I have Mr. Lobb.
Evidence of meeting #11 for Veterans Affairs in the 40th Parliament, 3rd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was recommendations.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Evidence of meeting #11 for Veterans Affairs in the 40th Parliament, 3rd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was recommendations.
A recording is available from Parliament.
12:55 p.m.
Conservative
Ben Lobb Conservative Huron—Bruce, ON
Thank you. I'll share my time with Mr. McColeman.
Thank you again to our guests for attending today.
Mr. Maguire, some of the veterans you've discussed this with... One of the themes we've had out of our study is the lump sum benefit that is paid for pain and suffering. I'm wondering what your thoughts are on that, and what are the thoughts on the lump sum payout from some of the people you have discussed this with and represent?
12:55 p.m.
Conservative
12:55 p.m.
As an Individual
That way, you're going to increase the quality of life for the veteran. He can depend on that monthly pension coming in. You give a man suffering from PTSD... Normally there's an addiction with PTSD: drugs, alcohol, gambling, sex. Some have two, some have three, some have all four.
You give a man under these conditions $150,000 or $200,000 and he's going to be a happy man for six months. Then what do you do? The onus can go on the veteran and you can say that he should have put it into a bank and made interest on it. But these guys aren't aware of what's going on. To them, it's “Holy Jeez, I've got $100,000 or $200,000 and I'm going to enjoy it.”
12:55 p.m.
Conservative
Ben Lobb Conservative Huron—Bruce, ON
I'd just like to ask one more question, and then I'll turn it over to Mr. McColeman.
Are you saying you'd like to see the earnings loss benefit program in place--
1 p.m.
Conservative
1 p.m.
As an Individual
Yes. Why not? You get a young man who's 40 years old who is completely disabled--
1 p.m.
Medical Doctor, Royal United Services Institute of Nova Scotia
He's 22 years old.
1 p.m.
As an Individual
Yes, 22 years old. He can't work. He cannot contribute to the Canada Pension Plan. Why not?
1 p.m.
Conservative
Phil McColeman Conservative Brant, ON
Thank you. I too want to underscore just how much we appreciate your being here, and what you have done in terms of your service to our country. Over the last while, we've doubled the number of operational stress injury clinics across the country. In your view, has that money been well spent or not?
1 p.m.
Medical Doctor, Royal United Services Institute of Nova Scotia
It's been money well spent. I live in Nova Scotia, and 80% to 90% of my patients are veterans or former military. The nearest OSI clinic is in Fredericton, New Brunswick, so in my time I have only managed to get one patient there. I have another one who came to see me, and through Veterans Affairs we have worked to get him there. He lives in Cape Breton, but we managed to get him to the OSI clinic. In my time, I've had two go up to that.
There is the OTSSC. That is the occupational stress injury clinic within the military itself, and that's where they treat military members. They're excellent centres, but they have to release them. When people are released from the forces, they leave these centres. It was hoped that the OSI clinics would fill in for that, but there just aren't enough of them.
People have to travel great distances, and I can tell you that most of my patients are so stressed at the thought of travelling to New Brunswick...I've had one cancel because he couldn't deal with the drive. It was only a five-hour drive, but he couldn't handle it. When they are there, they are there for such a short time; it's usually overnight. It's so intense that they decompensate. The doctor I was dealing with over one of my patients--we had a nice little rapport--is gone now. There's not even follow-up for them. It's a one-time event.
It's probably better if you're close.
1 p.m.
As an Individual
I think the OSI clinics should be put in place around every major base in Canada--not on the base per se, but off the base, because a lot of these gentlemen, and the women also, cannot open up on a base level if they're still serving. Even members that are out have a very hard time going back into a military institution, going through a gate into a base area. They just lose it; “I'm not going in there, that's it.” I've had to deal with that time and time again through the OSI peer helper training program that I was on.
1 p.m.
Medical Doctor, Royal United Services Institute of Nova Scotia
We need more OSI clinics.
1 p.m.
As an Individual
Yes. And we need more psychologists who are trained with PTSD.
1 p.m.
Medical Doctor, Royal United Services Institute of Nova Scotia
Psychiatrists as well.
1 p.m.
As an Individual
Psychiatrists, psychologists--they're not out there.
I think Mr. Sweet mentioned something about a list for how we find our doctors. I asked that question thirty years ago. I asked if there was a list of doctors where I could go to say that this man needs help for this condition. I was told to tell him to go to a phone book. I said, that's some help, that is. You have a man who suffers from PTSD who is even scared to answer his phone and you tell him to go to a phone book.
1 p.m.
Conservative
Phil McColeman Conservative Brant, ON
Thank you, Ms. MacKinnon and Mr. Maguire.
I want to thank you again on behalf of the committee for your service, Madam MacKinnon, not only in the military for our country, but also now for your service in helping veterans who continue to help our country.
Mr. Maguire, I would like to say--and I think the rest of the members will resonate with this--that you gave us the crown of the nobility in your opening remarks. I'd suggest to you, sir, that nobility might be measured by the degree in which you're willing to sacrifice your life for your comrades, and you certainly exceed us in that regard. Thank you very much for your service, sir.