Evidence of meeting #17 for Veterans Affairs in the 39th Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was families.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Executive Director, Military Family Resource Centre, Halifax and Region
But we only do it around deployment times, when we have a unit or members deploying, or a unit or a number of members from a unit have just come back. So it's strictly around the time of deployment and about educating them, especially reservists and their families, about what's available to them through all the different avenues.
So we don't normally go out to talk to them about release of members, or when a member is moving on from the military and becoming a veteran.
Liberal
Todd Russell Liberal Labrador, NL
Would you say there is a gap, whether we move back to fill the gap or the CF moves forward to fill that gap, in terms of transition?
Executive Director, Military Family Resource Centre, Halifax and Region
I think there's a gap. I think there needs to be more work on educating everybody.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Rob Anders
All right, thank you.
Now to the Conservative Party of Canada, and Mr. Cannan, for five minutes.
Conservative
Ron Cannan Conservative Kelowna—Lake Country, BC
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you very much, ladies. Halifax and the region are very fortunate to have two dedicated and passionate individuals such as you in the military family resource centre, and I appreciate the information you've shared with our committee.
I just have a couple of quick questions on your budget.
You said 55% of your funding. What is your overall budget, then?
Executive Director, Military Family Resource Centre, Halifax and Region
My overall budget is $3.5 million. I get $1.25 million from the department for military family services.
Conservative
Ron Cannan Conservative Kelowna—Lake Country, BC
Okay, and the other 35%, you said, is made up of user fees and fundraisers, etc.
You're saying you need more money, ultimately. Have you looked at a projection from where you're at today? If you had more funding, what would you be doing differently?
Executive Director, Military Family Resource Centre, Halifax and Region
I wouldn't have to go out and beg everybody to buy a lottery ticket.
That's the hardest part. People say, if you're a military family resource centre, you're fully funded by National Defence, and you must be a federal employee. No, we're independently incorporated, provincially incorporated. We are not federal, we are not provincial; we are a not-for-profit charity, and the Canadian public has a really difficult time understanding that. The Canadian Forces members even have a difficult time understanding that we are not fully funded. So they have a hard time pulling out and giving us a buck to buy that lottery ticket.
Conservative
Ron Cannan Conservative Kelowna—Lake Country, BC
Is your budget similar to those of other centres across the country?
Executive Director, Military Family Resource Centre, Halifax and Region
We go through a funding application process, so I would say that my budget is very similar. It's just the scale of it. Because I'm the largest and run two massive day cares, that's why my budget is so large. I had a $220,000 shortfall. I am paying through fundraised dollars and dollars raised through user fees for staff who are providing the mandated programs and services that I have to provide. So you get creative.
Conservative
Ron Cannan Conservative Kelowna—Lake Country, BC
So the province is helping with funding those day care spaces?
Executive Director, Military Family Resource Centre, Halifax and Region
Yes, we do get some subsidies from the province, absolutely.
Conservative
Ron Cannan Conservative Kelowna—Lake Country, BC
You mentioned specifically that your mandate is not to deal with Veterans Affairs, but you are working with some retired members.
Are they newly released members, or are they members who have been absent from the forces for the long term or many years, or are they in between those?
Executive Director, Military Family Resource Centre, Halifax and Region
We have a combination of both. We have a lot of people who of course were associated with us, and we're a safe place, so they have kept coming. And then we have people who have been away and they want to start giving back, or they want to get back and be involved and engaged, so they'll come back to the centre.
It's a combination of everything.
Conservative
Ron Cannan Conservative Kelowna—Lake Country, BC
That's what I was going to ask. Do quite a few come back and volunteer?
Executive Director, Military Family Resource Centre, Halifax and Region
Absolutely.
Conservative
Ron Cannan Conservative Kelowna—Lake Country, BC
And 51% of your board is comprised of active members' families. Is that correct?
Executive Director, Military Family Resource Centre, Halifax and Region
That's correct.
Conservative
Executive Director, Military Family Resource Centre, Halifax and Region
Most of the other 49% are serving military members. We have a couple of community members, but, traditionally, 49% are serving members.
Conservative
Ron Cannan Conservative Kelowna—Lake Country, BC
One last aspect, as far as the role of this committee is concerned, is that we've heard from other members that the role of this committee is to look after the veterans affairs...of members who are leaving in uniform.
I heard one member ask if there's something we can do to plan. From your 21 years of experience as a member and.... How many years have you been the executive director now?
Executive Director, Military Family Resource Centre, Halifax and Region
Ten years.
Conservative
Ron Cannan Conservative Kelowna—Lake Country, BC
So you started in the military when you were eight?