Evidence of meeting #11 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 husband.
A recording is available from Parliament.
12:50 p.m.
Conservative
12:50 p.m.
As an Individual
Actually, I did some work on it before I came, because this is an important issue. I will not lose the quality of life we have gained because of my husband being on medical marijuana. If I have to go out and pay for it myself and buy it off the streets, so be it, but I will not ever go without it again.
We have achieved a higher level of pain control than we've ever had. We have a higher level of quality of life than we've ever had. It has been a miracle for us. Please don't screw this up. Go and get educated.
I mean, five grams a day is not too much. With the new system we're using, we're going to have to up him to 10 grams, because you concentrate it. That way he gets instant relief, and he doesn't really get high from it. This isn't like smoking a reefer. This is the true, medical way to properly do this.
If you want to embrace it, embrace it fully, and go and look at the proper medical way, and get us the training to do it. I had a woman come out from Petawawa and teach me, from Healing Waters Petawawa. Thank God for them. They have changed our lives.
12:50 p.m.
Conservative
Mark Strahl Conservative Chilliwack—Hope, BC
I just have one moment left here, and I did want to ask about the supposed support systems like the Legion that aren't working. Are there any that are? You mentioned peer support that you had tried to set up. Are there groups or organizations that you as spouses have found that have helped in terms of service delivery?
12:50 p.m.
As an Individual
OSISS is invaluable. There is one OSISS woman here in Saskatchewan, and she has saved my husband's and many veterans' lives. She's amazing, but she's one woman for the whole province of Saskatchewan. She is always on the road, but they're cutting back OSISS. They're cutting back their travel; they're cutting back. They're really the only point of contact we have anymore because VAC doesn't do it anymore. OSISS is a great thing. Stop cutting them back.
12:50 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Neil Ellis
Thank you.
We move on to our last questioner. That is Ms. Mathyssen with three minutes.
12:50 p.m.
NDP
Irene Mathyssen NDP London—Fanshawe, ON
Thank you very much.
Madam Migneault, you talked about a promise that was made last August for $100 million that seems to have been forgotten. One of the things that concerned me was the fact that mental health wasn't even mentioned in the budget. When we look at family breakdowns and suicide, it's pretty clear that there is a tremendous need for mental health support. Does it come down to the money? Is this what has been missing all along? Then I want to ask Carla about this too.
12:50 p.m.
As an Individual
Money is highly political, and any politics is about money. Obviously, everything has a cost. If money were not a problem, we could all agree that it would be easy for me to receive permission to go see a psychologist, and I would have 50 sessions a year. Now I have to fight for it. In this particular example, well, you have the core of it all.
12:55 p.m.
NDP
Irene Mathyssen NDP London—Fanshawe, ON
Thank you.
Carla, we've heard from veterans and spouses that they don't know what services are available. Your example of a $35,000 caregiver package speaks to that.
12:55 p.m.
As an Individual
At the Canadian Air Force; it's in the Canadian Air Force books.
12:55 p.m.
NDP
Irene Mathyssen NDP London—Fanshawe, ON
Had you known that, obviously life would have been easier. You would have been able to make a better transition.
12:55 p.m.
As an Individual
It's pretty tough when you're going through living hell to worry about money too. You're dealing with a crazy husband and you're trying to keep your kids safe and happy, which is next to impossible with a raving husband. He's getting shut out from the military because he's sick, and they hate sick people. You're fighting the doctor to try to get him help, and money is the last thing you need to worry about.
Right now, I don't care about money for caregiving, but I'm sure a lot of these young vets' wives do. I don't know; you need to check with them. I'm the old girl. I can survive anything now. It would take more than money to get me down.
12:55 p.m.
NDP
Irene Mathyssen NDP London—Fanshawe, ON
You talked about the administrative burden placed on physicians in terms of the delivery of mental health care. Is that burden actually driving psychiatrists and physicians away from being able to care for veterans?
12:55 p.m.
As an Individual
I have talked directly to practitioners, and they're telling me yes.
12:55 p.m.
NDP
Irene Mathyssen NDP London—Fanshawe, ON
Finally, you have talked about recommendations, and we have listened very carefully. It is my hope that this time—this time—the voices of people who are so desperate are going to be heard.
Is there anything else? Is there anything that we've overlooked today that you would like to add?
12:55 p.m.
As an Individual
Yes, very briefly, I'd like to remind you all that a caregiver is a significant person to a wounded warrior. I'd like to remind you all also of the sacrifices of families. When you have a serving member or a veteran who is alone, the family compensates. It might be the parents, too. Don't forget that when we talk about family, we talk about widows. We also talk about the children, the parents, and the spouses. We talk about anyone who has a positive influence on someone who is suffering and who can be there, because what is essential between someone who is wounded and his caregiver is trust.
12:55 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Neil Ellis
With the permission of the committee, we could run another 15 minutes, we could end with closing statements, we could do another quick round, or we could call it a day.
I ask all of you, do you want to start with a close and give each person another 10 minutes each, and that would wrap up all our time, or give another short round of questioning? It's up to the majority of the committee. We'll close out? Okay.
We will allow you five to ten minutes each to close, although you don't have to take the whole five or ten minutes.
We will start with Carla.
12:55 p.m.
As an Individual
Somebody asked me a question about why they were announcing all these new services last year. The last government was wonderful for announcing these wonderful new services, but they were not accessible. Only about a hundred people in the whole country would qualify. It sounded great in the media, but whenever you went to access it, it was inaccessible.
As for Veterans Affairs Canada, I don't know that you can fix it. I'm really worried that you're throwing good money and good ideas after bad. You have no credibility with veterans. We don't trust you anymore. I don't trust you anymore.
You guys are the first glimmer of hope I've had. Please don't be a freight train. We really need help. In Saskatchewan we're desperate. We need it now, not in three months, not with more studies. We need it now, please.
I'm done.
12:55 p.m.
As an Individual
I would like you to check something. On January 25, 2016, there were two different articles about suicide in the military. One was in English in the Ottawa Citizen, and the other was in French in La Presse. I would invite you to compare those two articles. You will see that in English, we refer to the responsibilities of a system, while in French we play the violin. I can assure you that from an advocacy point of view, my reality is very different in Quebec.
I would also like to remind you about the importance of understanding our different cultures, from natives, from English Canada, from Quebec. Our needs, our challenges, are slightly different from one region to another.
Finally, I will remind you, as a representative of the families, of the importance of giving us an independent voice.
Thank you very much. Three political parties invited me today. It's symbolic of a new change. I welcome you and I thank you for it.
Please, just don't let us down. Listen to us. We know the solutions. We can help you. We want to be your allies. Now bear with us.
Thank you.
1 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Neil Ellis
On behalf of the committee, I want to thank you both from the bottom of my heart for the powerful statements you made today. Thank you for all you've done for our members who have served. I know you're great advocates, and I challenge you to keep your eyes on this committee. Hopefully we don't disappoint you. Thank you again.
I need a motion to adjourn.
Thank you, Ms. Lockhart.
All in favour?