licence.
NDP
Joe Comartin NDP Windsor—Tecumseh, ON
Can you tell us who made the decision to allow him to continue?
NDP
Joe Comartin NDP Windsor—Tecumseh, ON
With regard to the complaint you sent--I guess, Dr. Belliveau, it was you who sent the complaint to the ombudsman. Is that correct?
NDP
Joe Comartin NDP Windsor—Tecumseh, ON
Was it suggested to you that you in fact had to present a complaint from a soldier?
As an Individual
We were told that they actually did not have the mandate to pursue our complaint, but because it had impacted on soldiers, they were going to look at it. However, it is typically the soldiers who do have to file the complaints.
NDP
Joe Comartin NDP Windsor—Tecumseh, ON
I'm sorry, I should have made the question clearer.
Were you told by the ombudsman that that was necessary and suggested that, yes, that's one of the...? Was that recommended to you?
As an Individual
To encourage soldiers? We have encouraged many of the soldiers to come forward, based on our experience with the ombudsman's office, and I think more of them are. We hear the complaints, and they want us to act as advocates for them. We don't have the means to do that, other than in situations like this. The ombudsman's office is not mandated to listen to anybody other than the soldiers.
NDP
Joe Comartin NDP Windsor—Tecumseh, ON
Can you say in all honesty that you're certain that some of them did complain to the ombudsman?
As an Individual
We were told by the soldiers they had complained. That's the degree of our certainty.
NDP
Joe Comartin NDP Windsor—Tecumseh, ON
Have there ever been any complaints made about the services you provide? Is there anything on the record anywhere of your being castigated for improper services?
NDP
NDP
Joe Comartin NDP Windsor—Tecumseh, ON
Have there been any complaints to the discipline body by Gagetown?
NDP
Joe Comartin NDP Windsor—Tecumseh, ON
There is a story in the newspaper articles about a clinic being opened by Veterans Affairs in Fredericton, an OSI clinic. Have you had any involvement? Were you consulted on how the clinic should be established?