Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Regarding Madam O'Neill-Gordon's question on the VIP, again, you're right, if the veteran did not have VIP—and correct me if I'm wrong—and then he dies and she wishes to apply for it, she has to have a low income or a disability tax credit. If she doesn't have those, she doesn't qualify.
But if a veteran had VIP and he dies or she dies, the spouse gets VIP. She doesn't have to have a disability tax credit or a low income. She automatically receives it. What's happened is that they've developed a two-tier widow, even though the promise was made that all widows would receive it. This is the difficulty I have, and this is where the minister and I split hairs many times. That's not what was promised. The promise to Joyce Carter was that all widows would receive it upon the death of the veteran. There was no classification. There were no check marks. There was no disability taxing. I have widows who were told by DVA to see their doctor, obtain a disability form, and go back to CRA. If you can get a disability tax credit from CRA, then you can apply for VIP. What 85-year-old widow has the time to do all of that? That's the frustration I have. That's my statement.
Before my question, I want to give very good praise to I think two of the greatest DVA employees you have, and they are Paul Brown and Wendy Shea in Halifax. They have me on their back all the time, and they do a tremendous job. They and the staff hidden away in a Halifax shopping centre are unbelievable. Even though I may not like the answer, they are absolutely perfect, and I hear that from veterans groups as well.
The other thing too, Madam for you, is the fact that if a veteran marries after the age of 60 and then dies later, the spouse receives nothing. But that's not a DVA problem; that's a DND problem. I'm working on that one to fix it.
My question for you is something I've asked DVA before, and the minister has been very receptive, although it's a challenge—not for St. Anne's Hospital but for hospitals across the country that are provincially run yet funded by DVA for the veteran. When the veteran is elderly and placed in, let's say, Camp Hill hospital, their spouse isn't able to go with them. They are separated. We had the Maybee case in Halifax, which was national news. Unfortunately, Mr. Maybee passed away yesterday, so that problem won't happen any more.
Are there discussions with the provinces across the country to be able to tell elderly veterans in the last stages of their lives that their spouse will be able to be with them in their room, to cohabit for whatever remaining period they have? I know when I spoke to Paul Brown and Wendy Shea they had those initial discussions, because a lot of it has to do with the provinces. It really is quite sad: an aging veteran who is under a paliative situation for a few months and can't be with their spouse at the end of their lives. I find that rather challenging. Are there discussions within DVA for that?