Veterans Affairs Committee on Nov. 22nd, 2011

[Steven Blaney, Conservative, Lévis—Bellechasse, QC]

I thank you for your suggestion, but I would remind you that I really feel that the challenge we have to face at this point in our history needs all of our resources and skill. As I've indicated, we are oriented toward meeting the needs of our modern-day veterans. There are new challenges that were not necessarily faced in the same way before. I mentioned in my speech that we have to deal with physical issues and mental health issues that are very important, and we have to deal somehow with homeless veterans. These are the challenges I want my department to face first.

I will tell you that the veterans are so important that at this point in time I think all the resources of this department need to be oriented toward our veterans and the needs of their families.

I would like to go back to the projection. Will the numbers go up or will they go down? What I'm committed to doing is adjusting the workforce to the needs of the veterans. That's why we have committed to this transformation agenda.

I want to remind you that this transformation agenda is not coming from PMO or elsewhere; this transformation agenda has been designed and set by the people working for veterans. They know how we can better our programs. That's why I fully support this initiative to streamline our processes to better serve our veterans.

[Sean Casey, Liberal, Charlottetown, PE]

Mr. Lobb was very kind to ask a question on my behalf. The problem is that the question I've been asking isn't his, and the answer I've been receiving has been pretty consistent. The fact of the matter is, there is going to be a decrease in the Veterans Affairs budget. I understand that the party line is that veterans' benefits will not be affected.

You used the term earlier “quasi-statutory”. You would agree with me that veterans benefits are not statutory. Is that not correct?

[Steven Blaney, Conservative, Lévis—Bellechasse, QC]

Our programs are quasi-statutory. This means that if, let's say, you are a seriously ill or injured veteran, then it's automatic that you will have access to disability awards, earning loss benefits, and permanent and impermanent allowances. There, you go into rehabilitation, health benefits, and career transition services.

These programs are automatic, so they go into effect. Of course, we hope that our veterans need our services less, because it means that they have a medically related situation.

But what I can assure any veteran on the front now, any military person returning from Afghanistan—and this is what is great about the new Veterans Charter—is that whether it's today or five or ten years from now, we will be here for them, because with those programs there is no need to go to Parliament, no need to put it in the budget. It's there.

[The Chair, Conservative, Greg Kerr]

Thank you, Mr. Blaney.

We now go to Mr. Daniel for five minutes.

[Joe Daniel, Conservative, Don Valley East, ON]

As a little bit of a follow-on to that, we noticed that in your supplementary estimates you request an additional authority for $10.6 million to improve program delivery. Could you describe in more detail the sort of improvements you are going to make to the delivery, and how they will affect our newer veterans, who are perhaps much more computer-literate and more savvy from that point of view?

[Steven Blaney, Conservative, Lévis—Bellechasse, QC]

Yes, and I thank you for your question.

Basically we want to move from a paper-oriented business to a computerized and digital one. To give you an example, we need to digitalize our medical records. Right now we have a huge pile of files that must go through the department. It's a heavy burden, a lengthy one, and it's unacceptable, I would say, for a modern organization. That's why we are undergoing a massive transformation. That's why the officials and the veterans have the same goal, to cut into bureaucracy and reduce wait times.

In the supplementary estimates that are in front of you today, there is an amount of $10 million. One-sixth of the amount is specifically aimed at helping the department invest to save time and money for our veterans. This is part of the program we have.

Let me get back to some examples that I have with me. It's key that we reduce wait times. It's key that we make sure that our veterans—and I would say that this is only the first step—don't have to deal with piles of paper, piles of forms, to get the service to which they are entitled. We need to make sure that those services are available through modern technology.

[Joe Daniel, Conservative, Don Valley East, ON]

Changing the subject a little bit, I was recently in England and was privileged to go to the memorial service on November 11. We have Canadian veterans in places that are not actually in Canada. How many do we have? Is there an idea of how many we have? How do we serve those veterans and their needs?

[Steven Blaney, Conservative, Lévis—Bellechasse, QC]

Do you mean how do we service those veterans abroad?

[Joe Daniel, Conservative, Don Valley East, ON]

I mean the Canadian veterans who are living abroad.

[Steven Blaney, Conservative, Lévis—Bellechasse, QC]

That's a good question. I would like my deputy minister to help you with this one.

[Suzanne Tining]

I do not have the exact number, but I can certainly provide the committee with the exact number who live abroad.

Canadian veterans who have been injured or who have become ill as a result of their military service are entitled to the services and benefits of the department, regardless of where they live. We have an international operations unit that stays connected with those who live in England or elsewhere in the world.

[Steven Blaney, Conservative, Lévis—Bellechasse, QC]

If I may just add, regardless of where the veteran lives today, if his disability is related to his service in the Canadian Forces, we provide him with the services he deserves. That's why we need to update our.... We have “My VAC Account” on the website. We are still implementing and improving this system. But this is a way we can reach out to a veteran who is overseas and provide the services to which he or she is entitled.

