Public Safety Committee on May 7th, 2013

[Élaine Michaud, NDP, Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier, QC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I'd like to thank our witnesses for joining us today. I, too, want to commend them for their efforts, that is, offering our young and not so young veterans opportunities once they've finished their service.

We're seeing younger and younger veterans coming back from places like Afghanistan suffering from what can be serious problems as a result of traumatic experiences. You give them an opportunity to work. Within your organization, though, do those individuals who are dealing with difficult circumstances—post-traumatic stress syndrome comes to mind—receive any support?

[Capt(N) Paul Guindon]

Thank you.

That's a great question. I wasn't sure how I would be able to raise that point. So thank you for asking about it.

For the past four years, we've been supporting certain government programs. Fours years ago, we signed an agreement in principle with the Department of National Defence in order to formalize an approach that was already being used. Allow me to explain.

As you know, post-traumatic stress syndrome doesn't affect just soldiers who fought in Afghanistan. And it affects more than just an individual's mental health. It takes a physical toll as well.

We have one program where the Department of National Defence sends us members of the military who are still part of the forces. They come to us to re-adapt to the work environment. Some are transitioning, meaning they plan to move to the civilian world. Others come to us for a certain period of time, after which they resume military life. That's one of the three or four programs we offer.

[Élaine Michaud, NDP, Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier, QC]

Support is offered to those veterans.

[Capt(N) Paul Guindon]

Absolutely.

[Élaine Michaud, NDP, Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier, QC]

That's good to hear.

[Capt(N) Paul Guindon]

Is it accessed enough? Unfortunately, we don't believe so. We wish more people would access that support.

[Élaine Michaud, NDP, Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier, QC]

I agree entirely.

On the subject of gender representation in the corps of commissionaires, could you give me an idea as to the percentage of women you have in your workforce? I'd also like to know whether you are doing anything to actively recruit more women.

[Capt(N) Paul Guindon]

As one of the government's major suppliers, we are required to participate in the employment equity program. And we've been part of that for about three years now. It's fairly recent, so we do have programs. Right now, the percentage is 27%.

To the question about active recruiting, it is indeed something we do, and it comes under the employment equity program. Our recruiting program is consistent with the government's policies. We are an employer and, as I mentioned earlier, our employees span five generations, both men and women. It makes no difference to us.

In our workforce, at the office, the percentage of female managers is about 55%.

Our director of human resources just hired someone in the distance education section, and yesterday I said to her, “Pat, you hired another woman”.

So in our office, the women in our workforce make up about 55% of our managers.

[Élaine Michaud, NDP, Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier, QC]

Very well.

That's in management, but what are the percentages for the other parts of your organization? What about security guards, for example?

[Capt(N) Paul Guindon]

It's 27%.

[Élaine Michaud, NDP, Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier, QC]

Would you be able to send us in writing the breakdown of the percentage of women in your organization by position? I'm curious to see those numbers.

You cited a number of examples in administration, but I'd like to know what the numbers are in the field.

[Capt(N) Paul Guindon]

It's 27% and that's across all positions.

In Petawawa, for example, we have a woman who is in charge of 135 commissionaires, men and women. And most of our people there are men because a lot of them are veterans. So in that case, the ratio of women is a bit lower.

We'll see what we can do. We provide that information to the human resources people as part of the employment equity program. Perhaps we could use those figures.

[The Chair, Conservative, Kevin Sorenson]

Thank you very much.

Our time, unfortunately, is up. We do appreciate your appearing before our committee today. I think you've given us some good ideas as to what you do and maybe how some of those responsibilities can be enlarged. We do thank you for appearing here, and we encourage you to keep up the good work that you do.

Folks, we are going to adjourn. We will see you Thursday. There will be an agenda out once we understand exactly who all will be able to appear on Thursday for the new study that we're doing.

The meeting is adjourned.