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.
Conservative
Parm Gill Conservative Brampton—Springdale, ON
Could you please provide us with a written one, if you don't mind?
Conservative
Parm Gill Conservative Brampton—Springdale, ON
We'd appreciate that.
The second question is this. If you can tell us, are you currently a Veterans Affairs client, any one of you, or are there benefits that you are currently receiving as a VAC client?
Director, Canadian Veterans Advocacy
Yes, I do receive benefits, a wide variety of benefits from Veterans Affairs Canada.
President and Founder, Canadian Veterans Advocacy
I'm a client of Veterans Affairs Canada, and guess what? I have not had a problem with Veterans Affairs Canada, but it's never been about me.
Conservative
Parm Gill Conservative Brampton—Springdale, ON
You're not a client. Okay.
Mr. Chartrand, you made comments this morning at the press conference where you said everything under the new Veterans Charter is applicable under the Pension Act. Do you believe this statement to be true?
Director, Canadian Veterans Advocacy
I believe the statement is true; it is actually true.
Let's forget about the lump sum disability award. Everything that is under the new Veterans Charter is not new. It has only been repackaged from SISIP and named new Veterans Charter.
PIA exists in the new Veterans Charter. The Pension Act was EIA. There is nothing that the new Veterans Charter provides that the old system did not. We only repackaged it. Vocational was SISIP; rehabilitation was SISIP. Even pre-2006 I was getting rehabilitation: psychosocial, medical. There is nothing new in the new Veterans Charter that did not exist before.
This is there. The chart that I have provided you shows very clearly that the government states there are 19 pension systems, which should say Pension Act, and 30 services under the new Veterans Charter. When you combine what you could get from the new Veterans Charter from a Pension Act client, you get 34 services under the pension services and only 30 services under the new Veterans Charter. This has significant financial impact in analysis, which we have provided.
Conservative
Parm Gill Conservative Brampton—Springdale, ON
Thank you.
My next question is for Mr. Kovacs.
During the same press conference, sir, you said that the Minister of Veterans Affairs will not hire a veteran to work in his office. Do you believe this statement to be true?
Director, Canadian Veterans Advocacy
How many veterans work in his office at the moment, sir?
Conservative
Director, Canadian Veterans Advocacy
I'm under the impression that at present time there is one veteran employed in his office of 10 people, and that's his chief of staff, Monsieur Fauteux.
My comment today was that the Minister of Veterans Affairs talks about priority hiring, he talks about partnerships with the private sector, and he talks about individuals hiring veterans. My comment today was that he should show leadership and hire some veterans to work in his office because I'm under the knowledge and belief that he has an office budget of approximately $1 million with 10 staff and he has one veteran on staff at the moment. My comment was to encourage him to hire more veterans to work in his office.
Conservative
Parm Gill Conservative Brampton—Springdale, ON
Did you at any point in time check with either his staff or the minister himself to see how many veterans may be working in his office before making the comment?
Conservative
Director, Canadian Veterans Advocacy
They were reluctant to provide me with the information. They wanted to know why I was asking for that information.
Conservative
Parm Gill Conservative Brampton—Springdale, ON
Was your question sent in a written format or was it verbal?
Director, Canadian Veterans Advocacy
It was just a verbal question. How many veterans work in the minister's office?
Conservative
Parm Gill Conservative Brampton—Springdale, ON
Are you able to share with us the name of the staff member you may have spoken to, sir?
Director, Canadian Veterans Advocacy
Yes, I'll provide that to you in writing after the meeting.
Conservative
Parm Gill Conservative Brampton—Springdale, ON
We would look forward to getting that information.
Mr. Blais, in regard to your organization, is there somewhere on your website that indicates where your organization's funding comes from, and any lobbying or political activities that your organization does?
President and Founder, Canadian Veterans Advocacy
Our funding comes from veterans who feel like donating. We do not subscribe membership fees. We realize those that we serve are invariably experiencing some form of financial discord as a consequence of the new Veterans Charter or they wouldn't be reaching out to us for help. So a lot of the costs are borne by us. We've had contributions. Yes, we had a union contribution two years ago, if you want to go there. The Union of Veterans Employees, as a matter of fact, contributed $2,000 to the war fund. That doesn't mean I'm a union man; it just means they supported what we're doing.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Greg Kerr
Unfortunately we're past six minutes now. You will probably get another chance later, I think.
Mr. Valeriote, please.
Liberal
Frank Valeriote Liberal Guelph, ON
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, gentlemen, for your service and thank you for appearing before us today.
First of all, Michael, if I may, you mentioned in your remarks today the Royal Canadian Legion. The Royal Canadian Legion, as I understand it, is suggesting an increase to the lump sum payment, but I don't see a similar suggestion in your presentation. Can you tell me why that is? Am I wrong?