Evidence of meeting #17 for Veterans Affairs in the 41st Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was military.

A recording is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

MPs speaking

Also speaking

Alice Aiken  Director, Canadian Institute for Military and Veteran Health Research
Ronald Cundell  Publisher, VeteranVoice.info
Phil Ralph  National Program Director, Wounded Warriors Canada
Chris Linford  National Ambassador, Wounded Warriors Canada

4:50 p.m.

Publisher, VeteranVoice.info

Ronald Cundell

Therapy Corner is where guys can go and help. We have an ability to private message those individuals. When I talk about veterans taking care of veterans, it's working on our CSAT forum.

I'll guarantee that someone sent a private message after that comment about Mr. Fantino because it was only the one comment and then that was it.

If there's a veteran in distress, I have helped them personally and guided them towards the 24-7 line; I've used the Princess Patricia's help line; I've used C.A.V., the Canadian Army Veteran Motorcycle Units. We find them. We approach them. We help them because they will open up to me or another veteran faster than they will to a doctor, police officer, or anybody else.

4:50 p.m.

Conservative

Royal Galipeau Conservative Ottawa—Orléans, ON

A white coat....

4:50 p.m.

Publisher, VeteranVoice.info

Ronald Cundell

Exactly. They'll come to us. I have private messaged many of the people in CSAT and said, “What's going on? You need help.” They respond in just and kind and hence the creation of Therapy Corner. I wish you would read that, Mr. Hayes, because there's a lot of all positive comments.

4:50 p.m.

Conservative

Royal Galipeau Conservative Ottawa—Orléans, ON

He is finished his time.

4:50 p.m.

Publisher, VeteranVoice.info

Ronald Cundell

Yes I know, but one comment.

4:50 p.m.

Conservative

Royal Galipeau Conservative Ottawa—Orléans, ON

When the charter was crafted, during the 38th Parliament I think, how many of you were consulted?

4:50 p.m.

Publisher, VeteranVoice.info

Ronald Cundell

Six groups were consulted, sequestered in a room, given the briefing, and told to sign a letter of confidentiality. There was no extensive consultation like there was for the Pension Act in 1921. It was created in the 1940s.

This is a bureaucratic bill. It was created by VAC bureaucrats, handed to Minister Albina Guarnieri at the time, and she ran with it. She dropped it on the flight to the 60th anniversary of D-Day, when all the parties, including the Bloc, were on the aircraft. There was no veterans consultation, and if we were asked, it was disguised. When it came out, I said, “Where the hell did this come from?” I was heavily into monitoring veterans situations at that time. The first time I read about the new Veterans Charter being implemented, it was like, “Surprise!”

4:50 p.m.

Conservative

Royal Galipeau Conservative Ottawa—Orléans, ON

I've also heard comments about the closures of veterans hospitals. I became most aware of these closures as a result of the 1995 budget. I forget which Parliament that was, but it was a few back. Of course, the one I was most aware of was here in Alta Vista. I think it's an office building now.

Then again, I was at the turning of the sod for the opening of the military hospital annexed to Montfort. That happened in the summer of 2006, and I was at the official opening too. How's that working out?

4:50 p.m.

Publisher, VeteranVoice.info

Ronald Cundell

The closing of all the—

4:50 p.m.

Conservative

Royal Galipeau Conservative Ottawa—Orléans, ON

Never mind about the closing; we know how that's not working out. I mean the new hospital. How's that working out?

4:50 p.m.

Director, Canadian Institute for Military and Veteran Health Research

Dr. Alice Aiken

That's just for serving members.

4:50 p.m.

Conservative

Royal Galipeau Conservative Ottawa—Orléans, ON

It's only for serving members

4:50 p.m.

National Ambassador, Wounded Warriors Canada

Chris Linford

It replaced NDMC as a clinical facility.

4:50 p.m.

Director, Canadian Institute for Military and Veteran Health Research

Dr. Alice Aiken

It's not for veterans.

4:50 p.m.

Publisher, VeteranVoice.info

Ronald Cundell

That's a CF question, Canadian Forces.

4:50 p.m.

National Ambassador, Wounded Warriors Canada

Chris Linford

It's very pretty.

4:50 p.m.

Conservative

Royal Galipeau Conservative Ottawa—Orléans, ON

Have I finished my time?

4:50 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Greg Kerr

You have. Unfortunately we have to go by the clock and we're past the six minutes, so yes.

That would end the round.

There is a point of order from Mr. Stoffer.

4:50 p.m.

NDP

Peter Stoffer NDP Sackville—Eastern Shore, NS

It's a point of order to provide information regarding service dogs.

There is a great YouTube hit from the Dutch government on service dogs. Just enter “Dutch service dogs” on YouTube. It's about a minute long. It's the most powerful minute I've ever seen on YouTube. It is amazing. It'll blow your socks off to see that. I just highly recommend, if you haven't seen it, the YouTube video on Dutch service dogs. It'll make you cry. It made me cry. It's in English.

4:50 p.m.

A voice

You have access to YouTube?

4:50 p.m.

NDP

Peter Stoffer NDP Sackville—Eastern Shore, NS

My wife showed it to me.

4:50 p.m.

Some hon. members

Oh, oh!

4:50 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Greg Kerr

Before this totally disintegrates, I would point out that we have been exposed to a number of members with dogs. I think it was Médric Cousineau who was in. There was one with him. We certainly have heard some commentary about how good.... As a matter of fact one of the questions then was how you put a price tag on what it saves the department by having a service dog. That was one of things that I think struck a lot of the members, recognition that different types of services that are out there are probably very worthwhile.

Anyway, that ends our rounds of questions. I do want to thank all of you very, very much. I'd also indicate, as I've been reminded again, that if you have anything you'd like to submit that hasn't been submitted as a response to any of the conversations, that would be very, very helpful.

No matter how candid it is, Mr. Cundell, we certainly do welcome that, because we understand the severity of what we're trying to deal with here.

Also, I think we've had reports in from everybody. If you didn't, could you give us a summary? I know we'll get it on tape, but could you give a summary of the highlights of what it is you're trying to make as recommendations? It's very important to us to make sure they're recorded correctly, so if you haven't done that, we'd appreciate your sending something along in that regard as well.

Having said that, I want to thank everybody for joining us, all the veterans and particularly our witnesses today. I think it was a very helpful round.

With that being said, we're done for today. Thank you very much.

The meeting is adjourned.