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.
Conservative
Bryan Hayes Conservative Sault Ste. Marie, ON
There was a statement made that I read and I didn't feel it was appropriate, so I would like to get your thoughts as to why it stayed. The statement was:
The closest thing this idiot ever came to trenches is maybe in the form of a coat. He probably wore a Fedora as well and pretended he was Inspector Clousseau.
To me, that's not beneficial. That's not—
Publisher, VeteranVoice.info
Could you frame what the discussion was about?
Conservative
Bryan Hayes Conservative Sault Ste. Marie, ON
It was specific to statements made by Minister Fantino. He released a statement recently. It was posted on your website and this was one of the responses to that statement. It goes on to say:
You know that any review they conduct will only be influenced by partisan politics and go out of its way to dispute the OVO's findings, so that they can keep saving money on the backs of real Veterans.
To me, that's this committee and that's our minister that's being referred to. I would hope that isn't a shared sentiment, because I take my position and my role on this committee very seriously. We're taking very seriously the study that we're all doing. I hope the outcome and the recommendations that we make will be taken very seriously. It disturbs me to see a negative thread, a negative opinion like that allowed to stay.
Publisher, VeteranVoice.info
First of all, there's freedom of speech and freedom of opinion. You don't know what that individual's mind is like. What you read was probably a comment from an individual with PTSD, chronic depression, or any other form of mental health problems that they developed while in service.
Conservative
Conservative
Bryan Hayes Conservative Sault Ste. Marie, ON
Have you put any consideration into eliminating anonymity?
Publisher, VeteranVoice.info
We want them to talk. If they don't talk, they sit in their basements and they just let it stew and build, until they erupt and decide to commit suicide or commit a crime, decide to just get drunk, or financially destroy their families. Anonymity on our website is respected because it gives them a chance to vent. They don't go out and physically do it.
Now, they know the work that goes on here and they just showed....You've been having these committees. This is the 17th meeting. It's been four and a half years since your last change to the new Veterans Charter. They're getting frustrated.
You are not proving it's a living document and they're making a statement. They're allowed to. It's the same as if someone was out on Parliament Hill yelling about what you're doing. Would you address that individual face to face with what you just said to me?
Conservative
Publisher, VeteranVoice.info
So you wouldn't fear an individual who's, say, on the lunatic fringe?
Conservative
Bryan Hayes Conservative Sault Ste. Marie, ON
As a member of Parliament, people walk into my office every day and I address them face to face.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Greg Kerr
I'm afraid we're going to have to bring it to an end, because we're past the time.
Monsieur Chicoine, for six minutes.
NDP
Sylvain Chicoine NDP Châteauguay—Saint-Constant, QC
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I also want to thank the witnesses appearing before us today. Their participation will help us carry out this study.
We also had four witnesses at our last meeting. I asked them whether the Minister of Veterans Affairs had enough data and reports to immediately prepare a bill to improve the New Veterans Charter.
Do you also think that the minister already has enough recommendations to begin working on a bill to improve the New Veterans Charter right away?
Publisher, VeteranVoice.info
I'll answer first.
Yes, you do have enough information in your possession right now. You can't fix it all at once, okay? I respect what Mr. Hayes said, but if you think you can find a magic potion to fix it all at once, you're delusional. I'm sorry, but you are.
This is a living charter. Take the information that you have from the ombudsman. Write the report, let it happen. Read the fallout and let the ombudsman do his job again, and then you move forward. This is a living charter, continual, always forward momentum.
As for Dr. Aiken and Agent Orange, depleted uranium, information comes up over time, and things always change. You can't fix it at once.
You do have enough information right now to start. Mr. Hayes, you have to gain the respect back from the veterans community and prove to them this is a living charter, so please act upon it.
Director, Canadian Institute for Military and Veteran Health Research
I agree there is enough information out there. The first report from the new Veterans Charter advisory group recommended over 200 changes to the charter, which were not done. I think you have a lot of information there you can go on.
Publisher, VeteranVoice.info
The second report? Because you didn't like the first report, the gerontological report? You have over 400 recommendations and a very non-partisan review.
National Ambassador, Wounded Warriors Canada
I just retired after 32 years of service in the armed forces. I've done a few missions and a few unsavoury types of things that the Canadian government wanted me to do. We often operated on the 80% solution. I think you guys could do that too. There's room to come back to it later as it evolves.
NDP
Sylvain Chicoine NDP Châteauguay—Saint-Constant, QC
Mr. Chair, since all the witnesses who have appeared before the committee agree unanimously on this matter, I would like to put forward the following motion:
That the Committee ask the Minister of Veterans Affairs to bring forward, as quickly as possible, a bill improving the New Veterans Charter based on the various reports already prepared in this regard, without waiting for the study findings.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Greg Kerr
Excuse me for a second, but I have to make sure it's a notice of motion. If you don't mind, he is going to check if we deal with it today, or if we have to wait for the time period to do it at the next meeting.
Do you want to carry on? Of course you can't carry on if this is your motion.