Veterans Affairs Committee on April 1st, 2014

[Joseph Burke]

If you're talking timelines and retroactivity, then they actually changed the timeline. They came out in the government and they said they were doing it in 16 weeks. But what they failed to say was the timeline used to start when my application landed on the post office guy's desk. So as the intake post guy, I would sign here, I would punch in the computer “Joe Burke, 15 July, 2006”.

[John Rafferty, NDP, Thunder Bay—Rainy River, ON]

If I could just interrupt for a minute. What I'm—

[Joseph Burke]

Oh, retroactive, for sure, because you're looking at somebody who has already gone through the system, they've already been diagnosed, they've already been given their percentage, so for you to now change that amount of money.... Let's say you gave a guy—because the maximum five years ago, whatever it was, was only $200,000.

So what happened to those guys now that the maximum is going up to $250,000? Did we go back and pay those guys? I think we should, because it's the same injury. They didn't change the injury. Why is it their fault?

[John Rafferty, NDP, Thunder Bay—Rainy River, ON]

Thank you.

This question is for you, Mr. Burke.

I was intrigued when in your presentation you talked about integrating the Department of National Defence with Veterans Affairs and so on. There are lots of problems with that, of course. One is that governments like closing bases. Then you're going to be in trouble.

We've heard from just about every witness that there are all kinds of problems with the transition from being a regular member to being part of Veterans Affairs. You suggested this might save it. That's supposing that the government has enough money put into DND to make sure professionals are there and so on and so forth. But I'm just wondering how you think veterans in more remote parts of the country would be able to access that.

[Joseph Burke]

In just your own words, you said they're closing bases. Well, in retrospect, they just closed six Veterans Affairs offices. So they're going to close something they're going to close—

[John Rafferty, NDP, Thunder Bay—Rainy River, ON]

It was nine Veterans Affairs offices.

[Joseph Burke]

Nine; it depends.... At any rate, you're still going to have the same problem. What I'm saying is that at least you're condensing the problem, you're getting rid of all these other offices, and it's going to be quicker and easier for the veteran to go there.

I know this argument will come up sooner or later, so I'll just mention it: what about the veterans who don't want to go onto the base to see the person in uniform for whatever specific reason? I can tell you, as a guy who's in the system, that I personally almost never have to go down to Veterans Affairs or whatever. If I call my case manager, she comes in. My CanVet person will drive from Hamilton to Trenton, where I live, to see me.

So for the external.... Let's say some guy, now that they've closed the North Bay base, has to go to Winnipeg. Well, I'm sure they'll come up with a system for veterans to do that anyway.

[John Rafferty, NDP, Thunder Bay—Rainy River, ON]

I have one last question, if I can.

[The Chair, Conservative, Greg Kerr]

You're actually past your time, Mr. Rafferty. But since we've given others time, if it could be very quick....

[John Rafferty, NDP, Thunder Bay—Rainy River, ON]

It will be very quick.

A veteran is a veteran is a veteran, and we've heard from almost all of our witnesses about reservists being treated differently. I wonder if that is something that you'd like to see under the charter, that a veteran is a veteran is a veteran; it doesn't matter if you're a reservist or a regular member or who you are.

[Richard Blackwolf]

The CAV's position on that is that the reserve force is a strategic force. It tends to be larger in peacetime. The regular force is smaller in peacetime. Right now there are three regiments of each type: infantry, artillery, and armoured. That's the peacetime dividend. We have a much larger reserve force.

We feel that when the regular force is deployed and reservists stand up with them, they're in the regular force. There should be no discrimination, because their liabilities and the duties they're taking on are like the regular force. There shouldn't be any discrimination, even in pay. As soon as they step up, the pay and everything else should be the same right across the board.

[John Rafferty, NDP, Thunder Bay—Rainy River, ON]

Should that be made clear in the charter?

[The Chair, Conservative, Greg Kerr]

We're out of time, Mr. Blackwolf.

[John Rafferty, NDP, Thunder Bay—Rainy River, ON]

Thank you, Chair.

[The Chair, Conservative, Greg Kerr]

Nice try, though.

We will now go to final questions from Mr. Trost, please, for six minutes.

[Bradley Trost, Conservative, Saskatoon—Humboldt, SK]

Thank you.

I'll just finish Mr. Hawn's last question on whether or not people, upon release, should have full access to their medical records and be able to take them.

Did I get that right?

[Laurie Hawn, Conservative, Edmonton Centre, AB]

Yes: it's whether or not the member should get a copy of his medical file when they're released.

[Joseph Burke]

They do.

[Laurie Hawn, Conservative, Edmonton Centre, AB]

No, actually that doesn't happen—

[Joseph Burke]

Under the Privacy Act, because it has your name on it, you're entitled to have a copy of it.

For me, I've only served as a medic on six medical bases. It's part of your routine that you do a stint on the surgery floor and you do a stint in medical records. As part of your duty, when someone is released, you stand at a photocopier...and yes, it's a stupid thing that you have a sergeant, who you're paying $75,000 a year, to stand at a photocopier and photocopy a medical file.

My personal medical file, in the file in the military, is three volumes. It takes up two bank boxes. It's sitting in my closet.

[Bradley Trost, Conservative, Saskatoon—Humboldt, SK]

Since I was asking this question on Mr. Hawn's behalf, I'll throw it back to him.

[Joseph Burke]

Oh, and by the way, just as a caveat to that, nobody will accept that copy.

[Bradley Trost, Conservative, Saskatoon—Humboldt, SK]

I will throw this back to Mr. Hawn.

[The Chair, Conservative, Greg Kerr]

Are you sharing your time with Mr. Hawn?

[Bradley Trost, Conservative, Saskatoon—Humboldt, SK]

I will be doing that.