Veterans Affairs Committee on Feb. 23rd, 2009

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

Merci.

[The Chair, Conservative, David Sweet]

Mr. Kerr, for seven minutes.

[Greg Kerr, Conservative, West Nova, NS]

Thank you very much, Colonel, for joining us today.

In your presentation you were talking in terms of the services provided by your defence department or minister of state for defence, and I notice that one of the examples is that non-military disabled--in other words, civilian disabled--are able to be retrained at those facilities. Do you have many examples where civilian and military facilities provide that kind of programming--in other words, where both civilians and veterans can get the services provided?

[Col Jean-Michel Verney]

Are you referring to civilian Defence staff?

[Greg Kerr, Conservative, West Nova, NS]

Yes, it's on the second page we have here: “Training is also provided to disabled persons who are not veterans.” I assume that means to the civilian population, the non-military population?

Perhaps I'll just ask it in a general way, if I could. Are there programs provided both to your civilian population and to your veteran military population at the same time?

[Col Jean-Michel Verney]

I did not have this document, so I am unable to... I did not work on this document, so I do not know exactly...

[Greg Kerr, Conservative, West Nova, NS]

Okay, let's--

[Col Jean-Michel Verney]

... which mechanism you were referring to. I apologize for that.

[Greg Kerr, Conservative, West Nova, NS]

Let's leave it as a general question, if we can. Are there programs through which you provide services both to military veterans and to non-military people? Are there examples of that taking place?

[Col Jean-Michel Verney]

No. I cannot provide you with any examples.

[Greg Kerr, Conservative, West Nova, NS]

Okay, I'll get off that line of questioning. I'll have to check into that later, then, if you don't mind.

[Col Jean-Michel Verney]

I apologize.

[The Chair, Conservative, David Sweet]

We're just about out of time. It might be fairer to Colonel Verney to say that the member was quoting from a briefing document we have, which says the ONAC is responsible for a network of nine professional retraining schools throughout France that help disabled veterans obtain training in various trades so they can make a successful transition from military service to civilian life. Then it goes on to say that non-service people are also incorporated in that.

Are you familiar with that, Colonel?

[Col Jean-Michel Verney]

Mr. Chairman, I did understand the question. The Office National des Anciens Combattants et Victimes de Guerre does provide assistance to military personnel. Does it also provide assistance to civilians? I am no expert in this area and I am sorry about that. My apologies.

[The Chair, Conservative, David Sweet]

Thank you.

[Greg Kerr, Conservative, West Nova, NS]

Okay, thank you.

[The Chair, Conservative, David Sweet]

Are you finished with the questions?

[Greg Kerr, Conservative, West Nova, NS]

Yes, that's fine, Mr. Chair.

[The Chair, Conservative, David Sweet]

Mr. Clarke, you can take the rest of the time. You have another five minutes.

[Rob Clarke, Conservative, Desnethé—Missinippi—Churchill River, SK]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you for coming today.

I have a question. I was with the RCMP or Gendarmerie royale du Canada for 18 years. In Canada if you serve in the RCMP abroad or in our country--it doesn't really matter where--you're deemed to be a veteran. If members of your national police force serve at home or abroad, are they entitled to the same benefits as the veterans who serve overseas?

[Col Jean-Michel Verney]

Are you talking about the police force or the military?

[Rob Clarke, Conservative, Desnethé—Missinippi—Churchill River, SK]

Yes.

[Col Jean-Michel Verney]

You're referring to the police.

[Rob Clarke, Conservative, Desnethé—Missinippi—Churchill River, SK]

I'm referring to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

[Col Jean-Michel Verney]

Quite. Police officers have the same status as members of the military, so they come under exactly the same system as the military. Even if, as of January 1, 2009, namely one and a half months ago, they are no longer under the purview of the Department of National Defence. They now come under the jurisdiction of the Department of the Interior, the Ministère de la sécurité intérieure et des libertés civiles, but do keep their military status. If a police officer were sent to an operating theatre, he would meet the criteria for a veteran and he would, as such, be entitled to the benefits and rights given to veterans.