Good afternoon, Minister. Thank you for coming to answer our questions.
I see in the estimates that were tabled that your department should reduce its spending by $24 million during this fiscal year. Given the scope of the Afghan mission, the number of wounded soldiers and people beset by various physical or psychological health conditions, particularly the post-traumatic stress syndrome, is this really a good time to cut spending?
We are told cuts of $2.3 million are maintained at the Ste. Anne Hospital. Employee representatives say consultations are underway to find ways to make these cuts. People worry and they wonder whether services or employee positions will be cut.
At our last meeting, you said cuts should not affect the quality or availability of direct services to clients. Is that a fact? Are you ready to make a commitment that services will not be affected? How could this streamlining plan be implemented without the quality of services being affected? That would be quite a feat.
Yesterday, your government announced a new network of eight support centres at a cost of $21 million. It will be mandated to provide care to sick or wounded Canadian soldiers, veterans, and families of soldiers who have been killed. This budget is managed by and under the purview of the DND, and not Veterans Affairs Canada. I am told that most services will be provided on military bases, and thus to those who have been affected recently by a physical or psychological medical problem. From what one can read about it, the budget for these centres will be under the responsibility of the national defence department.
If the services are provided, as they are, will the veterans affairs department have its say or a certain responsibility concerning the management of the care that will be provided in this context?