Evidence of meeting #47 for Veterans Affairs in the 41st Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was vrab.
A recording is available from Parliament.
As an Individual
One would be impartiality. Restore the members' impartiality and get the members and staff to buy into the generous nature of the legislation, the non-adversarial part of it. You can't make it any clearer than what's written in there.
Conservative
As an Individual
I thought that was two. Impartiality, as in leave us alone to make our decisions. The second one was to get everybody at the board bought into the generous....
As an Individual
It would take some intensive training from people outside the board.
Conservative
Bob Zimmer Conservative Prince George—Peace River, BC
Sure. I don't know if you've had the chance to look at Mr. Larlee's action plan.
As an Individual
I don't typically concern myself with that. Look, we're on the road five days a week every week, in a different city.
Conservative
Bob Zimmer Conservative Prince George—Peace River, BC
I just wanted to know if you had the chance to see the changes that are coming forward and if you think they will, I guess, face muster. What are your thoughts?
As an Individual
There should be no changes made at the board until the problems of impartiality and bias are fixed. Absolutely no changes. There are big changes coming. Video conference hearings would be one example. Every other tribunal in Canada will use a video conference as a last resort. VRAB is going to use it as a first resort. These are special people we're supposed to be dealing with. The veteran is going to be asked at the hearing if he minds appearing by video conference. Well the veteran has waited three to six months to get a hearing, so he's not going to say no.
Conservative
Bob Zimmer Conservative Prince George—Peace River, BC
I also wanted to ask, being that you've been there so long, what have been some positive elements for you? I know it's been a struggle, but what are some positive things? You have said that you ruled on some cases and in positive ways and the numbers reflect that, the fact that VRAB has approved a lot of appeals. Can you tell us a few good things that you're going to walk away with?
As an Individual
There is no better job in this country than serving the people who have served our country and have been disabled in the service of that country. Although I share it, I have taken this as an absolute privilege to be able to hear cases. They are very special people. The Government of Canada and people of Canada have dictated that these people would be treated with respect and dignity. They're not getting it now. Despite that, I will take from my experience that I had that rare, rare opportunity to do that. Not many people can say that.
As an Individual
I would just like to say that my family has been in the service since 1691 in Canada, so I understand all about it.
Conservative
Bob Zimmer Conservative Prince George—Peace River, BC
Thank you. Do I still have time?
At least we do have time for Cal and Abraham. By the way, Abraham, cool name. Cal is too, but Abraham is a cool name.
Conservative
Bob Zimmer Conservative Prince George—Peace River, BC
I just wanted to know what the VRAB process is to you. You've talked about it a little bit, but what is it to the RCMP?
National Executive, Staff Relations Representative Program, Royal Canadian Mounted Police
To the RCMP, the VRAB process—the hearing, the appeal board—is layers of frustration. If you have the endurance to continue through the process, it's like dealing with an insurance company. At the end of the day, if you can endure all the hurdles, there's the possibility of a positive outcome.
I'll mention as an anecdote that I got a message from a member who's gone back twice now to the Federal Court and not once did the Federal Court tell the board to do their job in accordance with the law. The member went back a second time for the Federal Court to tell the board to do their job, and on the second occasion the court awarded costs.
Maybe that's a rare event, and it absolutely should be the most rare event of all because our knowledge of what's available, the process to get the recognition for our disability, shouldn't be adversarial. It should be peer review. The presumption of doubt goes too far. As it becomes more litigious, it becomes more distant. I don't think it truly serves the veteran in the fullest way.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Greg Kerr
Thank you very much. We are over. Mr. Townsend had the last word.
I do want to thank our witnesses very much. That was very helpful for our study. We appreciate your taking the time to be here today.
I want to remind the committee that we're going to spend the latter part of the Wednesday meeting doing business.
Thank you very much.
The meeting is adjourned.