Veterans Affairs Committee on Nov. 7th, 2013

[Laurie Hawn, Conservative, Edmonton Centre, AB]

I want to go back to the document issue one more time, just to clarify.

Can you confirm that even if the 30-year-old or 40-year-old records we've talked about are destroyed through the normal process, following normal procedures that have been in place for many decades, the information in those documents that would be necessary to provide service to a veteran is always available in Library and Archives Canada?

[Charlotte Bastien]

The documents that we would require to process applications for disability benefits are military medical records, and they are preserved and accessible through Library and Archives Canada.

[Laurie Hawn, Conservative, Edmonton Centre, AB]

Thank you very much.

Mr. Lobb.

[Ben Lobb, Conservative, Huron—Bruce, ON]

Thank you.

I have a question regarding the lump sum. If we go back a number of years, when we were looking at the new Veterans Charter and the changes to it, almost every witness talked about the lump sum. Instead of having it in one chunk, they wanted it broken up into several installments. I'm wondering if you could give us an update on what that looks like now. What is the percentage who want it in a lump sum, and what is the percentage who want it in an installment or annuity format?

[Janice Burke]

We introduced legislation in 2011 to provide veterans with the option of either taking a lump sum award or taking annual payments. In addition, they can take a lump sum award in combination with annual payments.

Since that time, the uptake has not been extremely high. I do not have the precise numbers for you today, but there hasn't been a large number of veterans who have opted for annual payments. It has been very small.

[Ben Lobb, Conservative, Huron—Bruce, ON]

Is there any idea, or has the department spent any time thinking about why that may be? I can remember all the different advocacy groups that would come in and talk about this and it surprises me that there hasn't been more of an uptake to it. Is there any thought that the department has had behind that?

[Janice Burke]

We haven't analyzed it at this point, so I really can't offer an opinion, other than certainly when you provide a veteran with a lump sum award, there is opportunity, in particular because we provide financial counselling. It's $500 for each award and there is an opportunity for veterans to seek out counselling and to invest the lump sum award on their own. That may be occurring, but I don't have a response for you today.

[Ben Lobb, Conservative, Huron—Bruce, ON]

That very well may be. I think that would be helpful as well for our committee as we embark, probably at some point in time, upon a review of the new Veterans Charter again, to be able to look at those types of things.

One other thing I'm curious about is the transition interviews. I know this has been a talked about issue for a number of years and certainly it's in practice now. What types of results and benefits are we seeing for transferring personnel from these transition interviews or conversations? I guess there have been over 4,000 of them. What are you seeing that you can report back to us?

[Janice Burke]

As you're aware, transition interviews are completed. It's mandatory for medically released veterans. Veterans who are voluntarily releasing can also obtain a transition interview.

We don't have research right now in terms of the outcomes of those interviews, other than they are extremely valuable for veterans and their families. It's during that point in time before they release into the military that all of their needs are identified and whatever the needs are, care plans, case plans, are put in place for the veterans.

In addition, applications for VAC benefits are completed prior to their release so that when they leave the military, there is a seamless transition into civilian life and they are seamlessly transitioning into Veterans Affairs programs, whether it be rehabilitation or financial benefits.

We do know from an operational perspective that the interviews are very effective at getting the veterans early intervention, early access to VAC programs.

[Ben Lobb, Conservative, Huron—Bruce, ON]

This is certainly helping to prevent anybody from falling through the cracks and not knowing what's available to them.

[The Chair, Conservative, Royal Galipeau]

Thank you, Mr. Lobb.

Next is Mr. Hayes.

[Bryan Hayes, Conservative, Sault Ste. Marie, ON]

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.

Much has been said about the deficit reduction action plan.

Our government has increased funding for Veterans Affairs Canada by nearly $5 billion since we formed government. Number one, I want to know whether you agree with that. Number two, how much of that $5 billion funding is directly related to programs that serve Canada's veterans?

[Janice Burke]

Yes, I am aware that since, I believe 2006, there has been an increase of $5 billion in Veterans Affairs program budgets. Those increases have been—and I'll just give you an example—related to things such as in 2011, the new Veterans Charter enhancements were introduced. We also expanded the veterans independence program during that period of time. We doubled the number of OSI clinics. These are mental health clinics that are available to veterans and their families who suffer from mental health conditions. Those were also doubled.

