Evidence of meeting #4 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 documents.
Senior Director, Strategic Policy Integration, Department of Veterans Affairs
Certainly, the budget of approximately $3.3 billion goes out to veterans directly in the form of benefits and services through the department—
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Royal Galipeau
I'm sorry, but we've run out of time. If you have supplementary information, send it to the clerk. Thank you very much.
The next speaker is Mr. Karygiannis.
Liberal
Jim Karygiannis Liberal Scarborough—Agincourt, ON
Thank you, Chair.
Concerning the VIP that you've harmonized and through it are sending the veterans x amount of dollars, has it been taken into consideration that some provinces have GST and PST combined and they have different taxation levels, and some are higher than others? If you take that into consideration and some veterans are complaining, would you be able to address it?
Director General, Field Operations, Department of Veterans Affairs
I'll have to get back to you on that issue.
Liberal
Jim Karygiannis Liberal Scarborough—Agincourt, ON
What I'm saying is in P.E.I. it's 15%. In Toronto it's 13%. Has that been taken into consideration?
Director General, Field Operations, Department of Veterans Affairs
I'll have to get back to you on that one.
Liberal
Jim Karygiannis Liberal Scarborough—Agincourt, ON
In view of some of the records in question that were being destroyed, do you know of any cases of any court actions that have been taken by veterans or a group of veterans to state to the department that you've destroyed their medical records? I noticed you came in with a pre-written answer, so I'm wondering if you're aware of any cases that have been taken to court where veterans have complained about cases that were—
Director General, Field Operations, Department of Veterans Affairs
I'll have to verify and get back to you on that.
Liberal
Jim Karygiannis Liberal Scarborough—Agincourt, ON
But you gave a clear answer to Mr. Hawn when you stated that nobody's records have been misplaced. Was that answer correct or incorrect?
Director General, Field Operations, Department of Veterans Affairs
As far as I know, the answer I provided is correct. On the point you're raising, I will check and get back to you.
Liberal
Jim Karygiannis Liberal Scarborough—Agincourt, ON
Again, I'm not trying to badger or be difficult. You stated clearly that no veteran was affected. I'm asking you—
Director General, Field Operations, Department of Veterans Affairs
Based on the information I know of what records were destroyed, no veterans would have been impacted regarding delivery of services.
Liberal
Jim Karygiannis Liberal Scarborough—Agincourt, ON
Can you please advise us how you got your information when you made your statement?
Director General, Field Operations, Department of Veterans Affairs
I got the information from the folks who manage and oversee the people responsible for the program. If you have further questions, we can refer the questions to them and they can explain the process in more detail.
Liberal
Jim Karygiannis Liberal Scarborough—Agincourt, ON
I will rephrase my question. You're not 150% sure if medical records were destroyed that are affecting vets who are fighting VRAB at this moment.
Director General, Field Operations, Department of Veterans Affairs
I'll go back, verify, and come back.
Liberal
Jim Karygiannis Liberal Scarborough—Agincourt, ON
Sorry; answer with a yes or no, please, because I am willing to give you names: Kenneth Young, Mike Cole, Lakhan Mohan. Are you sure their cases have not been affected? Are you sure there's not a Supreme Court action going on right now because the medical records were destroyed?
Director General, Field Operations, Department of Veterans Affairs
I cannot comment on matters before the court.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Royal Galipeau
We have a point of order from Mr. Hawn.
I want to advise Mr. Karygiannis that after the point of order, he will still have one more minute.
Conservative
Laurie Hawn Conservative Edmonton Centre, AB
I have a concern with what I think is badgering the witness, and the member is answering for the witness, in my view. I throw that out as an opinion. I wish he would treat the witnesses with a little more respect.
Thank you.
Liberal
Jim Karygiannis Liberal Scarborough—Agincourt, ON
Mr. Chair, I am presenting the witness with names that I know.
She answered Mr. Hawn's questions, and I see now that there is some doubt, so I am wondering if the witness would like to confirm to us that she is not sure if this is going on.
The answer you gave Mr. Hawn might have been something that you thought was there, but right now you're having a second opinion. If you have to go back and search, then you're not 100% sure no veterans have been affected. Am I correct?
Director General, Field Operations, Department of Veterans Affairs
I can't tell you yes or no. I need to go back and verify, and again, if the matter is before the court, I can't comment on that. That's not—
Liberal
Jim Karygiannis Liberal Scarborough—Agincourt, ON
But what I'm understanding, Ms. Bastien, is that you're not absolutely sure if the records that were destroyed—
Director General, Field Operations, Department of Veterans Affairs
What I'm saying is I'll go back and check and if I was wrong, then—
Liberal