Evidence of meeting #9 for National Defence in the 43rd Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was family.

A recording is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

MPs speaking

Also speaking

Nora Spinks  President and Chief Executive Officer, Vanier Institute of the Family
Helen Wright  Director of Mental Health, Health Services Group Headquarters of the Canadian Armed Forces, Department of National Defence
Suzanne Bailey  National Practice Leader, Social Work and Mental Health Training, Department of National Defence

December 4th, 2020 / 2:40 p.m.

Liberal

Élisabeth Brière Liberal Sherbrooke, QC

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thanks to the three witnesses for being here and also for their service.

During our discussion this afternoon, you confirmed that mental health needs in the Canadian Armed Forces are real and that you take the subject very seriously. My son Louis, who is in the Sherbrooke Hussars regiment, took part in Operation Laser and was clearly informed, during his pre-deployment training, of the services available to him. In Montreal, where he was deployed, an on-site chaplain kept his door open and was always ready to listen. He was a benevolent presence. When Louis came home after the operation, he received a call and emails asking how he was doing following the deployment.

Colonel Wright, you discussed an integrated approach in your opening remarks. Is this a tangible example of that approach? Could you give us some other examples?

2:40 p.m.

Col Helen Wright

Yes, I think that the integration of our prevention and health promotion methods were part of what we tried to do on Op Laser. An excellent health care system for those who are struggling and need help is important, of course, but it is equally important—maybe more important—to have all these kinds of prevention and supporting services in place.

The question was about an example other than Operation Laser. I'm trying to think of something that's not operations-based. I think we do something very similar to what we did for Operation Laser on our other operations, as Lieutenant-Colonel Bailey answered to another question. We screen people before they go, as well as in conjunction with their families, to make sure that it's the right decision for them and the right time for them to go. We have supports in place for them while they are deployed. We do post-deployment screening to verify how folks are feeling when they come back and to try to facilitate getting them into care, if that is the right thing for them. We also have a host of other psycho-social supports and educational things that we can help direct people toward.

Some of the other things that Lieutenant-Colonel Bailey mentioned might also be relevant to the question about how we're integrating. I know we keep coming back to the road to mental readiness program, but it's a great example of how that is being integrated throughout members' careers. It is provided in basic training and it's provided in many of the other steps in a military member's career.

It's no longer something to support people on difficult deployments, as it started out to be. It's becoming something that we are integrating into everything our members do, to help make them stronger in a career even if they never deploy. We absolutely have members who never have to put themselves in that situation, but we still put them in demanding jobs where things like managing their mental health and being proactive are still as important.

2:45 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Karen McCrimmon

All right. Thank you very much. That brings our session today to a close.

I would really like to express my sincere thanks to our witnesses today. Your testimony was absolutely foundational and I think it will help us build an even stronger report going forward.

I would ask the committee members to stay online. We have a little bit of discussion, but I'll allow our witnesses to leave us at this time.

Thank you very much for your time today. We know it's precious and we appreciate it very much.

Take good care.

2:45 p.m.

Col Helen Wright

Thank you.

2:45 p.m.

Bloc

Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe Bloc Lac-Saint-Jean, QC

Thank you.

2:45 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Karen McCrimmon

Go ahead, Mr. Bezan.

2:45 p.m.

Conservative

James Bezan Conservative Selkirk—Interlake—Eastman, MB

Thank you, Madam Chair.

I just want to have a quick discussion. We have two meetings left before our Christmas break. We are scheduled to have the JAG and the head of psychiatry from the Canadian Armed Forces here on Monday.

What are the plans for Friday? I know that we want to lay out for the analyst the objectives we want to see covered in our reports, so he can be drafting. Are we doing that on Friday for both reports—COVID-19 and the mental health in the Canadian Armed Forces?

2:45 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Karen McCrimmon

There are two ways of doing this. If we're sitting on Friday, we can do it as a committee. We can also do it secretarially. I would expect both of those reports.

What we were going to ask was, if we don't end up with a full meeting on Friday, to make sure that any recommendations or input you have for either of those studies is in to us by December 18. Is that good?

2:45 p.m.