[Jim Karygiannis, Liberal, Scarborough—Agincourt, ON]

Can the witness.... She said doubled, can she say how many there were before and how many there are now?

[Janice Burke]

Sure. There were five prior to 2006, and there are currently 10 OSI clinics today.

I could go on in terms of the list. Certainly on case management, we enhanced case management within the department as well.

[Bryan Hayes, Conservative, Sault Ste. Marie, ON]

Actually, Mr. Chair, that's really good. That's a good segue into my next question.

I looked through your presentation and it indicated that currently there are 7,100 case-managed veterans. I'd like to get a pretty clear idea as to how the case management process works and how that service is provided, and how an individual might apply for it. Are there individuals out there who require case management and aren't receiving it, or to your knowledge, are those who require case management being given that service?

[Charlotte Bastien]

From the data we had last June, there were more than 7,000 veterans being case managed across the country.

The process can be through transition interviews. It could be through communication with the department. If there's an identification of a potential need or requirement for case management services, then the veteran and his family would be referred for case management. Part of the process for case management is identifying the needs, doing an assessment of those needs, and engaging the veteran and his family in the case management process.

There is the assessment, analysis and development of a plan in consultation with the veteran and his family. The plan is then set into action. There is regular monitoring and evaluation of the plan to see if the options put in the plan are working for the veteran and his family. We reassess if it's required. We direct and assist the veteran through the various resources and providers to achieve the goal of the case plan to help the veteran and his family get a better quality of life.

[Bryan Hayes, Conservative, Sault Ste. Marie, ON]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Obviously we're all here because we support the rights of veterans. At times I suspect—well, we know—there's going to be a difference in terms of whether an injury is service related or not.

Obviously there's a process available to deal with those situations, i.e., the appeal process. I wonder if you could outline how the appeal process works and what services are available to veterans to assist them in the appeal process.

[Charlotte Bastien]

For a disability decision, if for example a veteran does not agree with the decision of the department regarding a disability benefit, the veteran could enlist the assistance of the Bureau of Pensions Advocates, which provides free legal assistance to veterans to appeal disability benefit decisions. There are offices across the country. They will help the veterans to appeal. The process then takes place before the Veterans Review and Appeal Board panel, but there are levels of appeals. There's a departmental review, a review hearing, and there's also an appeal hearing.

If you want more detail regarding the inner workings, I would refer the question to either a representative from BPA or from the Veterans Review and Appeal Board. They could provide more details regarding the process.

[The Vice-Chair, NDP, Peter Stoffer]

Thank you, Ms. Bastien, and thank you, Mr. Hayes.

We now move on to the second round with Mr. Chicoine for four minutes, please.

[Sylvain Chicoine, NDP, Châteauguay—Saint-Constant, QC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Since it's our last meeting before Remembrance Day, I'd like to make a request. You can take it out of my speaking time if necessary, but I would like the committee members, as well as everyone else in the room, to join me in a moment of silence in honour of our veterans and fallen soldiers.

[The Vice-Chair, NDP, Peter Stoffer]

If there's agreement, we will do that near the end of the committee.

[Sylvain Chicoine, NDP, Châteauguay—Saint-Constant, QC]

Great.

I just have one question. There was some discussion earlier around the disposal of records. I would like you to tell us who decides what's relevant and what isn't, in short, what gets destroyed. I'm obviously referring to a comment by the ombudsman to the effect that this was causing a problem.

[Charlotte Bastien]

The act contains criteria used to determine which documents have to be kept and for how long. It's stipulated in the legislation.

As for the department, it follows a framework governing how those documents are to be managed. It lays out what we have to keep in our files, how long we have to keep the documents and when they can be destroyed. And everything is placed under the authority of Library and Archives Canada.

[Sylvain Chicoine, NDP, Châteauguay—Saint-Constant, QC]

I understand there's a framework and all, but who decides what gets destroyed at the end of the day? As I said, the ombudsman indicated that, in the past, it had been difficult to establish the criteria or elements provided to veterans. Isn't there a grey area? Are all the criteria respected?