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.
9:45 a.m.
Conservative
Joe Daniel Conservative Don Valley East, ON
Wonderful.
Changing the subject a little bit, I noted that the projected spending for the Office of the Veterans Ombudsman remains stable. I realize also that OVO is not part of Veterans Affairs. Can you speak to its role and how it works with VAC?
9:45 a.m.
Assistant Deputy Minister, Service Delivery, Department of Veterans Affairs
I guess I can start and James can jump in.
First of all, I won't comment on the budget of the ombudsman, because that's a separate entity. I think any comments regarding his budget should be directed towards the ombudsman.
9:45 a.m.
Conservative
Joe Daniel Conservative Don Valley East, ON
I'm not talking about his budget, but more the relationship between the two organizations.
9:45 a.m.
Assistant Deputy Minister, Service Delivery, Department of Veterans Affairs
I would characterize the relationship with the ombudsman as positive. While the ombudsman may have different views or different opinions, at the end of the day, we're all there for veterans. The ombudsman is there to do the best he can for veterans. Our department is there to do the best we can for veterans.
While sometimes we may have differences of opinion, I think a debate or a discussion actually broadens the opportunities. I would say the relationship with the ombudsman is a positive thing in terms of his making suggestions. My colleague James may want to talk about the benefits navigator, which the ombudsman's office created. We've taken it over and embraced it.
9:50 a.m.
Assistant Deputy Minister, Policy, Communications and Commemoration, Department of Veterans Affairs
The ombudsman would report directly to the minister and not the department, in bringing forward veterans' issues.
Both Mr. Hillier and I have regular meetings with the ombudsman, because we need to find out what's going on from a veteran's point of view. He may find a veteran who is not getting satisfactory responses. By having regular meetings with Mr. Parent at the most senior levels of the department, we can find out what's going on, and sometimes find more expedient solutions to those questions.
We may have different roles and different reporting relationships, but we're all there to support veterans and to provide better services to veterans, so there are no barriers to good ideas. If the ombudsman has a great idea like the benefits navigator, we'll take it and run with it. We have this positive sharing of ideas with the ombudsman's office.
9:50 a.m.
Conservative
Joe Daniel Conservative Don Valley East, ON
As the role of the veterans changes, the veterans must work with the Department of National Defence to ensure a smoother transition to civilian life. Can you comment on how this transition is taking place and how your relationship with DND accommodates veterans' needs?
9:50 a.m.
Assistant Deputy Minister, Policy, Communications and Commemoration, Department of Veterans Affairs
Part of what we're trying to do in transforming the way the departments work is to strengthen our linkages with the Canadian Forces. There are several examples of that. We recently initiated tours, which were facilitated by the Canadian Forces, of all the various bases across the country, so that we could talk to still-serving members about Veterans Affairs, about their benefits, and about what would happen to them if they became ill or injured. We also reached out to the ill and injured in the audience.
We have a steering committee that Mr. Hillier chairs. I'm a member, along with the Chief of Military Personnel. It meets twice a year to look at these kinds of interests on both the policy and program side.
I am the champion of Canadian Forces culture within the department. I try to make sure that the employees of the department understand the military culture of the brave men and women they're supporting. We've had tremendous support from the Canadian Forces in moving forward on those initiatives.
In our approach to occupational stress injury and post-traumatic stress disorder, we have a network of joint clinics across the country to serve the brave men and women dealing with occupational stress injuries, and we are working closely with the Canadian Forces on this.
So we and the Canadian Forces see the transition from someone still-serving to being a veteran as the key element to get right, and we're working closely with them to make sure we're all on the same page, in working for these brave men and women.
Thank you.
9:50 a.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Greg Kerr
Thank you, Mr. Daniel. That's good.
That's the end of round one. We're going to go to round two to continue this helpful discussion today.
Mr. Stoffer.
9:50 a.m.
NDP
Peter Stoffer NDP Sackville—Eastern Shore, NS
Thank you once again, gentlemen.
