Evidence of meeting #52 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 husband.
A recording is available from Parliament.
7:05 p.m.
Conservative
May 27th, 2015 / 7:05 p.m.
Conservative
Laurie Hawn Conservative Edmonton Centre, AB
Thank you very much to all the witnesses.
Thank you, Ms. Migneault, for sharing your story with us.
You have concerns, obviously, about the caregiver benefit. It's well-intentioned. I think people would agree with that. Can I ask you what your ideal solution would be? What's your ideal proposal for it?
7:05 p.m.
Conservative
7:05 p.m.
As an Individual
Let's say that I can dream about it.
It would be a centre, a physical centre, to which families could come, and couples. It would be accessible to everybody. We need respite. But you know, the social....
I'm going to switch to French, if you don't mind. It's easier for me.
Just getting out of the house is a challenge. We don't have any friends left. We don't see family. Nothing. We don't have any money to go out.
It would be wonderful to have a centre or a Wounded Warriors in a physical location, somewhere where injured soldiers could have access to all the activities and be amongst themselves. The spouses, on their end, also network. Workshops could be given from time to time; that would make a huge difference.
We can't simply rest, because when we go back home, we have to deal with the same problems. That's why education is so important. I'd like to see an actual place where, for instance, RCMP and air force members could come, on a rotating basis. That way, we could get people to work together and provide them with education.
That's a bit of a two-in-one solution that would help address a caregiver's fatigue while supporting veterans with PTSD. My husband has PTSD, and having a place like that would help both of us.
7:05 p.m.
Conservative
Laurie Hawn Conservative Edmonton Centre, AB
Where would you put that centre? Have you thought about how many centres you would have to have across the country?
7:05 p.m.
As an Individual
If there were only one, it would already be great.
If only you knew the difference that resources like Can Praxis and Wounded Warriors make in the life of a caregiver. You have no idea.
First of all, we live so much in silence. Don't forget that most times the wounded warriors don't like to live in the middle of the city, with the sirens and too many uncoordinated crowds and so on. We end up living pretty much alone. Nobody understands us. So meeting with others makes a difference.
The real difference comes from the street education.
7:05 p.m.
Conservative
Laurie Hawn Conservative Edmonton Centre, AB
There are organizations that do retreats. Once a year, one happens in Alberta, and so on.
7:05 p.m.
Conservative
Laurie Hawn Conservative Edmonton Centre, AB
Are you talking about one of those somewhere, once a year?
7:05 p.m.
As an Individual
It would be as needed.
I know I look devastated. Honestly I am, but I was much worse five, six, seven years ago. It's a process. So if I needed it, honestly, for two weeks a year until I didn't need it as much, why not?
You must provide us with the help that we need when we need it, not when the system decides that this is the number of sessions we can have, for instance, with a psychologist.
7:05 p.m.
Liberal
Frank Valeriote Liberal Guelph, ON
Thank you, everyone, for appearing tonight.
Ms. Migneault, you've given the most compelling testimony I think this committee has heard, at least in the year that I've been here. I don't think we do appreciate what caregivers are suffering.
I personally found it insulting that $7,238 per year would be given through the family caregiver relief benefit and that it would be considered enough to provide what they call respite, the break that you speak of.
I want you to answer two questions.
First, I understand that what you and others like you really needed, apart from a place to go which you spoke of earlier, was income replacement, because you've given up your career. Would you speak to us about that?
Second, if there is not going to be income replacement, can you talk to me about the adequacy of $7,238 per year, which is $139 per week? Does that provide enough money for the respite, if you were able to leave your home?
There are two questions there.
7:10 p.m.
As an Individual
It's only with the years that you realize the impact of staying at home. First of all, there's the income loss, of course. We feel it in the fridge. We are three people living on my husband's pension. We had some water damage, and last night, actually, I almost slept in my car in order to be here today—I'll be honest with you—because we had $40 left until midnight. That's our reality.
Of course, if I were working it would make a difference. That income replacement is necessary. I have children of my own. My husband also ended up paying for them as much.... They were not his children. My daughter's in Japan right now. I cannot help her during her studies, with anything.
I'm sorry. I'm very tired.
Second of all, concerning that $7,000, you have to keep in mind that I don't have that money. If you expect me to hire someone or to buy a plane ticket...or, as someone suggested yesterday, if I wanted to bring my children from B.C. to Quebec, I must have the money. I don't.
So it does not apply. It's not helpful to me. It's not.
Is it enough? Well, it's not a replacement; it's a relief benefit. If it came with a sort of income, that would be different.
7:10 p.m.
As an Individual
I can't tell you the number, but I can tell you that in the past year I've been talking not only to spouses, but also to many veterans who are now single and who have explained to me what happened to them, why they ended up alone. I've been talking also to military spouses and, to a lesser extent, I must say, serving members.
So yes, I can provide you with names. I will contact them and share their names, if they want to.
7:10 p.m.
Liberal
Frank Valeriote Liberal Guelph, ON
Thank you.
Mr. Burke, Mr. Blackwolf, or Mr. Thibeau, how are veterans in isolated areas being taken care of now by Veterans Affairs?
7:10 p.m.
National President and Chief Executive Officer, CAV, National Alliance, Canadian Aboriginal Veterans and Serving Members Association
Well, we are in contact with our veterans across the country. I personally phone our senior elders, the World War II veterans, on a regular basis. We contact our—