[Joe Daniel, Conservative, Don Valley East, ON]

These service improvements that you're providing for Canadian veterans will actually also be of big assistance to veterans abroad and give them easier access. Is that what you are suggesting?

[Steven Blaney, Conservative, Lévis—Bellechasse, QC]

Yes, absolutely.

[Joe Daniel, Conservative, Don Valley East, ON]

Thank you.

Going back to some of the expenditures, in 2010-11, $1.7 billion in benefits were paid pursuant to the Pension Act, representing about half your department’s total expenditures. This amount represents a small decrease of about $17 million from the previous year.

In fiscal year 2011–12, your department anticipates that these expenditures will remain at about $1.7 billion. When do you think the declining number of war veterans will start to result in significant decreases in benefits paid under the Pension Act?

[Steven Blaney, Conservative, Lévis—Bellechasse, QC]

We expect that there could already be a small decrease as of next year in terms of the needs. About 90% of the $3.5 billion goes directly into the pockets of our veterans. So 90% of it is money that flows from the government through the department to the veterans.

You mentioned the supplementary estimates. You chose a good example of how the department works and how it works in conjunction with the ombudsman. If you recall, last week the ombudsman tabled his report and said that there were some veterans in the past who should have had access to some programs but didn't know about them, so they did not have access to those programs. This issue was raised between the ombudsman and our officials. We have reached out to those veterans who were eligible for some programs. That's why in the budget—in the supplementary estimates you have this morning—there's the retroactive exceptional incapacity allowance benefit payment of $21 million. That's $21 million that will be provided to our veterans. In conjunction with, I would say, the remarkable work of the ombudsman, we were able to identify them and make sure that the veterans get the services to which they are entitled.

You have $21 million for the veterans who need these programs. You have the $10 million for what I would call “invest to save”, as we are modernizing our system. You also have, if I may, the $20 million for Agent Orange. This is really money you are investing. The decisions you are making today is for money that will better the service to our veterans, and most of it will go directly into their pockets.

[The Chair, Conservative, Greg Kerr]

Thank you very much.

Now we'll go to Ms. Mathyssen for five minutes.

[Irene Mathyssen, NDP, London—Fanshawe, ON]

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair, and thank you, Minister, for being here.

Madam Tining, it's a pleasure to see you.

I have a number of questions.

I want to begin with your statement, Minister, that we have many modern-day vets. Indeed, I see them all the time, the former peacekeepers, in my riding. I have one who is a Bosnia vet. His job was to go in and open the mass graves. Needless to say, emotionally and physically he is not well. I'm very concerned about these people.

I have a veterans hospital in my riding: Parkwood Hospital. You say that the closing of the beds at places such as Ste. Anne's or at Parkwood will not be problematic, because these vets will get provincial care.

It would seem to me that the federal government is responsible. We sent these young men and women to war. We sent them on peacekeeping missions. Is it not the responsibility of the federal government, not the provincial government, to make sure of their care?

I have this terrible feeling that the federal government is, quite literally, washing its hands of its responsibility to the men and women who put their lives on the line and for whom life is not pleasant, happy, or productive right now because of their service.

[Steven Blaney, Conservative, Lévis—Bellechasse, QC]

Well, thank you. I would say I fully agree with you that we have full responsibility to take care of those veterans returning from mission and their families. That's why we are working in conjunction with the provinces. That's why, as I indicated earlier, we are not only providing the health services provided via by the provinces but are also going, I would say, the extra mile to face the particular needs of our veterans.

In your example, you raised the issue of not only physical health but also mental health. This is an issue this country is taking very seriously. Actually, I consider Canada to be providing leadership in terms of the mental health services provided to our veterans. In recent years, we have doubled the number of operational stress injury clinics that provide services to veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. As of today, more than 14,300 veterans with mental health conditions and their families are provided with services.

I would just add one thing. Ste. Anne's Hospital has a national operational stress injury centre for treatment there. These services will be maintained and evaluated, and if more are needed we'll see how it unfolds. But I just want to reassure you this morning that will we not only maintain the service to traditional veterans in that facility but also keep components to address the needs of modern-day veterans.

[Irene Mathyssen, NDP, London—Fanshawe, ON]

But, Minister, who pays? Does the federal government pay? Does the provincial government pay?

[Steven Blaney, Conservative, Lévis—Bellechasse, QC]

We do, yes.

[Irene Mathyssen, NDP, London—Fanshawe, ON]

The federal government pays all of those costs for all of those modern-day vets, no matter where they are, no matter what they suffer?

[Steven Blaney, Conservative, Lévis—Bellechasse, QC]

Well, we go the extra mile, as I've just indicated. For example, I come from Lévis, near Quebec City. There's a clinic in L'Ancienne-Lorette. This clinic is providing service to veterans. Any veteran who knocks at their door has service provided to him through the clinic, and these clinics are funded—

[Irene Mathyssen, NDP, London—Fanshawe, ON]

Does the federal government pay for that, for all of it?

[Steven Blaney, Conservative, Lévis—Bellechasse, QC]

Absolutely. Yes.