Veterans Affairs Committee on Nov. 19th, 2013

[Laurie Hawn, Conservative, Edmonton Centre, AB]

The fact is, there were some comments made—

[The Vice-Chair, NDP, Peter Stoffer]

Thank you, Mr. Hawn.

[Laurie Hawn, Conservative, Edmonton Centre, AB]

—by the member that speak for themselves poorly, but—

[The Vice-Chair, NDP, Peter Stoffer]

I take your point, and again, I remind all members of the committee and the witnesses to please be careful in how they phrase their language.

Thank you.

Mr. Karygiannis, go ahead, please.

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

Thank you, Chair.

The deputy said that over the phone you can help a veteran fill out the forms. For an 80-year-old veteran from Korea or an 85-year-old or a 90-year-old veteran from World War II, it would be very difficult to fill out the forms and to listen to somebody over the phone telling them, “Fill in here, fill in there”.

I go back to ask you, sir, why we are closing down these centres where the vets need them the most. Mr. Stoffer said he had 11 vets on the phone, and these people are probably still waiting to be contacted. There are 27,688 vets who are being affected by the closure of the nine centres. As has been revealed, the only people who will get home visits are people who are case managed. I will put it to you further that for an 80-year-old or a 90-year-old trying to fill out the form over the phone it will be very challenging. Would you reconsider, sir, the closing of your centres? Would you consider leaving them open?

Last week Bill C-11 was introduced, and it said we're going to give priority to veterans to be at the front of the line to get jobs with federal departments. While you're saying you'll give them priority, you're closing centres and you're destroying jobs.

Having heard everything that has been said here today, I ask you again if you would reconsider and look the vets in the eyes and say, “Let's talk about it”, and maybe we should leave the centres open because an 80-year-old cannot fill out a form over the phone.

Here is one last chance, Minister. Would you reconsider leaving the centres open, yes or no?

[The Vice-Chair, NDP, Peter Stoffer]

Mr. Minister.

[Julian Fantino, Conservative, Vaughan, ON]

Thank you for the question.

In respect of enabling veterans to do their work, and I talk to a lot of veterans and their family members about this very issue, we thank the Canadian Legion for their help. We thank family members of veterans who help their relatives, their father and mother, do the kinds of things they need to do. Failing all that, Service Canada offices are right in their community. The people there will help them fill out forms and deal with the issues as they arise. More often than not, we find that veterans are self-sufficient in a lot of areas. I've talked to a lot of veterans who have never once had the need to go to any veterans office, because their daughter, their son, a social worker in a home, or some other entity has helped them deal with the kinds of things that they need to deal with.

The short answer is that we believe we have done the responsible thing. We will continue to ensure that veterans are well looked after in all of their needs, and that will not change.

[The Vice-Chair, NDP, Peter Stoffer]

Minister, thank you very much for that.

In a final response, on behalf of the committee, I'd like to thank you, your deputy minister, and General Semianiw very much for coming, and also to Mr. Hillier in the back—he isn't leaving without saying hello. Sir, you did ask, regarding a recommendation on the Last Post Fund, it has been brought to my attention that two years ago this committee recommended that. I just wanted to let you know on the record.

[Julian Fantino, Conservative, Vaughan, ON]

May I answer?

[The Vice-Chair, NDP, Peter Stoffer]

Yes.

[Julian Fantino, Conservative, Vaughan, ON]

We're not discounting any of the work, or recommendations, or previous efforts that have been made. At this point, rather than do piecemeal one-offs, I think that this is a great opportunity, Mr. Chair, and committee members, to bring it all together and move forward. I must say there's been much misinformation, miscommunication, lack of understanding of where we are on all these issues.

[The Vice-Chair, NDP, Peter Stoffer]

Thank you, Minister, and my thanks to your department. We appreciate your coming.

We'll take one minute, folks, and go back in camera to deal with the motions on the table.

[Proceedings continue in camera]