Veterans Affairs Committee on Sept. 20th, 2006

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

No, I don't think so. But I did go to Dieppe on behalf of the minister in August for probably one of the most emotionally charged ceremonies I've ever had the privilege of witnessing. That was the Essex and Kent Scottish Regiment.

If you're familiar at all with the way the beaches are in Dieppe, it's a relatively flat beach that slants down rather dramatically to the sea, which is one of the reasons we lost so many men during that Dieppe battle. The ceremony began with the Essex and Kent Scottish Regiment, complete with pipe band in full regalia, marching up from the sea. You couldn't see them from where the monument was situated, but they marched up from the sea and you could hear the pipes and they came across the beach toward the monument area, and I can tell you without a second's hesitation that there was not a dry eye in the crowd. It was extremely well done, very emotional, and we had a number of vets sitting in the audience who were actually on the beaches on the day of the battle and it meant a great deal to them.

Sister Agnes, who was a nursing nun--I believe she is 92 years old, the most highly decorated woman in all of France--was present for this ceremony as well. She spoke to a number of veterans who were in the audience, some of whom were temporarily blinded at the time they met her and had never laid eyes on her before. They simply remembered her voice. It was....

If I start talking about it too much, I'll start crying again, but the City of Windsor should be very proud of itself. They did a fantastic job. The Essex and Kent Scottish Regiment outdid itself. They were fantastic. I can't say enough good things about how that ceremony went. And if you ever have the privilege or the opportunity to meet Sister Agnes, I would encourage you to do so. She didn't speak English, and my French is terrible, unfortunately, but we sat together with one another and there was no communication problem at all.

I will apologize to my friend, Mr. Perron. I had to make part of my speech in French, but nobody threw rocks, so it's okay.

[The Chair, Conservative, Rob Anders]

That's a moving story.

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

It was a really great experience. I've said this before, but it bears repeating: any time you have an opportunity to walk through history with those who created it, go. There is no more emotionally charged experience than to be there with someone who was actually there, and when you look at these veterans, it was pretty easy to visualize what they would have looked like sixty years ago. The fight is still in the eye, you know, the honour of the country; it's just there. You can see it in their faces. So it was a really emotionally charged experience and it was wonderful.

[The Chair, Conservative, Rob Anders]

I hope that answers your question.

We don't really have much on the agenda, aside from....

[David Sweet, Conservative, Ancaster—Dundas—Flamborough—Westdale, ON]

Mr. Chairman, is it appropriate to ask a question about the Russian delegation right now, or do you want me to wait?

[The Chair, Conservative, Rob Anders]

Please go ahead.

[David Sweet, Conservative, Ancaster—Dundas—Flamborough—Westdale, ON]

What will be our obligation for time--just simply the meeting time that we normally have on that day, or will it be necessary to have more?

[The Chair, Conservative, Rob Anders]

All we have right now is from 3:30 until 5:30. However, I do ask colleagues to keep in mind that when we travel to other countries we're often suffering jet lag. I find many a time we're traipsed around from one meeting to the next and we're somewhat discombobulated with regard to what's going on.

I imagine our Russian delegation will be in a not dissimilar state. If we can show them some courtesies.... And some people might want to show them Ottawa or things around here afterwards, if they have time, if their schedule isn't entirely booked with state meetings over at the ambassador's residence and various things, as it usually is. I think they would be greatly appreciative.

I will also say that I'm very heartened that our sister committee from the Russian Federation is visiting Canada. Of course they could go to all sorts of places. But it being that my family came from areas that were once under the Soviet empire, I think it's significant that we do outreach so that Russia sees itself as part of a greater whole, that we heal some of the rifts of the Cold War, and that they see themselves as allies of NATO, and Canada particularly.

I'm glad to see they're coming to Canada, and I hope their attentions turn this way more often than not.

Mr. Sweet, I hope that answers some of your concerns.

Mr. St. Denis.

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

Just to follow up on what David said, actually, I think David raises a good point. They're coming a long way.... I'm sorry, is it committee members or veterans--just to be clear here who is coming?

[The Chair, Conservative, Rob Anders]

My understanding is that they are committee members.

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

Of the Russian Duma, a standing committee. So they're not going to be veterans; they're like us, then.

If we knew their schedule before our meeting and after, and if we knew that they were coming from somewhere else, going to somewhere else, we'd know we just had this time slot. I agree that we extend whatever courtesy we can, exactly in line with what you're saying--that the long-term dividends of this are not calculable, but certainly they would be positive.

Depending on what day of the week it was, I would certainly make myself available to spend some time after, if that were necessary and desirable.

[The Chair, Conservative, Rob Anders]

It's going to be on the Wednesday, October 4. I know that I will certainly endeavour to look into that or have my staff do so, and we'll follow up and get back to you on it.

