Veterans Affairs Committee on May 27th, 2015

[Richard Blackwolf]

Yes, we're advocates for the family as we brought forward in our presentation before. A family benefit and a child benefit are missing in this particular enactment. We will pursue those. We have a veterans services page where we list all the resources we're aware of. If we'd been consulted about the inclusion here of respite, we would have said to please make it a family respite, because particularly in the cases where there are psychological problems, separation is not possible. To get the family away to a new setting for a bit of a vacation is probably a greater thing. But as you said, we weren't consulted on that. We would have asked....

Mind you, the committee, I believe, still has the power to change the wording there from “caregiver” respite to “family” respite. They could still have the $7,200, or whatever it is.

On the Canadian Forces, we listed it on our website, too. There are vacation places where people can go, and that would be excellent. We are great supporters of the family. We hate to see the families being broken up, because this is an unbearable thing when you have a severely disabled veteran. Now, those categories are different. The psychological ones require more of a different tack, and the tack would be a family respite, possibly, more than an individual one.

Thank you.

[The Chair, Conservative, Royal Galipeau]

Thank you very much, Mr. Blackwolf.

Mr. Hayes.

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

I don't have any questions, Chair.

With two minutes left, I'll defer to Mr. Hawn.

[A voice]

If you want to start, you go ahead.

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

Sure, Mr. Lemieux.

[Pierre Lemieux, Conservative, Glengarry—Prescott—Russell, ON]

Thank you.

I want to thank our witnesses for being here this evening. I know some of you were there last evening. We've had some very good testimony from our witnesses. As I mentioned in my opening remarks yesterday, what we have in front of us as a committee, and what we will ultimately have in front of us in the House when the bill goes back to the House, are very concrete measures that are aimed at benefiting veterans. When they pass into law, veterans will benefit from these measures.

Your testimony is much appreciated. It is acknowledged that this is not the end of the work. In other words, this is not the end of the line. This is a beginning, in a sense, but the measures are very concrete in nature.

What I've heard most witnesses say is that they support the measures as they are presented. They might have suggested changes, but they support what is contained within the legislation moving forward so that veterans will actually benefit.

Perhaps I'll just ask Mr. Blackwolf. Would it be an accurate representation of your position that what is in front of us would be of benefit to veterans and should move forward?

[Richard Blackwolf]

As we've mentioned, we do support this legislation, but there are some tweaks, if you want to call them that. We've asked for changes to the wording, and also I think it's within the power of the committee to make those recommendations. I think a small thing like changing the respite to a family one, where there's an option for the caregiver to go on their own in cases where that's appropriate and in other cases where the family can go together....

We have dealings with several of the groups, like Can Praxis, where they bring in a couple to handle the horses. We're also involved with the group that is going across the country on horseback, involving over 700 veterans from Victoria to Saint John. These are all great things to be involved in and we're right in the front line and we're in constant contact with our members, and a lot of new members, about their issues.

[The Chair, Conservative, Royal Galipeau]

Thank you very much, Mr. Blackwolf.

I would like to thank all our witnesses this evening, especially for your dignified presentations. I'd like to thank Madame Migneault for opening her heart to us.

[Jenny Migneault]

Thank you.

[The Chair, Conservative, Royal Galipeau]

The 53rd meeting of the Standing Committee on Veterans Affairs will be tomorrow morning in the usual room, 112 North, from 8:45 to 10:45.

We'll discuss proposed recommendations for the Standing Committee on Finance in camera.

Have a good evening. I'll see you tomorrow.

The meeting is adjourned.