Evidence of meeting #35 for Veterans Affairs in the 39th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was clinics.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Conservative
Betty Hinton Conservative Kamloops—Thompson—Cariboo, BC
I don't need to have first dibs. I just want to get in the line.
Liberal
The Vice-Chair Liberal Brent St. Denis
Okay. Perhaps Roger can go ahead, and then Betty, and if we don't finish it, because we have to be out of here for the next committee, it'll be on the list with Betty's motion and Peter's next week.
Okay, Roger.
Liberal
Roger Valley Liberal Kenora, ON
I'll be very quick, considering I'm speaking on behalf of you.
We don't want to talk too much about the frustration of finding out that some of our work has been circumvented. The fact is you've sent a very clear message here to the minister: give us some direction, give us some guidance on some of the issues you mentioned, one, two, three, and four. We want our work to be taken very seriously at committee. We don't want to be upstaged in any way. We also realize the Prime Minister has the prerogative to do things, but let's be serious. If the committee is going to do work, let's do our work, and this motion will give us some direction from the minister.
Thank you.
Conservative
Betty Hinton Conservative Kamloops—Thompson—Cariboo, BC
The first thing I would ask is why are we asking for direction from the minister when it's this committee's work? We don't need direction from the minister to do the job we have been given by Parliament at committee, so I don't accept that part of it.
There are four points here, but I think the third is the only important one for this committee. Is the minister or the government open to suggestions, including adding enforcement measures to a posted statement of rights? Obviously the government is open. This committee has yet to finish its report, which I believe is very important for us to do.
There's always room to improve anything, so I'm not going to vote against this motion; there's no reason to vote against it. But the question I'm asking you very clearly is, why are we asking for the minister's advice when this is the committee's mandate?
Conservative
David Sweet Conservative Ancaster—Dundas—Flamborough—Westdale, ON
I agree. Let's finish it now. I mentioned earlier that I felt concerned about the process, that we're to make recommendations as far as legality. We had the legal people in here and had some good testimony about it. We had a full discussion about scheduling, importance, and everything. This delays the bill of rights by sending that and waiting for a response or our recommendations on that to the minister.
Mr. St. Denis, I will support the motion.
Liberal
Roger Valley Liberal Kenora, ON
Thank you. The last thing we want to do is become redundant. We know that the committee can give all the advice it wants, but the Prime Minister has made it clear what he wants on this, so who is he going to listen to? Is the government prepared to give the bill legal standing? I think we need to know.
Liberal
The Vice-Chair Liberal Brent St. Denis
Are there any other comments or questions?
Then I guess I can ask if there is unanimous consent to adopt the motion.
(Motion agreed to [See Minutes of Proceedings])
Liberal
The Vice-Chair Liberal Brent St. Denis
The motion is adopted, and Mr. Anders will be instructed to send a letter.
Gilles.
Bloc
Gilles-A. Perron Bloc Rivière-des-Mille-Îles, QC
I have two questions to ask Ms. Hinton. When will the vote on the report tabled in the House take place? And has the department started thinking about a bill, or drafting a bill, in relation to the ombudsman's report?
Conservative
Betty Hinton Conservative Kamloops—Thompson—Cariboo, BC
I'm very flattered that you think I have all these powers, Gilles, but I don't.
Conservative
Betty Hinton Conservative Kamloops—Thompson—Cariboo, BC
Those are questions you will have to ask the House leader regarding tabling--or the minister himself. I certainly can't answer them for you.
Bloc
Gilles-A. Perron Bloc Rivière-des-Mille-Îles, QC
But did you check with your leader if he has an idea? I'll check with my leader.
Liberal
The Vice-Chair Liberal Brent St. Denis
When the Prime Minister announced the bill of rights and the ombudsman at Vimy, did he refer to the ombudsman having a legislative element or not?
Maybe I could add that to Gilles' question and leave it with you.
Peter.
NDP
Peter Stoffer NDP Sackville—Eastern Shore, NS
I gave the clerk a notice of motion for the next time we appear. It's that this committee ask the Department of Veterans Affairs officials to appear before us to give us an update on the status of the department's health care review.
I read the papers periodically, and I hear that the department has an ongoing health care review. I would like to know where they're at. If they announce it tomorrow while we're going through this again, I don't think we in opposition, or even yourselves, would like to be usurped in any way. So maybe just let us know if they are in the middle of it, near the end, or at the beginning.
Conservative
Betty Hinton Conservative Kamloops—Thompson—Cariboo, BC
If they weren't looking at this health care review they wouldn't be doing their job, so obviously they're supposed to be looking at it.
Conservative
Betty Hinton Conservative Kamloops—Thompson—Cariboo, BC
If you'll let me finish, both the government and the department are waiting for this committee to hear its witnesses and make recommendations.
The more things get in between that happening—and I'm not faulting any of these. PTSD is a very important subject, all of these things are very important, and I know they're important to all veterans. But if we don't move forward and get moving on that health care review, we'll be doing a disservice to veterans. The House is only going to sit from now until the middle of May. We have only seven or eight weeks left, so we need to move forward.
Liberal
Roger Valley Liberal Kenora, ON
Is something coming up in the middle of May that we don't know about?
Conservative
Betty Hinton Conservative Kamloops—Thompson—Cariboo, BC
It's eight weeks. We have a break in there, and then usually we go to the middle of June.