Evidence of meeting #101 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 homelessness.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Conservative
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Neil Ellis
I'm sorry, but you're out of time. Thank you.
Mr. Samson, you have five minutes.
Liberal
Darrell Samson Liberal Sackville—Preston—Chezzetcook, NS
Thank you very much, all three of you, for the work you do, which is extremely important.
Also, thanks to both of you for your service. It's a very tough profession. We sincerely thank you for that. It's very much appreciated by all Canadians, and you're continuing that service, which is what is even more amazing.
I have a quick question about your relationship with Veterans Affairs. Is there an ongoing relationship? What issues do you share together?
President, Royal Canadian Naval Benevolent Fund
For us, absolutely. We depend on VAC. They help us identify clients, because we're a very small group and we only have one employee. VAC contacts us and says, “We've found a sailor that's in need.” They often will create the case for us, and then we'll adjudicate the case and see if we can assist. We have a good ongoing working relationship with VAC.
Liberal
President, Royal Canadian Naval Benevolent Fund
We do not. No. Prior to unification, we used to receive money from the canteen funds of ships, but since unification we haven't received any money. We were intelligent enough to invest our money. We live off the interest of the money we have invested.
Liberal
Darrell Samson Liberal Sackville—Preston—Chezzetcook, NS
Again, that's exceptional.
How about you, Suzanne?
Executive Director, Multifaith Housing Initiative
In our case, we've had conversations with VAC and they have committed to caseworker support once the building is operational. They have given us access to their research, and they have allowed us to also access their video files and such things, but no funding.
Liberal
Darrell Samson Liberal Sackville—Preston—Chezzetcook, NS
Housing, the national housing strategy has I think indicated a priority for veterans. What are the discussions on that piece with both organizations?
Executive Director, Multifaith Housing Initiative
In our case, the issue with a lot of the funds is that veterans are identified as a priority population, so there was a recognition by the government when they developed the national housing strategy that veterans needed to be highlighted, but there was a disconnect when they made all of the programs require provincial and municipal participation.
In the case of veterans, there are many provinces, Ontario being one of them, and many cities, Ottawa being one of them, that will not fund projects and programs for veterans of any sort. We are specifically excluded from it because they see it as a federal plan.
Liberal
Darrell Samson Liberal Sackville—Preston—Chezzetcook, NS
Then what did you do in yours? Did you get the provincial and municipal governments in both?
Executive Director, Multifaith Housing Initiative
No. We have no provincial government. The municipal government gave us development charge relief, which we were entitled to because we are a charity, not because it's a veterans' project, and that was enough to make us eligible to apply for the program, but it did create this big funding gap.
Liberal
Darrell Samson Liberal Sackville—Preston—Chezzetcook, NS
From the Canadian navy, there has been support for a lot of programs in the last two to three years. The needs are there and that's been identified. I think the more we learn about transition, the more we learn about needs, and the more we learn about the benefits that should be linked to those needs. On pensions for life, you mentioned that before you faced individuals who would have taken the one-time payment.
Are people now aware that they have the option of a one-time payment or a pension for life?
President, Royal Canadian Naval Benevolent Fund
People are aware. I'm not sure that they've taken advantage of it yet. I think a full rollout of pension for life is coming up in April. It's not going to address all the people who are releasing. It's for the most severely injured. It's not for people who were not injured in combat. Some of them will be covered by insurance and not by VAC. We still end up with people releasing with a cash settlement that is not going to provide for them forever.
Liberal
Darrell Samson Liberal Sackville—Preston—Chezzetcook, NS
You talked about the education program. Our government, or the government of the day, put a very aggressive support in place for education: six years, $40,000; 12 years, $80,000. Is that the program you're talking about? Can you expand on that, please?
Vice-President, Royal Canadian Naval Benevolent Fund
There are two lines there. That is a very good program for somebody to go and develop higher education, to work on a foundation they've built up in their experience in the Canadian Armed Forces, but it doesn't apply to all veterans.
Those veterans who were actively involved in the Veterans Affairs Canada rehabilitation program don't qualify for access to that program. Just because you want do the program doesn't mean you'll get the funding. For the veteran who's on the rehabilitation program, trying to get well, a lot of that is not available because the goal of the rehabilitation program is to get you to where you were when you were serving, before you were released medically. There's a bit of a disconnect there.
NDP
Gord Johns NDP Courtenay—Alberni, BC
Thank you, and thank you, all, for your work and selfless service.
Maybe I'll start with Mr. Cléroux. You mentioned that you're not getting any funding from Veterans Affairs. Is Veterans Affairs referring clients to you?
NDP
Gord Johns NDP Courtenay—Alberni, BC
Okay, I just wanted to hear that again.
What kind of funding would support the work you're doing?
President, Royal Canadian Naval Benevolent Fund
A lot of the referrals we get from VAC is emergency funding, and it's emergency funding that doesn't fall within their ability to support it. For example, VAC does not cover first and last months' rent. We would prefer that the person who is homeless or near-homeless be able to get into some sort of housing.
NDP
Gord Johns NDP Courtenay—Alberni, BC
Right, so it's more funding for housing instead of the one-time emergency amount. I get it. You need first and last months' rent if you're walking into a place. You need it even longer really, if you've flat out lost everything and you're on the street.
That being said, you've heard about our motion on ending lapsed spending and carrying it forward to attack the 12 service standards of the 24 that the government is not meeting.
Would you see this amount of money—$148 million last year—as money that could be used and applied immediately to supporting veterans?
