Hear, hear!
Evidence of meeting #19 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 therapists.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Evidence of meeting #19 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 therapists.
A recording is available from Parliament.
5 p.m.
Conservative
Ron Cannan Conservative Kelowna—Lake Country, BC
We really appreciate your support for veterans and your serving our country. And it's a loss to the Okanagan.
For our committee, Captain Mike's getting transferred to Alberta.
5 p.m.
Occupational Therapist and military spouse, As an Individual
We got our posting message yesterday.
5 p.m.
Occupational Therapist and military spouse, As an Individual
He's only been in there for five months, in the Okanagan. There you go.
5 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Rob Anders
Well, welcome to Alberta. We can always use more soldiers.
I appreciate your taking the time. I particularly appreciated some of the stories you shared about some of the veterans you've dealt with. I think they were touching and appropriate, given the issues we're dealing with. So I deeply appreciate that.
At that stage, as committee members, I know we are minutes away from a vote in the House of Commons. I'll just touch on one thing. I usually wrap this up by kind of rolling us into the next series of business. So if committee members wish to say good-bye or shake hands, etc., I'm just going to carry on as chair doing what we do here.
I want to let members know that we still have some more witnesses to appear with regard to this study we're doing. We also have the trips that are coming up, to Petawawa, etc.
Now, we still have some spaces coming up—I think it's Thursday next week—and there are two things that are kind of rattling around as issues. One is that whenever this Parliament wraps up, I think it is of value.... Mr. Stoffer moved the motion in a previous committee meeting some time ago, but I think this idea of separating Veterans Affairs from National Defence has served veterans well. And regarding the idea of decorating the room and designating it as such, the clerk and I were talking about the letter that's going to the Speaker of the House. I think that has value, serving as a precedent for future Parliaments with regard to carrying that type of tradition on.
Anyhow, it's something we may want to consider in that Thursday meeting or some of the ones we have upcoming, after the witnesses are extinguished, with regard to what types of things we want to designate in that regard.
The other thing is this idea of a comparison study with some of the other countries and their veteran services. I know the witness today touched on the United States in terms of some of the services they provide. I know Mr. Perron has touched on that before with regard to post-traumatic stress disorder in Vietnam veterans, etc., and then there's just some suggestions down here.
Mr. St. Denis.
5:05 p.m.
Liberal
Brent St. Denis Liberal Algoma—Manitoulin—Kapuskasing, ON
While you were talking about some of the things we could do in the future, you said we have a little bit of time between now and the return from the Valcartier trip?
5:05 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Rob Anders
I don't want to speak out of turn, sir, without having too much knowledge at my fingertips. I believe it's two Thursdays from now, not this Thursday but the next Thursday.
5:05 p.m.
Liberal
Brent St. Denis Liberal Algoma—Manitoulin—Kapuskasing, ON
Okay, because I wonder if, rather than losing a day, we could have one quick look at the report. A reread together wouldn't be a bad idea too, in my view. We could do it on the bus.
5:05 p.m.
Liberal
5:05 p.m.
Liberal
Brent St. Denis Liberal Algoma—Manitoulin—Kapuskasing, ON
I don't read on moving vehicles very well, but I would try.
5:05 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Rob Anders
No, I think that's actually something we need to make sure we serve notice to Michel with regard to, as well. The intention, of course, and we've discussed this at previous meetings, is to have our trips—we've heard a number of witnesses—and come to a wrap-up with regard to a report and recommendations, just so he's apprised and knows that's coming up.
Are you suggesting then, sir, maybe for that Thursday upcoming, that we have some sort of a draft?
5:05 p.m.
Liberal
Brent St. Denis Liberal Algoma—Manitoulin—Kapuskasing, ON
Yes. We may hear something in the two base visits that's important, but the context and all of that.... The most I could imagine changing is a recommendation, a sentence here or there. I thought we could do the homework on the body of it, so we can spend more time afterward on the recommendations. I know we went through it once, but it was tweaked at the meeting, and I think a—
5:05 p.m.
Liberal
Brent St. Denis Liberal Algoma—Manitoulin—Kapuskasing, ON
A revisit, because it's important enough that I think a second reading wouldn't hurt at all.
5:05 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Rob Anders
I think that's very fair.
Michel, can you keep that in mind for that Thursday coming up?
As I said, we're just minutes away now from the vote, so I'll just go ahead and adjourn.
This meeting is adjourned.