Conservative

James Bezan Conservative Selkirk—Interlake—Eastman, MB

I agree with that.

Can I make a suggestion for Friday, because we are writing the report on the Canadian Armed Forces and COVID-19?

2:45 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Karen McCrimmon

Yes.

2:45 p.m.

Conservative

James Bezan Conservative Selkirk—Interlake—Eastman, MB

Since we heard our last witnesses, there has been some news, which is that we now have Operation Vector led by Major General Dany Fortin. I think it would only be in the best interests of our committee's having a valid report to have General Fortin back to the committee, along with Lieutenant General Christopher Coates, the commander of CJOC. He is going to be the force multiplier in making sure that all of the logistics are taken care of in the distribution of the vaccines. This is critical information for our citizens: Canadians want to know how and when we're going to get vaccines distributed.

We also heard about this cybersecurity threat to the cold supply chain and how that will impact delivery. If we look at the policy directive from the CDSE, it even includes that we're to make sure to prevent criminal and cyber-attacks against transportation.

We've heard in the past of where some PPE, which was supposed to come to the United States and elsewhere, was stolen and diverted into other countries. So I think we would want to find out.... Even on the commercial logistics part of this, my understanding is that Pfizer, for example, is using United Airlines to deliver the vaccines to points of delivery in Canada. Will there be logistics officers on board? Are there going to be security personnel there, whether from special operation forces or military police? How are we going to be able to prevent cyber-attacks by criminals?

I think it is worthwhile for us to have this meeting on Friday with Generals Fortin and Coates.

2:50 p.m.

Liberal

Yves Robillard Liberal Marc-Aurèle-Fortin, QC

Pardon me, Madam Chair.

2:50 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Karen McCrimmon

Yes, Yves.

2:50 p.m.

Liberal

Yves Robillard Liberal Marc-Aurèle-Fortin, QC

Can I add to this?

I think we should use next Friday to really finish our study. We haven't heard from enough witnesses who have experienced these situations. It's easy to find them, though. I know we're coming to the end, but we want to conduct a complete study and I think we're missing the boat.

2:50 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Karen McCrimmon

We might need to take this to the steering committee. We have two competing ideas of what to do next Friday, so I think we'll put together a steering committee meeting. We will do it at the steering committee.

2:50 p.m.

Conservative

James Bezan Conservative Selkirk—Interlake—Eastman, MB

Lots of people have their hands up.

2:50 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Karen McCrimmon

All right. Maybe it's better done at the steering committee. When the committee goes forward, we all want to be on the same page, and this is something that we need to work out.

2:50 p.m.

Liberal

Yves Robillard Liberal Marc-Aurèle-Fortin, QC

What about the other members? Maybe they also have some opinions.

2:50 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Karen McCrimmon

Yes, but they can express their opinion at the steering committee.

2:50 p.m.

Conservative

James Bezan Conservative Selkirk—Interlake—Eastman, MB

They're not all on the steering committee.

2:50 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Karen McCrimmon

No, that's true.

Go ahead, Madame Blaney, and then Mr. Brunelle-Duceppe. You have one minute each, please.

2:50 p.m.

NDP

Rachel Blaney NDP North Island—Powell River, BC

I want to say that I agree with Mr. Bezan. I think this is an important part of what will be happening in the future around COVID-19. Canadians need to know how they are going to be getting their vaccines. I know that they trust the military, so it would be a good voice to hear on this issue.

Thank you.

2:50 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Karen McCrimmon

Go ahead, Mr. Brunelle-Duceppe.

2:50 p.m.

Bloc

Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe Bloc Lac-Saint-Jean, QC

Thank you, Madam Chair.

It's good when the NDP, the Conservative Party and the Bloc can agree on something, but I'm also convinced the Liberals agree with Mr. Bezan too. It seems to me that this is really important and that we don't have a choice but to do that next Friday.

You say we'll take this to the steering committee, and that's fine, but this is a decision we could have made today. However, I leave it up to you to decide, Madam Chair. So I wish to note that I entirely agree with Mr. Bezan.

2:50 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Karen McCrimmon

Thank you, we'll take this to the steering committee, because I'd like to have all of us on the same page moving forward.

Mrs. Gallant.