Veterans Affairs Committee on March 27th, 2007

[The Chair, Conservative, Rob Anders]

All right. Since we're exhausting the list, why don't I go ahead and read through that for everybody?

[Brent St. Denis, Liberal, Algoma—Manitoulin—Kapuskasing, ON]

The original text, right?

[The Chair, Conservative, Rob Anders]

Yes. I'm going to try to avoid the commentary as best I can. So bear with me as I haltingly read through that, then.

The Veterans’ Bill of Rights Our Promise to You To provide exemplary, client-centred services and benefits that respond to the needs of Veterans, our other clients and their families, in recognition of their services to Canada; and to keep the memory of their achievements and sacrifices alive for all Canadians. On behalf of the Government of Canada, the Minister for Veterans Affairs commits to protect and preserve the rights of all Veterans (War Service Veterans, Canadian Forces Veterans and Members), Surviving Spouses, Retired and Serving Members of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, and our other clients. The tremendous contributions you have made to Canada as a nation and to the world are recognized and celebrated.

The Government of Canada, working in cooperation and partnership with Veterans’ Organizations, resolves to advance the rich legacy of peace, freedom and national identity that was fought for and won by the many brave men and women of this country, who were willing to make the ultimate sacrifice for future generations. Through the signing of this Veterans’ Bill of Rights, the Government of Canada commits to delivering benefits and services that respond to your immediate and ever-evolving needs.

Veterans have the right to:

Be treated with respect, dignity, and courtesy; Be listened to so we may understand your needs and be sensitive to them; Fair and equitable treatment in all of our dealings with you; Receive clear, easy-to-understand communications; Privacy and protection of your personal information; Recognition of the importance of family and community in your well-being; Be included in discussions that affect your health and well-being; Receive accurate and up-to-date information on all of our programs and services; Highly trained and professional staff to provide a consistent level of quality service across the country; Receive benefits and services in a timely manner and in accordance with the relevant legislation; Receive free Legal Representation from the Bureau of Pensions Advocates and support, advice and guidance from Veterans’ Organizations; and Hold Veterans Affairs accountable and responsible for all of our decisions. This Veterans’ Bill of Rights honours and salutes this special group of heroes and their families for all time.

I think that pretty much encompasses just the text.

Mr. Stoffer.

[Peter Stoffer, NDP, Sackville—Eastern Shore, NS]

Do you need our advice or a discussion on some of what you just read?

[The Chair, Conservative, Rob Anders]

I think we can do that.

Do you want me to read through the commentary?

[Some hon. members]

No.

[The Chair, Conservative, Rob Anders]

Fair enough. You want to do it on your own.

Mr. Stoffer.

[Peter Stoffer, NDP, Sackville—Eastern Shore, NS]

On the second part, where it says, “On behalf of the Government of Canada, the Minister for Veterans Affairs commits to protect”, I would include “the Minister and the Department of Veterans Affairs”. It's not just the minister, it's the department as well.

[The Chair, Conservative, Rob Anders]

Maybe you could say “the Minister of Veterans Affairs on behalf of”. Or do you just want the “and”?

[Peter Stoffer, NDP, Sackville—Eastern Shore, NS]

“The Minister and the Department...”. That was one.

And at the end, “This Veterans’ Bill of Rights honours and salutes this special group of heroes”--I think whoever did that commentary underneath was correct. A lot of guys don't like to be called “heroes”. They just do their job and that's it. Maybe “honour and salute the special group of Canadians”.

[The Chair, Conservative, Rob Anders]

All right.

Mr. Valley.

[Roger Valley, Liberal, Kenora, ON]

I have a question, again. This is written by whom, and when? Was it written by the department for comment? Did we send it out to stakeholders?

[The Chair, Conservative, Rob Anders]

That's our best guess.

[Roger Valley, Liberal, Kenora, ON]

We mentioned June. Can somebody tell me roughly when this was written and sent out to stakeholders? Do we know?

[The Chair, Conservative, Rob Anders]

I think I'd safely say before June.

[Roger Valley, Liberal, Kenora, ON]

Do you have the time?

[Betty Hinton, Conservative, Kamloops—Thompson—Cariboo, BC]

The witnesses started coming in June.

[The Chair, Conservative, Rob Anders]

Mr. Stoffer.

[Roger Valley, Liberal, Kenora, ON]

Well, actually--can I finish?

[The Chair, Conservative, Rob Anders]

Yes, sure.

[Roger Valley, Liberal, Kenora, ON]

I think timing's important here, because I'd like to know that this wasn't written before we started listening to people. I want to know when it was written and who it was written by. Was it written by the department? There must be some date we can find. We started sitting here, roughly, in April. This was written when, sent out when?

[The Chair, Conservative, Rob Anders]

I'm sure somewhere somehow that answer can be provided. I sense, though, that we can really take this wherever we want. That's my guess. You're the committee, you can choose to do what you want. If you want to restructure this thing, if you want to bring in other bills to compare and contrast it to, if you want to make additions or deletions--whatever you want to do, you can do.

[Roger Valley, Liberal, Kenora, ON]

I'm not saying I have a problem with that. I'd like to know where it came from.

[The Chair, Conservative, Rob Anders]

I would just look at this as a starting document to go with. We could find that out. I don't know.

Mr. Stoffer.

[Peter Stoffer, NDP, Sackville—Eastern Shore, NS]

I'm not married to this idea here, but when the veterans charter came about, the four leaders of the parties were over in Europe. When they came back on the airplane, they all agreed to move the veterans charter unanimously as quickly as possible, and that's how it came to be.

Having the minister sign the veterans bill of rights I think is a very good thing, but I thought that because of government change down the road, if you have the leaders of all parties also sign, then that way they commit. I'm not married to it, I just throw it out there. That way, it commits all parties to the bill of rights, not just the government in the minority situation that we have.