Thank you.
Evidence of meeting #18 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 you're.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Evidence of meeting #18 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 you're.
A recording is available from Parliament.
4:30 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Greg Kerr
Well, this is getting awfully personal in here.
By the way, Heather, we have a military expert amongst our ranks. I'd like you to get him to identify the planes that you constructed. They look kind of military.
4:30 p.m.
Voices
Oh, oh!
4:30 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Greg Kerr
There you go. Very good.
Mr. Stoffer, please, you have six minutes.
4:30 p.m.
NDP
Peter Stoffer NDP Sackville—Eastern Shore, NS
Thank you very much.
Sergeant Nielsen, your going into a program to help educate your brothers and sisters on fiscal literacy is, I think, a wonderful thing to do. As you may know, one of our colleagues, James Rajotte, who is from Edmonton and who was the chair of the finance committee for many years, moved a motion in the House that was universally adopted by all of us on the aspect of teaching all Canadians, including your daughter, right from the get-go about fiscal literacy.
The other day I had the opportunity to be with the chartered professional accountants, the CPAs. They have brochures on the subject of fiscal literacy. I'd like to get your address later so that I can mail one to you. Someone like James Rajotte would be a good person to link with in the future, because he's very knowledgeable about that issue and about how to get the message out. I think it would be a great career to help people—and you're right—by teaching them how to handle their money.
The other thing I would suggest to you, sir, and I suggest this to all exiting military personnel, is that when you get your medical file, don't just receive it and then exit; make sure you review it beforehand, in case something may be missing, a document or something. In the future—maybe not now, but down the road—you may need those documents, if you need to make a claim with DVA.
I just have this to say, because in two or two and a half years you'll be leaving, what would be helpful...?
The new Veterans Charter, which we're reviewing right now, is a living document. This means that even when we complete this study, the review of the charter does not end. There are always ways, regardless of what the government is in the future, to improve upon it, to ensure that the heroes of our country and their families are well looked after. As we heard the other day—I thought this was a great line—there is no expiration date on gratitude. When Mr. Cundell said that, I thought it was a great line. It's something I'll keep with me for a while.
What would be very helpful, sir, when you go, is that, with any things that you see, any suggestions you have, any comments you have now and in the future, you contact not just your local MP but also this committee with suggestions. Not only would this help us to evolve even more modern aspects of what should or shouldn't be in the charter, but also, coming from someone who is living the transition on a regular basis, it would assist us in assisting the government of the day to ensure that programs such as those you may require in the future and those things that are unforeseen right now aren't delayed into a long, as my colleague Mr. Hawn says, nine-month delay. These things should be able to assist you and your family on a very quick basis.
So that would help all of us in the future.
Again I want to thank you personally for being here.
4:35 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Greg Kerr
He has me stunned. I was waiting for the three or four questions that would follow.
Did you want to comment at all on any of that? There are a couple of minutes left for this.
4:35 p.m.
Sgt Bjarne Nielsen
Do you mean as final notes?
4:35 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Greg Kerr
Well, we still have another questioner, but I meant, do you want to comment on what Mr. Stoffer said?
4:35 p.m.
Sgt Bjarne Nielsen
No, I have no comments.
4:35 p.m.
Some hon. members
Oh, oh!
4:35 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Greg Kerr
Anyway, we'll hear from him again, I guarantee you.
We'll go to our last questioner for the day and our guest visitor today, Mr. Lunney, for six minutes, please.
4:35 p.m.
Conservative
James Lunney Conservative Nanaimo—Alberni, BC
Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.
First of all, I'm not a regular member of this committee. I'm filling in for one of the regular members. We heard the very first questioner say that in his 17 years, I believe Mr. Stoffer said, on this committee, he had never heard a more remarkable testimony. I heard Royal more or less confirm that and call your remarks “eloquent”—I think that was the word he used.
I'm a regular member of the health committee, but I want to say that, just in filling in today, I have experienced one of the most remarkable meetings I have ever attended of any committee. I can tell you, I will never forget what I heard you say today. I'll start by saying, if I may, that I agree with the word “eloquent” about your remarks. I would also say succinct and brilliant for your use of time in recounting your experiences.
Did you put that together yourself? That is my first question.
4:40 p.m.
Sgt Bjarne Nielsen
Yes, she's my editor.
4:40 p.m.
Conservative
James Lunney Conservative Nanaimo—Alberni, BC
I'm going to up my colleague here. Peter says that in a couple of years from now, you might be leaving.
That's not exactly what I heard. I heard that this sergeant really enjoyed mentoring. I think he demonstrated how important the right kind of mentoring is for an injured soldier.
I think you had an experience with Mike Trauner, your colleague who came to visit you at a key moment and had a huge impact on you. I think I heard this gentleman say that he wanted to pursue further education—which the department and Veterans Affairs has an interest in helping him accomplish—in financial management, which is a need for our soldiers.
But I would suggest that this gentleman has captured so nicely here, in recovery—and one of the key elements of recovery that he so eloquently put together here is the personal motivation.... Unlike my colleagues here, I had a career in physical rehabilitation, in the sense that I was for 24 years a chiropractor. But there are many people involved in rehabilitation who will not understand what you so eloquently demonstrated, and that is that the body responds—a living body will respond—to the stresses that you put it under, and your rehab is very much dependent on your motivation.
When you described hopping down the stairs with your daughter—or up the stairs, I think—on one leg.... You see, one thing I learned as a rehab worker was that when people asked me, “Will I be able to do this?” or “Will I be able to do that?” I would always, I learned—
Yes, Heather?
4:40 p.m.
Some hon. members
Oh, oh!
4:40 p.m.
Conservative
James Lunney Conservative Nanaimo—Alberni, BC
That's exactly what I mean.
Did your dad do that with you?
4:40 p.m.
Some hon. members
Oh, oh!
4:40 p.m.
Conservative
