Evidence of meeting #31 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 soldiers.
A recording is available from Parliament.
4:50 p.m.
NDP
Peter Stoffer NDP Sackville—Eastern Shore, NS
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Madame, thank you very much for coming here. I know that the courage you show in going public with what happened with your son is very much appreciated.
When did your son pass away, again? What year was it?
4:50 p.m.
NDP
Peter Stoffer NDP Sackville—Eastern Shore, NS
Am I correct that you said there was an inquiry after that?
4:50 p.m.
NDP
Peter Stoffer NDP Sackville—Eastern Shore, NS
It was one year later. Okay. How long did that inquiry take?
4:50 p.m.
As an Individual
It was supposed to take three months, but ended up taking six. It started at the beginning of December and ended in May or June.
4:50 p.m.
As an Individual
Yes, in 2007. No, Frédéric died in 2007. It was the next year, in 2008.
4:50 p.m.
NDP
Peter Stoffer NDP Sackville—Eastern Shore, NS
Were you given a copy of the report? Were you allowed to speak to senior levels of the military to discuss the concerns that were expressed in that inquiry?
4:50 p.m.
NDP
Peter Stoffer NDP Sackville—Eastern Shore, NS
When the inquiry came out, they obviously wrote a report. Were you able to then speak to senior levels of the military to discuss the report?
4:50 p.m.
As an Individual
No report was given. They simply made a few recommendations and told us that the report was in Ottawa.
4:50 p.m.
NDP
4:50 p.m.
NDP
Peter Stoffer NDP Sackville—Eastern Shore, NS
Mr. Chairman, I'll pause for a second and recommend to the committee, if it's at all possible, that she get a copy of that report. If there is a documented report of the inquiry, I believe the family should have a copy. It shows that what happened to Sheila Fynes' son in the barracks in Edmonton is not an isolated case.
This is the second time in less than two months that we have heard testimony from a mother of a soldier who committed suicide that they were not told that their son had attempted suicide in the past. I know that happened a few years ago, and we heard testimony from the officers here the other day about what they're doing, but it would be very helpful if we could send Linda's testimony to those two officers and ask them what is being done now to make sure this never happens again.
They made it sound as if this can't happen, and I want to be absolutely sure that Linda's testimony is taken into consideration so that no other family has to go through that again.
I think it would be helpful, Mr. Chairman, one, for her to get a copy of any written report that was done, and two, to be assured, from the testimony of the two officers before, that they get a copy of the blues here, so that they can comment and say, “Yes, these mistakes may have happened, but they will not happen again”. That's just so we can be assured of moving forward.
I'll stop right there.
4:55 p.m.
Conservative
Colin Mayes Conservative Okanagan—Shuswap, BC
I don't want to disagree with you, Mr. Stoffer, but the issue might be medical confidentiality. It doesn't matter if it's a mother; if you're an adult above the age of 21, that is your information, and it's not shared with your family. Perhaps a policy could be put in place, a recommendation that once a person is deceased, it be sent to the next of kin or benefactor or whatever.
I think that's a little bit of an issue. I don't know that for sure, but I don't think that the department would be arbitrary in not giving that information out, other than the fact that it might be confidential information.
4:55 p.m.
As an Individual
I would just like to make a comment.
Deployed military members have provided the name of someone. For example, Frédéric gave my name in case something happened to him. But that's where doctor-patient confidentiality enters the picture. But he named me. So, the information shouldn't be so confidential. The armed forces ask for it. It should be much more open.
4:55 p.m.
Conservative
Brian Storseth Conservative Westlock—St. Paul, AB
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Ms. Lagimonière, thank you for coming. I know this must be tremendously difficult. Thank you for the sacrifice and the dedication that your family and you have shown to our country.
I come from a riding that has two military bases. We've deployed a lot of men and women all over the world, and much of what you said absolutely hits home. It's important that people like you stand up and support our men and women.
What we are trying to do here—and everybody in this committee is on the same page—is bring witnesses like you or the people who have come before you and put recommendations forward so that we can fix some of the problems that have been created.
Did anybody sit with you after your son came back from deployment and tell you of the warning signs that you should know about? Were you made aware of anything to be looking out for?
4:55 p.m.
Conservative
Brian Storseth Conservative Westlock—St. Paul, AB
There was nothing.
You said your son had a 15-minute interview when he first came back. That was it? There were no more meetings with mental health professionals?
