Veterans Affairs Committee on June 10th, 2019

[Karen Ludwig, Liberal, New Brunswick Southwest, NB]

You mentioned, Mr. Dalton, about the long wait times being an issue, but when you spoke with people, maybe it was not that great of an issue. If they had regular updates on their cases—regular feedback—would that offer some...? Would regular feedback on where the case is in the system be of value?

The second part of my question is this: Has the reinstatement of a number of front-line service workers made a difference in terms of the level of satisfaction?

[Craig L. Dalton]

I should clarify my remarks and say that it's not that veterans tell us it's not an issue. It clearly is and it's the number one complaint we receive, but in talking to some veterans who were frustrated, what they have expressed is that, rather than be given an average adjudication time or processing time for whatever disability they are applying under, they would like a more personalized, meaningful number.

If they can't be given that, given that the average is 28 weeks, they don't find it overly helpful. It just adds to the frustration.

As I mentioned earlier, I certainly haven't been privy to any feedback on the impact of those additional people being hired or those additional sites or locations being opened. I don't know if the office has received that or not.

[Sharon Squire]

No, other than that they now have different mechanisms for support—there's guided support, self-support and the traditional case manager, and I know they are trying different streams to help people—we haven't heard many comments either way.

[Karen Ludwig, Liberal, New Brunswick Southwest, NB]

I want to go directly to your statement regarding female veterans. Why do you think that is a greater issue?

We heard before the committee that even among veterans who become homeless, the challenges seem to be greater for women. If you look at this longitudinally, how do we better address the needs of women veterans?

[Craig L. Dalton]

There are number of experts and very informed advocates in that space who I would encourage you to contact. We can get you some contact information from them.

What they have shared with us is that women are less likely to identify as veterans, not just here in Canada but in other countries as well, and less likely to come forward with the issues they may be facing. We want to engage women veterans to add to that conversation and try to shine a light on the reasons for that.

[Karen Ludwig, Liberal, New Brunswick Southwest, NB]

Great.

Is that the end of my time? Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Neil Ellis]

Ms. Wagantall.

[Cathay Wagantall, Conservative, Yorkton—Melville, SK]

Thank you, Chair.

Thank you both for being here.

I apologize for being a little late and missing some of the content. Hopefully my questions make sense.

First of all, under “Health Care and Support”, we're talking about this having been achieved to allow veterans to be compensated retroactively to the date of application under the Pension Act and the re-establishment of the compensation act. We know that the number of people waiting for decisions has ballooned to over 40,000. There are least 3,000 cases that are very serious scenarios and they haven't received responses yet.

I've heard from a number of them who were concerned. They wanted to get their applications in before April 1 to get care. Of course, April 1 was when the new pension came in and we're aware now that there are some issues around getting the same amount of support as before in different ways.

Did you hear any feedback from veterans about concern that, basically, there was no retroactive opportunity? They put their request in, but they don't qualify under the new system.

[Craig L. Dalton]

I just want to make sure I understand your question. Complaints that there was no retroactive...?

[Cathay Wagantall, Conservative, Yorkton—Melville, SK]

For earnings loss benefit and CIA....

[Craig L. Dalton]

I see. No, we have not received any complaints yet that I am aware of around that issue, but the implementation of it is something that is part of our monitoring. It is something we will look at.

[Cathay Wagantall, Conservative, Yorkton—Melville, SK]

Thank you.

In regard to ensuring all VAC benefits are in place at time of release, this was a recommendation from this committee. We really felt that, if you're going to be medically released by DND, they already know why you are released, so there isn't a need for that extra angst of going through it all again with VAC.

It says it's in process but I don't understand what is still not happening that could enable them to get all of the things, like their housing, school for their kids, finding a job or getting into school. Those are all dynamics to create a structure for them going forward.

What is missing at this point in time to enable that to take place?

[Craig L. Dalton]

From our perspective right now, the best thing I could offer would be to refer that question to CAF-DND and Veterans Affairs to speak about the work they're doing to close the seam, and the work that the CAF transition group has initiated. Clearly that's not the case now and that can't happen quickly enough.

We've had the opportunity to meet and speak with some CAF leadership around the pilot they're conducting to ensure that in fact happens but I would note that it's a long process. One of the things they've been clear to express to us is that we need to manage expectations around how quickly they can put that in place, but it can't happen soon enough.

[Cathay Wagantall, Conservative, Yorkton—Melville, SK]

Thank you.

In terms of long-term care, I had the privilege of going to Moncton and meeting with eight of our Legions there. One of the biggest concerns to them was around the long-term care at Ste. Anne's and their veterans' health centre in Moncton. There was an agreement made with the provinces and they feel that the federal side is not being upheld. Are you hearing feedback on that at all in terms of concern over long-term care?

[Craig L. Dalton]

We're following that. We have not received—to my knowledge, anyway—any specific complaints, but we're following the conversations between the federal and provincial levels of government. We have also spoken to a number of veterans and a number of Legion representatives who have raised similar issues elsewhere. We'll continue to follow those conversations.

I think the thing that's expressed to us most frequently about long-term care is how complex a program it is and how difficult it is for staff, let alone veterans and their families, to understand 28 different eligibility areas and the 32 regulations governing the program. The good news is, in responding to the report we shared with the department, they indicated to us that they're going to initiate a redesign of the long-term care program—

[Cathay Wagantall, Conservative, Yorkton—Melville, SK]

Simplify, simplify, simplify....

[Craig L. Dalton]

—which would be very welcome.

[Cathay Wagantall, Conservative, Yorkton—Melville, SK]

Number six, under “Financial Security”, states:

Conducting a comprehensive review, including consultations with Veterans’ stakeholders, to determine what the appropriate maximum amount should be to fairly compensate Canadian Armed Forces members and Veterans for pain and suffering resulting from an injury or illness in service to Canada

That was checked off in 2018 and again in 2019. It's already been done, yet I just wonder about “consultations with Veterans’ stakeholders”. You're indicating that it happened. Did you consult any of those who were consulted in that particular group?

I know there's a concern around the fact that the maximum so often is something so unreasonable and unreachable for the majority who truly do end up with the most injuries.

[Craig L. Dalton]

Am I looking at the right one, Sharon?

[Sharon Squire]

Yes, it's right here. It's for “pain and suffering”.

[Craig L. Dalton]

Okay.

What was the question?

[Cathay Wagantall, Conservative, Yorkton—Melville, SK]

Did you talk directly to the veterans who were part of that determination where they came to the decision that, yes, it's been taken care of?

[Craig L. Dalton]

I'm going to consult with Sharon for a second, if I could, because I wasn't here for that process.

[Sharon Squire]

What that was is that we did a study and compared court settlements and worker's compensation across the country to come up with a figure. We did consult with veterans as well. We adopted the maximum through the courts, in essence, so yes, we did consult.

[Cathay Wagantall, Conservative, Yorkton—Melville, SK]

Is there a minimum?