Mr. Gilbert, regarding the 5% and 10% review that every department has been asked to do, is that under way right now in the department? Is that review still taking place?
9:50 a.m.
Assistant Deputy Minister, Policy, Communications and Commemoration, Department of Veterans Affairs
No, we've gone through our departmental review and it has been submitted.
9:50 a.m.
NDP
9:50 a.m.
Assistant Deputy Minister, Policy, Communications and Commemoration, Department of Veterans Affairs
That's correct.
9:50 a.m.
NDP
Peter Stoffer NDP Sackville—Eastern Shore, NS
Those decisions are made by people at a higher pay scale than you, like the deputy minister, right?
9:50 a.m.
Assistant Deputy Minister, Policy, Communications and Commemoration, Department of Veterans Affairs
They're political decisions made by the Treasury Board.
9:50 a.m.
NDP
Peter Stoffer NDP Sackville—Eastern Shore, NS
Right.
Mr. Hillier, you said that the $200-million cut that's been reported in the paper is erroneous and that it's not going to happen. I'm just wondering, if the 5% and 10% review has been sent to cabinet for decision, how do you know there are going to be no cuts to the department?
9:50 a.m.
Assistant Deputy Minister, Service Delivery, Department of Veterans Affairs
I think we need to go back--
9:50 a.m.
NDP
Peter Stoffer NDP Sackville—Eastern Shore, NS
No, the question is clear. When you were asked by Ms. Adams and me if there was to be a $200 million cut, you said no.
9:55 a.m.
Assistant Deputy Minister, Service Delivery, Department of Veterans Affairs
That's correct.
9:55 a.m.
NDP
Peter Stoffer NDP Sackville—Eastern Shore, NS
But the 5% to 10% review committee of cabinet has been sent those documents for a decision to be made some time in the future. I'm just wondering how you know the decision will be for no cuts.
9:55 a.m.
Conservative
Brian Storseth Conservative Westlock—St. Paul, AB
I have a point of order, Mr. Chair.
My honourable colleague has been in this place a lot longer than I have. I refer to page 1068 of O'Brien and Bosc. In respect of dealing with witnesses, it reads:
Particular attention has been paid to the questioning of public servants. The obligation of a witness to answer all questions put by the committee must be balanced against the role that public servants play in providing confidential advice to their Ministers. The role of the public servant has traditionally been viewed in relation to the implementation and administration of government policy, rather than the determination of what that policy should be. Consequently, public servants have been excused from commenting on the policy decisions made by the government.
I believe this is what my honourable colleague is trying to do, and I believe his question is out of order. I ask you to rule that it is.
9:55 a.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Greg Kerr
Rather than staying on a point of order, as a clarification, what I was going to ask....
I understand you're asking how he knows what the budget is going to do. Well, obviously, he won't until the decision.
I do want to make the point that what I've heard clearly this morning is that the statutory funding will not be touched. That's addressed in the supplementary...in the fall. That will be separate from the review process you're going through. That's a protected area, if I read you correctly.
9:55 a.m.
Assistant Deputy Minister, Service Delivery, Department of Veterans Affairs
Yes. I was referring to there not being the $220 million cuts that others have referred to. That's a separate issue. That's why I'm saying it's very important that you fence that in.
Then there's the issue of the transformation that I referred to, and then there's the deficit reduction, for which my colleague has indicated that we've done our work like all departments. We've submitted our documents to the Treasury Board and we wait for government to make a decision.
9:55 a.m.
NDP
Réjean Genest NDP Shefford, QC
You stated that you are going to adapt to new technologies, the Web, digital, etc. We know, however, that those in need, such as veterans, do not all own computers. Often, because of their physical limitations, they need direct contact with others. Will people be required to talk on the telephone and have a voice tell them to press 2 if they want one answer and 3 if they want another? Will they have a hard time reaching a live person? Will you continue and even improve upon the person-to-person service instead of only relying on a robot?