Veterans Affairs Committee on May 13th, 2019

[Prof. Jane Quinn]

One of the significant steps forward that we've taken here is involving veterans groups in the co-design process that has driven the current neurocognitive health program that's being developed. That absolutely has been done side-by-side with the Department of Veterans' Affairs' Open Arms counselling service and those advocacy groups, including people like me. That would be a major step forward in Canada as well if you brought those individuals, with their lived experience and significant knowledge, into the design process for the treatment and rehabilitation programs. That also partially validates their existence as bona fide patients and experts in their own medical right.

I think it would be a very significant step forward if that could happen in Canada as well.

[Rachel Blaney, NDP, North Island—Powell River, BC]

Thank you.

Dr. Sellers, is there anything you'd like to add?

[Dr. Edward Sellers]

It sounds like the kind of health care model that should be embraced. Veterans are part of the general population and, therefore, a partnership with the military and building the kind of momentum that has been built in Australia seems so obvious that it's almost embarrassing to have to point it out, but it is something that could be done, and I think that Canada is well positioned to take a lead on that kind of initiative.

[Rachel Blaney, NDP, North Island—Powell River, BC]

Thank you so much.

[Dr. Edward Sellers]

Well, actually, that would be a follower role.

[Rachel Blaney, NDP, North Island—Powell River, BC]

Thank you so much. Those are all the questions I have.

[The Chair, Liberal, Neil Ellis]

Mr. Kitchen.

[Robert Gordon Kitchen, Conservative, Souris—Moose Mountain, SK]

My colleague spurred a question in my mind as she spoke to you. I take it that both of you have done research. Is that correct? You've also presented research to projects and to university groups to condone your research. Is that correct?

[Prof. Jane Quinn]

Yes.

[Dr. Edward Sellers]

Many, many papers.

[Robert Gordon Kitchen, Conservative, Souris—Moose Mountain, SK]

If you had presented a research paper suggesting that you were going to do a certain study—looking for information and collecting your variables and your data—and then you didn't do it or failed to report it, what would happen to your research?

[Prof. Jane Quinn]

Your research career would go downhill fairly fast.

[Robert Gordon Kitchen, Conservative, Souris—Moose Mountain, SK]

Right.

[Prof. Jane Quinn]

You would certainly not [Technical difficulty--Editor] funding if you perform in that way.

[Robert Gordon Kitchen, Conservative, Souris—Moose Mountain, SK]

Would your committee allow you to continue with that research?

[Dr. Edward Sellers]

I think it depends a bit on what you did.

If you didn't do what you said you were going to do and you tried to publish it and you got caught, you would probably lose your appointments and you wouldn't get funded. I mean, this gets to be close to fraud and things of that sort.

It's not something I would have ever done, so it's hard to answer the question. Of course, you can read on the front page of newspapers from time to time about somebody who has made it all up, and they've never come to a good end.

[Robert Gordon Kitchen, Conservative, Souris—Moose Mountain, SK]

Thank you very much.

[The Chair, Liberal, Neil Ellis]

On behalf of the committee, I'd like to thank both of you for taking time out of your day and for your testimony and all you do for the men and women who have served.

The meeting is adjourned.