Veterans Affairs Committee on April 27th, 2009

[David Monaghan]

Perhaps. There are six other locations within the building where the veterans' actions are recognized: not only in the Memorial Chamber. The veterans' actions are truly acknowledged within Centre Block. Unfortunately, people are not always aware of this. That is one of my responsibilities at the House.

[Roger Gaudet, Bloc, Montcalm, QC]

Thank you.

Mr. André.

[Guy André, Bloc, Berthier—Maskinongé, QC]

Good afternoon. Congratulations on a fine presentation. It was a good description of the issue.

I have two questions to ask you, one about the cost of the decorations and the other about other parliaments in other countries and whether or not they have named a room in honour of their veterans.

[David Monaghan]

Could I start with your second question and then move to the first?

[Guy André, Bloc, Berthier—Maskinongé, QC]

Yes, fine.

[David Monaghan]

To my knowledge they have not. However, I only have limited knowledge of what other parliaments have done. For example, the Memorial Chamber is truly unique to the Canadian Parliament. The architect, John A. Pearson, truly had a unique vision. One of the reasons, often not very well known, why the Peace Tower was given its name was because of Mr. Pearson's actions. At first there was a huge debate, people wanted to call it the Victory Tower, but it was Mr. Pearson who really pushed for the Peace Tower, along with the help of the Prime Minister at the time, Mr. King.

With respect to the cost, the cost of the panels will be covered by a current Public Works program, that is the architectural sculpture program for Centre Block. Mr. White is willing to take on the project and have it completed by September. He calculated that it would take eight weeks of work. The cost would be minimal. In fact, the cost is only that of making and replacing the panels.

[Guy André, Bloc, Berthier—Maskinongé, QC]

What about the cost of purchasing the reproductions?

[David Monaghan]

The cost of the sculptures?

[Guy André, Bloc, Berthier—Maskinongé, QC]

Yes.

[David Monaghan]

He will make the sculptures. Therefore, there will be no cost for the sculptures; Mr. White will do them himself.

[Guy André, Bloc, Berthier—Maskinongé, QC]

So we're talking about eight weeks of work.

[David Monaghan]

We are indeed talking about eight weeks of work.

[Guy André, Bloc, Berthier—Maskinongé, QC]

How much will that cost per week? Do you have an estimate?

[David Monaghan]

If we were going to sign a contract with someone externally to do the work, it could cost at least $35,000 for the same style of wood sculpture. However, because this is part of an on-going project, the cost will be covered by the current budget.

[The Chair, Conservative, David Sweet]

Thank you, Mr. André and Mr. Gaudet.

By the way, Mr. Monaghan, just so you're aware, you've been answering with great dignity, but I want to let you know you also have full discretion to answer any way you like. Frankly, some people on the Hill do that with a fine artistic flare. Please feel comfortable to answer in any way that would make you comfortable.

[David Monaghan]

Thank you very much.

It's just that I'm very conscious of the fact that as an employee of the House, I have a very limited area of responsibility. I'm responsible for the heritage collections and research within the buildings or on the building's contents. When it comes to issues about why rooms aren't named, I can talk about why they haven't been named in the past, but I can't really address questions of that nature now.

[The Chair, Conservative, David Sweet]

Understood. As I said, your answers held great dignity, so that was great.

[David Monaghan]

Thank you.

[The Chair, Conservative, David Sweet]

Mr. Stoffer, you have five minutes.

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

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Mr. Monaghan and Kevin, thank you very much for coming today. Siobhan knows that the lobby of the House of Assembly in Newfoundland and Labrador is dedicated to veterans, especially those at Beaumont-Hamel. It's beautiful. It's absolutely gorgeous. My colleague Mr. Kerr would know the Veterans Room at the Province House in Nova Scotia, which I'm sure you must have spent a fair bit of time in when you were the minister there. In the provincial legislature there have been issues of that nature, about naming or indicating that this particular room we're now in is dedicated to veterans in that regard.

I really think this is a great idea. It's super. I would go for it. There's just one little thing missing. As you know, RCMP fall under veterans now in terms of benefits and everything else, even though they are not part of the military per se. Had you considered or were you even given an opportunity to look at a symbol for the RCMP? When we deal with veterans issues, RCMP members now fall under DVA if they require benefits or anything of that nature. The odd time, we will get RCMP members in here discussing various issues about whatever is proceeding that day.

If the committee agreed, how difficult would it be to get an RCMP insignia here as well? I'm saying “if they do”, because I haven't brought it to their attention yet.

[David Monaghan]

I don't think it would be difficult at all. In fact, I have thought of the RCMP, but unfortunately I'm not entirely familiar with who falls under the authority. If in fact the intent with this project was to make witnesses comfortable using familiar objects with which they can identify, then I wouldn't see any problem with the idea of installing additional insignia in the room.

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

At first I thought of the merchant mariners, but then I thought we would be getting too far back in that regard.

There's one other thing. In the war room—Room 362, as you know—there's a very appropriate small certificate done by Mr. Pratt, the former chair of the defence committee. Would you envision an appropriate certificate here, for example, from our chairperson, say? Not a great big one saying “Hey folks, you're here now, God love you”, but—

[David Monaghan]

I think it would be important to provide some sort of identification of what these are about, why they are here, so that wouldn't be a major issue.

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

Thank you very much.

[The Chair, Conservative, David Sweet]

Thank you, Mr. Stoffer.

Mr. Kerr.