Evidence of meeting #7 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 actually.
A recording is available from Parliament.
9:15 a.m.
Liberal
Sean Casey Liberal Charlottetown, PE
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Welcome, gentlemen. It's nice to see you here.
You're familiar with a gentleman by the name of Guy Parent.
9:15 a.m.
Assistant Deputy Minister, Policy, Communications and Commemoration, Department of Veterans Affairs
Yes.
9:15 a.m.
Liberal
Sean Casey Liberal Charlottetown, PE
Have you had an opportunity to review the comments Mr. Parent made at a Senate veterans subcommittee?
9:15 a.m.
Assistant Deputy Minister, Service Delivery, Department of Veterans Affairs
Yes.
9:15 a.m.
Liberal
Sean Casey Liberal Charlottetown, PE
All right.
He said that he didn't believe that the population was dwindling for VAC but would be increasing. One of the concerns was whether VAC was ready for the possible surge of injuries resulting from recent conflicts. He said:
To clarify, I was trying to identify the fact it does not make sense when the cuts are based on a dwindling population. It does not matter where the cuts will be if you use a dwindling population as an excuse because it is growing on one side, although it may not be dwindling as fast as we expected on the other side. If the reduction is based on a dwindling population, it is not correct.
You've read that, have you?
9:15 a.m.
Assistant Deputy Minister, Service Delivery, Department of Veterans Affairs
Yes I have.
9:15 a.m.
Assistant Deputy Minister, Service Delivery, Department of Veterans Affairs
Let me start by saying that the population is decreasing. With regard to Second World War veterans, happily, the rate of mortality is such that people have been living longer, and that's a good thing. But that doesn't in any way threaten the budget or the benefits, because, as I've noted, when we look at our in-year amounts of money that we have—starting off with an estimate, as noted in the RPP—we actually do make the adjustment. So if in fact the mortality of Second World War veterans...as Mr. Parent has noted, or if in fact we see far more modern-day veterans, the reality is that the budget will be adjusted accordingly.
In terms of the department, we do not have to go back and ask for additional cabinet authority. We don't have to ask for additional policy. Basically we go through a process with the Treasury Board Secretariat, and the amount of money to the department is increased because it's a statutory payment. If veterans present themselves at any of our offices and they need services, by law we must provide them with the services and benefits they need. Whether it be a disability award or rehabilitation, there is no risk of a veteran not being served.
9:15 a.m.
Assistant Deputy Minister, Service Delivery, Department of Veterans Affairs
Keith Coulter was an independent assessor. I think that was the term. He actually did an assessment of the department and he filed a report back in the late summer of 2010, I think.
9:15 a.m.
Assistant Deputy Minister, Service Delivery, Department of Veterans Affairs
No I don't.
9:15 a.m.
Assistant Deputy Minister, Service Delivery, Department of Veterans Affairs
I will take that under advisement. I believe that may be subject to cabinet confidence, so I'll have to determine whether or not it is still under cabinet confidence.
9:15 a.m.
Assistant Deputy Minister, Service Delivery, Department of Veterans Affairs
That is because it was advice to the Government of Canada at the time. Again, I will check to see whether or not it's still subject to cabinet confidence.
9:20 a.m.
Assistant Deputy Minister, Service Delivery, Department of Veterans Affairs
Yes.
9:20 a.m.
Assistant Deputy Minister, Service Delivery, Department of Veterans Affairs
Those who need to see it.
9:20 a.m.
Liberal
Sean Casey Liberal Charlottetown, PE
Gentlemen, being residents of the beautiful city of Charlottetown, do you read The Guardian? It covers the island like the dew.
9:20 a.m.
Assistant Deputy Minister, Service Delivery, Department of Veterans Affairs
Yes, I do.
9:20 a.m.
Liberal
Sean Casey Liberal Charlottetown, PE
If it's in the The Guardian, it must be true. You would have read the article last Friday stating that sources within your department, and among the employees whom you oversee, had some pretty specific numbers and some pretty serious concerns about job losses. Have you read the article?
9:20 a.m.
Assistant Deputy Minister, Service Delivery, Department of Veterans Affairs
Yes.
9:20 a.m.
Liberal
Sean Casey Liberal Charlottetown, PE
It states that:...on Thursday, The Guardian learned from a senior official in government, who spoke under an agreement of anonymity, these budget cuts will result in roughly 500 positions at VAC being cut over the next four years....
If a 10 per cent reduction is imposed on VAC, another 300 department jobs will be lost the source told The Guardian.
Are you here to tell us today that there will be no job cuts at VAC?