Veterans Affairs Committee on May 31st, 2016

[Thomas Jarmyn]

Yes, at all three stages. On initial intake, the training period is about eight weeks long. There are both medical and legal there. At our conferences, there are medical and legal training. Then, on the individual occasions, depending upon the subject, it will be medical or legal. Rarely on our monthly teleconferences will I try to insert two types of those topics. Usually I'll just do one or the other.

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

I'll get Mr. Clarke to ask the last question.

[Alupa Clarke, Conservative, Beauport—Limoilou, QC]

Mr. Jarmyn, in response to what Mr. Vandal was asking, you said that it's the statute. I don't want to put you in an uncomfortable position, but could you share with us what you think should be changed in the statute that directs your body?

[Thomas Jarmyn]

I guess there are a couple of things with respect to the VRAB Act that I think could be improved. We need to build upon technology.

Right now, video conferencing is an elective process. I don't know whether or not we could be more efficient if we did all these hearings by video conference. I think that before something like that happens we need to have a discussion with the stakeholders community. I've heard definitely mixed messages about video conferencing from the stakeholders community. By the same token, though, I've used it in other contexts an awful lot. I've found it to be a useful tool.

We are in the process of.... There have been mixed views with respect to the electronic signature and transmission of documents—

[The Chair, Liberal, Neil Ellis]

You'll have to wrap this up.

[Thomas Jarmyn]

Yes. I'm now taking the view that we have the authority to do it. I may turn out to be wrong, and we may have to come back and amend the statute to do it.

[The Chair, Liberal, Neil Ellis]

We'll end with Ms. Mathyssen.

[Irene Mathyssen, NDP, London—Fanshawe, ON]

You said that the legislation from 2006 affected veterans' entitlement. Now, VRAB has to follow the legislation, as you're very much a creature of what governments decide in terms of policy. We know there were effects in 2006. The ombudsman wrote a report in 2012 in regard to that and updated that report in 2015. You've touched on the fact that the ombudsman commented on the fact that veterans should be allowed compensation retroactively and that it is a legislative change.

We have to make recommendations now in regard to the report we file. Mr. Clarke touched on this a bit. You see the legislation, and you see the impact. For example, the 2006 legislation had a profound impacts on veterans. What we should we be focusing on? What recommendation should we be making to government in terms of legislative changes that will move the process along in a very positive way, as certainly we all hope?

[Thomas Jarmyn]

I can only speak to the things that are within the lane of the way the board does its operations. I think there are potential efficiencies to be gained with respect to video conferencing that I definitely think could be processed. There are things that would facilitate a greater discretion of the board to facilitate the handling of documents, electronic signatures, and the like.

Right now, one the last challenges we face is that the view always was that the document had to be physically signed by the member, pen to paper, before it became an official document. We're in the process right now of putting that out for consultation. We'll see whether or not I'm upheld in how we're going to use e-signatures. There is a view that says I may be exceeding the authority in the statute to do that, but that's two days I lose in physically sending a file to a member from Charlottetown to wherever that person is sitting and them physically sending the file back. It's due in 42 days.

[The Chair, Liberal, Neil Ellis]

I'll end with one clarifying question.

I see that you're acting chair. Is there a chair or is there going to be a chair?

[Thomas Jarmyn]

I am acting chair because the previous chair's term ended. I've been filling the duties since April of last year and will continue to fill them until the government completes an appointment process with respect to the chair's position.

[The Chair, Liberal, Neil Ellis]

How long have you been on the board?

[Thomas Jarmyn]

I was first appointed in 2009. I left after a year to do some other things and then was appointed as deputy on July 1, 2014.

[The Chair, Liberal, Neil Ellis]

How did you get appointed deputy chair? That's by government?

[Thomas Jarmyn]

Through a competitive process.

[The Chair, Liberal, Neil Ellis]

Okay, thank you.

[Thomas Jarmyn]

Can I just add one thing?

[The Chair, Liberal, Neil Ellis]

Yes. I can give you a minute to wrap up.

[Thomas Jarmyn]

I'd really appreciate it if you would all attend our hearings. If you contact my office, we'll make an arrangement for you individually. Our boardrooms are very small, so it has to be one at a time. We do give the veterans notice that guests will be attending. Although they are public hearings, I don't want to put a political figure in an embarrassing situation.

[The Chair, Liberal, Neil Ellis]

On behalf of our committee, thank you for that invitation and for answering a lot of good questions today and being under fire for two hours. That's quite an accomplishment.

[Thomas Jarmyn]

Thank you very much.

[The Chair, Liberal, Neil Ellis]

We have a motion to adjourn from Mr. Fraser.

All in favour?

(Motion agreed to)

The meeting is adjourned.