Evidence of meeting #10 for Veterans Affairs in the 42nd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was veteran.
A recording is available from Parliament.
12:15 p.m.
Founder, Veterans UN-NATO Canada
The English version of the form isn't worded the same way.
12:15 p.m.
Peer Support, Veterans UN-NATO Canada
Indeed, it's not at all the same.
12:15 p.m.
Conservative
Alupa Clarke Conservative Beauport—Limoilou, QC
You say the department works properly when one knows how it works.
12:15 p.m.
Conservative
12:15 p.m.
Founder, Veterans UN-NATO Canada
We resolved that problem. When I walk in to Place Bonaventure, believe me, they know who I am.
12:15 p.m.
Conservative
Alupa Clarke Conservative Beauport—Limoilou, QC
I'm very happy that you're here with us. You're the first French Canadian group representing veterans to come before us.
I have some questions for the other witnesses.
Ms. Fimrite, on the second page of your document, it says that the culture change at the department reflects a new philosophy of care, compassion, and respect that is starting to take shape and is a hopeful sign that radical changes will be made.
What are those radical changes you're talking about?
12:15 p.m.
Dominion Secretary-Treasurer, Dominion Command, The Army, Navy and Air Force Veterans in Canada
I think they're similar to what Denis and Brigitte have just stated. I think a radical change would be to have the caseworker filling out the form, not the veteran, with the veteran signing it and reading it over, making sure that the information is correct. It's not for them to find out which form they should be filling out to get their benefits. It'll be Veterans Affairs that is reviewing their file, explaining to them everything they are entitled to, and then actually filling out those forms for and with them, in the hope of alleviating the stresses they're dealing with.
12:20 p.m.
Conservative
Alupa Clarke Conservative Beauport—Limoilou, QC
So if the caseworkers don't fill out the forms and they're not reviewing all the processes, what are they doing, actually? What are the caseworkers doing right now? Are there any other radical changes that you have in mind?
12:20 p.m.
Peer Support, Veterans UN-NATO Canada
I can answer that question.
The case managers work hard for veterans. I know excellent ones throughout the country. In fact, I talk with case managers in Victoria, British Columbia, Prince Edward Island and even Quebec.
12:20 p.m.
Peer Support, Veterans UN-NATO Canada
I have an example of this.
Two weeks ago, I helped a veteran in distress with documents that had already been filled out. I always do that. I don't want them to have to fill out the documents on their own, because they could get discouraged and leave them aside. I went with the veteran to the VAC office in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu. The case manager, whose name was Isabelle Martin, sat down with the veteran and told him not to worry because she'd be taking responsibility for his case. They are the ones with the power to determine, at that point, whether the people are eligible or not. They need to use them.
12:20 p.m.
Conservative
Alupa Clarke Conservative Beauport—Limoilou, QC
Thank you.
I'll be very quick now, because I have other things to mention.
Madame Fimrite, following this, I would appreciate it if you could send the committee a list of your radical changes. This is fundamental to us, and I want to know what changes you are talking about.
Mr. Cuppens and Mr. Kokkonen, on page 5, you say that Veterans Affairs Canada has totally pushed away its program evaluation directorate. Why is that so? It's completely ridiculous.
12:20 p.m.
LGen Louis Cuppens
When Veterans Affairs was doing their own downsizing in a previous era, they chose to do away with their program evaluation section.
12:20 p.m.
LGen Louis Cuppens
Yes.
12:20 p.m.
LGen Louis Cuppens
In answer to another part of your question, I would recommend strongly to this panel that you ask the co-chairs, one from Defence and one from Veterans Affairs, to come to speak to you about the role of the joint support units. It's an innovation.
12:20 p.m.
Conservative
12:20 p.m.
LGen Louis Cuppens
You should get both together to explain how the hand-off occurs. That would answer many of the questions you've already posed.
12:20 p.m.
Liberal
Bob Bratina Liberal Hamilton East—Stoney Creek, ON
The issue is human resources, technical resources. I don't believe we've heard from case managers yet. From what we're hearing today, I think it would be helpful to the committee to turn to Ms. Laverdure, who is kind of a front-line person. What's the stress like for the service provider, for the case manager, for you? Is it hard work for you mentally?
12:20 p.m.
Peer Support, Veterans UN-NATO Canada
No, not really, sir, because I went through the whole process in 2004 when I was diagnosed with PTSD as well as with a physical condition.
I have this way now to analyze the needs of the veteran. It's not a matter of saying well, we'll get you in the system and we'll see. We just analyze the needs right away. The first thing I would do if the person is in distress is call the 1-800 help line for the public function. And right away I would call—on the speaker phone with the veteran sitting beside me—a case manager whose on duty. There's always a case manager on duty everywhere in the district office. I would tell this person that I'm sitting with Mr. or Mrs. Whoever and that this person is in need of help.
It just goes with what I know and what I do.
