Evidence of meeting #17 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 information.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Peer Support Coordinator, Operational Stress Injury Social Support (OSISS), National Capital Region, Department of National Defence
Thank you for the question. If I have a peer referred from IPSC or an OSI clinic, one of the first things I do is ask about their status with veterans affairs.
Liberal
Alaina Lockhart Liberal Fundy Royal, NB
Can I just back up and ask how they would find you? How does that connection happen?
Peer Support Coordinator, Operational Stress Injury Social Support (OSISS), National Capital Region, Department of National Defence
It could happen through the OTSCC or Montfort Hospital. The OSI clinic is a referral. It could come from the IPSC, the Royal Canadian Legion...you name it. Anybody can refer to us, even a peer.
The first question I ask if they have been released is whether they have engaged with Veterans Affairs. I cannot get them any help unless they have engaged with Veterans ffairs. It is one of the first steps.
We go down to Veterans Affairs hand in hand. We sit down with them and we begin the claim process. I check to make sure they have had a conversation with their doctor and if there has been a diagnosis. It has to be evidence-based. If it's not, then I'm going to communicate to Veterans Affairs that an assessment is required. That's how we begin.
Liberal
Alaina Lockhart Liberal Fundy Royal, NB
All right. Can you identify a group that seemed to fall through the cracks?
Peer Support Coordinator, Operational Stress Injury Social Support (OSISS), National Capital Region, Department of National Defence
No. I suppose, however, that this would happen more often the older they are or the longer they've been released. The nature of the beast is to withdraw. When I get them like that, they have usually been released for some time.
Liberal
Alaina Lockhart Liberal Fundy Royal, NB
This question is maybe for the brigadier-general.
When we had the ombudsman here earlier this week, he talked about the determination of service attribution as one way to look at a different concept of transitioning soldiers to veterans. I'm wondering if that's a concept that has been discussed or where we're at with that.
BGen Nicolas Eldaoud
That matter is always on the books. It has to do with ensuring that between us and VAC, the transition and the benefits are being given to those members as fast as possible. Believe me, we are committed to making sure that we transfer the information to VAC and get the attribution to service done quickly so that veterans get the benefits they deserve.
Liberal
Alaina Lockhart Liberal Fundy Royal, NB
Would allowing that determination to be made while they were still enlisted result in any barriers?
BGen Nicolas Eldaoud
VAC is legislatively obligated to make that determination. We do not make it. None of our benefits in the Canadian Armed Forces or the Department of National Defence depend on that. We don't care whether it's related to service or not. If the member has been injured or ill, he will get our benefits. For us, it makes no difference.
There is an issue, though. Right now one of the ideas is for our medical doctors to do this. Our surgeon general has a problem with this idea, because we want our doctors to focus on the care of the patient and not be linked to receiving benefits. The trust between the doctor and his patient needs to be pure and maintained. It's about that person getting better, not about administration and certainly not about money.
Liberal
Alaina Lockhart Liberal Fundy Royal, NB
We can certainly appreciate that. We're trying to get at whether the intentions are good and what we could do to improve delivery. Is it resources? Is it legislation? That's a good point to make.
How am I for time?
Irene Mathyssen NDP London—Fanshawe, ON
Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.
Thank you for being here.
As Ms. Lockhart indicated, we've heard a great deal from the ombudsman with regard to this transitioning process, and certainly we've heard from veterans. I'm sure you know that there are a number of very concerned and disappointed veterans.
Elizabeth, there seemed to be problems with regard to the sharing of documents from DND to Veterans Affairs. That was indicated. What are those roadblocks, and how can we get past them?
I'll start with that, and I have subsequent questions.
Director General, Service Delivery and Program Management, Department of Veterans Affairs
Thank you very much for the question.
First, there has been a backlog, and we are working with our colleagues at DND and CAF to make improvements in this area.
There has been significant improvement over the past year. Around this time last year, it took approximately 35 days to transfer records from CAF to VAC. Now we're at 19 days. Part of the reason for that is, first, we have recognized and placed priority on it; second, there is the digitization of records. Now that they are scanned documents, they come to us more quickly and sooner.
We are working to shorten that timeline even further. To that end, if I may, I will turn it over to my colleague.
BGen Nicolas Eldaoud
We are very concerned with time when it comes to making sure the information is passed to VAC. We're all over this backlog.
If you have more specific instances of barriers, I could be more specific, but right now we're very keen on making that timeline as short as possible.
NDP
Irene Mathyssen NDP London—Fanshawe, ON
Okay, I will be specific.
DND determines that a CF member has an injury due to service. Why does Veterans Affairs have to reassess that? How can that possibly be helpful?
BGen Nicolas Eldaoud
DND does not determine whether that illness or injury is relative to service. That's the responsibility of Veterans Affairs Canada.
NDP
Irene Mathyssen NDP London—Fanshawe, ON
With regard to what we heard today, the ombudsman said that if we make sure there is quality of life for the veteran—financial support, housing, supports for the family—then a lot of the problems we're seeing will go away.
One of the recommendations from this committee—or from many committees, actually—is that the CF member should remain within the Department of National Defence until all the transition is complete, all the paperwork is done, and everything is set up. In the Netherlands, they make sure that the individual has a job before they're released from service.
Is that the direction we should be going or that we are going? Do you have any comment?
Capt(N) Marie-France Langlois
Thank you, madam.
It's true that transition is very complex, and it's different for each individual. We want to make sure that people are ready when they are released and transfer into civilian life. On the medical side, we'll make sure that the person is stable before they are released. This is why we're working very closely with Veterans Affairs Canada so that they get involved earlier in the process and there's a seamless transition to civilian life.
Military personnel can remain in the forces in different ways. If they're fully fit, they could be eligible for a retention period of up to three years. If they have complex transition needs, they could be eligible for a transition period of up to three years once they don't meet universality of service.
Working closely with Veterans Affairs and making sure that people are starting to work on a transition plan early in their careers is the new current strategy on employment and transition that is being put in place right now. It is focusing on making sure that people are ready to do a seamless transition when the time comes.
