Veterans Affairs Committee on Feb. 14th, 2012

[Stéphane Lemieux]

No. If you get killed in the line of the duty, you have the death benefit.

[Sean Casey, Liberal, Charlottetown, PE]

I suspect this may be a question for you, Madame Bastien. If a veteran is dissatisfied with a decision with respect to provision of benefits under the rehabilitation program.... If his own doctor says he should have some psycho-social counselling but the department disagrees, and if his own doctor says he should have some other medical services and the department disagrees, if he has a dispute as to part of his program, is there a place where he can appeal the decision of the department?

It's my understanding that the Veterans Review and Appeal Board will look at the degree of impairment. It will look at the amount of the lump sum. But it doesn't have the authority to look at decisions of this nature. Am I right?

[Charlotte Bastien]

Yes, you are right. It's the same idea. The tribunal doesn't look at some of the health benefits. There is an appeal process, and there is a process whereby, when veterans are not satisfied with the decision by the department, they can appeal. But that is not under the tribunal mandate or authority.

[Sean Casey, Liberal, Charlottetown, PE]

It's an internal appeal to another civil servant within the department.

[Charlotte Bastien]

Yes.

[Sean Casey, Liberal, Charlottetown, PE]

There is no ultimate appeal to an independent body; it's all departmental officials. Okay.

[The Chair, Conservative, Greg Kerr]

You have time for a quick one.

[Sean Casey, Liberal, Charlottetown, PE]

I think I've taken enough of the committee's time today. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

[The Chair, Conservative, Greg Kerr]

Thank you, Mr. Casey. I appreciate that.

Ms. Adams, go ahead, please.

[Eve Adams, Conservative, Mississauga—Brampton South, ON]

I appreciate the self-deprecating humour, Mr. Casey.

I think we can all agree that it's ideal to attract more veterans to serve at the department, whether they're providing front-line service or whether they're interpreting policy. It certainly is the goal of the department to hire more and more veterans. Obviously, folks who have gone through can perhaps extend an added element of empathy to other veterans.

I'd like to commend you for your work. You come from CF; you're now serving at Veterans Affairs. You're sort of the ideal example of what we'd like to do. Thank you very much for your service to our veterans and for your service to our country.

Can you tell me a little bit about how an injured CF member who is released for medical reasons transitions to VAC?

[Stéphane Lemieux]

With the JPSUs that have been put in place, the joint personnel support units, this system is a lot easier now with the transition of the file between DND and VAC. What is going to happen, especially with our most severely injured soldiers, is that before the file is transferred, we will have a meeting with all the stakeholders around the table, making sure all the information is passed on from one organization to the other, to make sure the transition is as streamlined and transparent as possible, so that there is a continuum of service between the two organizations.

This will take place at different timelines, depending on how complex the case is and how many services need to be put in place before there is a transition, a release date. This is basically how the system is going to work.

If the file is less complex, there will be less need for a meeting like that, and you're going to go through the transition interview. This is where you're going to be introduced to the services that could be available for you, depending on your needs.

Those are basically the two ways it could happen.

[Eve Adams, Conservative, Mississauga—Brampton South, ON]

In very plain, simple terms, for an uncomplicated case, how long does that process take?

[Stéphane Lemieux]

It will start around six months before the release date. But I have some cases in my team that will take a lot longer than that, because it's going to be more complex to make sure that DND has put all the services in place.

[Charlotte Bastien]

To be specific, if there were a severe injury in Afghanistan, we would be notified right away and would start working with DND on the care of that severely injured member.

In certain cases we were involved from the get-go in order to ensure the continuum of care. But on average, usually six months before the release date we start doing the case conferencing for the transfer of care from DND and the Canadian Forces to Veterans Affairs Canada.

[Eve Adams, Conservative, Mississauga—Brampton South, ON]

How are families involved?

[Stéphane Lemieux]

The family is more than welcome to take part in the transition interview. I don't see that happen often at the office, but sometimes it does on a voluntary basis. They decide whether to have their family present or not. It gives better support to the family, understanding where it's coming from.

[Eve Adams, Conservative, Mississauga—Brampton South, ON]

Which services are veterans making most use of and are most important to them?

[Stéphane Lemieux]

The rehabilitation program is the key one that I see in my team. Pretty much all of the serving members coming through the transition interview apply for the rehab program.

[The Chair, Conservative, Greg Kerr]

Thank you very much.

Mr. Genest.

[Réjean Genest, NDP, Shefford, QC]

The focus often seems to shift back to me. Am I not talking enough?

Ms. Bastien, we are talking about financial benefits. How many people receive the earning loss benefit, and how many receive the permanent impairment allowance?

[Charlotte Bastien]

If you give me a few minutes....

[The Chair, Conservative, Greg Kerr]

Do you want to go to another question and come back to it?

[Charlotte Bastien]

In 2010-2011, a total of 4,356 clients received income support through the rehabilitation program. As for the permanent impairment allowance, I don't have the data here. I will send it to you in writing.

[The Chair, Conservative, Greg Kerr]

Thank you.

Mr. Storseth.

[Brian Storseth, Conservative, Westlock—St. Paul, AB]

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.

As much as I'd like to ask some questions, I'd first like to give Mr. Lobb an opportunity to finish his questions.