Mr. Perron.

[Gilles-A. Perron, Bloc, Rivière-des-Mille-Îles, QC]

I agree with David and Brent. I think we could quite simply go out for a drink or a meal after the meeting, if they are available.

We could go over to Sparks on the Tuesday or something like that,

or in a good Scottish bar. That would give them a chance to relax, we could take off our ties and show them that we are not just interested in politics, that we have a human and social side as well.

[The Chair, Conservative, Rob Anders]

I appreciate that, Mr. Perron.

Based on trips that I've taken previously, and I'm sure others share a similar experience, many a time you go from meeting to meeting and it can be kind of stuffy and formal with the protocol involved and what not, so they may enjoy something a little lighter. I think that's a great suggestion. I will endeavour to check into what the situation is.

Mr. Valley.

[Roger Valley, Liberal, Kenora, ON]

I'm sorry, did you say we're intending to have a full two-hour meeting with them? Will that be the only thing on the agenda that day?

[The Chair, Conservative, Rob Anders]

I believe so. They've requested a meeting with us, and we're trying to be hospitable.

[Roger Valley, Liberal, Kenora, ON]

I think we should make the offer, and if they're in the mood to accept it, if their time allows, let's do it then.

[The Chair, Conservative, Rob Anders]

All right. We will carry on with that.

Perhaps that wraps up some of our intent and discussion on what will be happening when the Russian delegation visits.

Now we have a list--hopefully everybody has a list--of the priority access beds for veterans. I think this will help us determine where we would like to visit across the country, St. Anne's being one of the more significant, with 550 total number of beds. Obviously, it's one of the largest locations in the country for veterans. Then maybe there are some other places we'd like to see. Maybe we'll peruse that list and see if anything jumps out at people.

Mr. Shipley.

[Bev Shipley, Conservative, Lambton—Kent—Middlesex, ON]

I have a question. I was looking at it and we were talking about other areas of our study also. I may need to be helped. If we were to look at the hospitals that I think we want to go and see, is there much difference between the hospitals? If we go to one, do we need to go to six of them? I'm only trying to think of a strategy in terms of what we actually want to see to fulfill some of the ongoing studies that we've also talked about in terms of the VIP program.

[The Chair, Conservative, Rob Anders]

You raise a very fair question, Mr. Shipley, and that's one of the reasons we're undertaking a trip: it's because we don't know. I don't, anyhow.

[Bev Shipley, Conservative, Lambton—Kent—Middlesex, ON]

I was simply trying to get a bit of a handle on what.... I guess it's sort of around the discussion about what is our whole plan. Is it the hospitals and something else, or only the hospitals or something else? Perhaps we should talk about that and get an idea of how the committee feels.

[The Chair, Conservative, Rob Anders]

I saw Mrs. Hinton with her hand raised first, and I see some colleagues down the way.

Mrs. Hinton.

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

Thank you.

I looked at the list briefly and actually the only VAC hospital listed here is St. Anne's. The rest of the hospitals listed here are all provincially run. They wouldn't have a federal component to them, if that makes a difference to anyone.

[The Chair, Conservative, Rob Anders]

Over to Monsieur Perron.

[Gilles-A. Perron, Bloc, Rivière-des-Mille-Îles, QC]

My comment is similar to what Betty was saying. The only official veterans' hospital is Sainte-Anne. However, that does not prevent us from visiting one, two or three different public hospitals in the provinces to see whether they are providing roughly the same type of care for veterans.

We could easily do this by going to the hospital at Laval University in Sainte-Foy, and to Sainte-Anne's Hospital to compare a hospital specialized in the care of veterans with another that has beds reserved for veterans. We could go to various parts of the country, but we do not need to visit 50 hospitals. Once we have seen four or five, I think we would have a good idea.

Sainte-Anne's hospital is interesting to us, because a new wing was built there not long ago. I do not know whether the construction has been completely finished or whether it will be finished soon, but we invested several million dollars there recently.

In addition, Sainte-Anne's hospital could be involved in treating my young PTSD victims. You know how strongly I feel about this cause. The hospital has already started looking into the symptoms of post-traumatic stress. That would be a good thing to do, even though fewer than about 10 of the 460 beds are reserved for the young veterans I call “my PTSDs”. The others receive treatment in outpatient clinics and meet with psychiatrists, psychologists and doctors.

I really believe that the biggest problem we will face in the next 10 or 15 years with veterans will be dealing with those who fought in the Gulf and in Bosnia. Unfortunately, there are some veterans — and I say this with a great deal of regret and sadness — who are dying every day. Two or three of them have died of old age. However, there are young people as well, and we have to start providing the proper services for them when they come back from Afghanistan and other missions. That will be the problem we have to face in 10 years, but we are already starting to see it.