Veterans Affairs Committee on Dec. 6th, 2016

[Kent Hehr, Liberal, Calgary Centre, AB]

We remain committed to each and every line item in the mandate letter from the Prime Minister. As you're aware, we have a four-year mandate, yet we want to get it done as quickly as possible. We are working hard on creating those synergies and loops that can do it in the most effective and efficient manner.

Our real goal is not just to put check-boxes by things in my mandate letter. We're looking at trying to make transformational change to really better the outcomes for our soldiers, sailors, and aviators who find themselves in Veterans Affairs Canada. We want to have better outcomes than where we're at right now and to go from having 27% of veterans who struggle to incrementally do better to see more success.

[John Brassard, Conservative, Barrie—Innisfil, ON]

Thank you, Minister.

The issue of service dogs for those suffering from PTSD has come up. What are you doing about that, sir, if anything?

[Kent Hehr, Liberal, Calgary Centre, AB]

That's a good question. I saw in the news the other day that we have a veteran who is very interested in that. Obviously, tax code changes are the purview of the finance minister. That said, our department currently is funding some studies around service dogs and how they are currently working with veterans and those people on many issues surrounding PTSD and the like. We're looking forward to the results of those studies. Also, we can take some of this information and these changes and put them to the attention of the finance minister.

[The Chair, Liberal, Neil Ellis]

Thank you, Minister.

Mr. Fraser.

[Colin Fraser, Liberal, West Nova, NS]

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.

Minister, thank you so much for being here again before our committee, and General, welcome back. It's good to have both of you with us.

I want to say first of all, Minister, that I believe you are doing a good job in putting together the outcomes that we are looking for and that were expressly mandated to you in the mandate letter. I want to thank you for the good work you've done. I think we are on the right track.

I want to ask you specifically about the earnings loss benefit and the fact that this will increase the pre-release salary to 90% from 75%. I know that the money being allocated for that is part of the supplementary estimates here. Could you talk a bit about the earnings loss benefit and why it is so important to fulfill that commitment?

[Kent Hehr, Liberal, Calgary Centre, AB]

It really is. As part of our commitment to financial security in budget 2016, we fulfilled our mandate commitment to increase the earnings loss benefit from 75% of a soldier's pre-release salary to 90% of a veteran's indirect monthly salary. These changes came into effect on October 1, 2016. Really, they will go a long way to putting more money in the pockets of our men and women who have served in our military and will enable them to do more with their families. We're very proud of this commitment. Those cheques have been rolling since October 1.

Really, it's about our men and women who find themselves in Veterans Affairs Canada being in the middle class and about allowing them better outcomes. Without financial security, you don't have much security at all. You aren't able to reach your “new normal”. You aren't able to concentrate on your therapies. You're not able to concentrate on moving your life forward. We're very proud of making that commitment. It was a very important part of our whole suite of benefits and the changes we're making to try to make things better in our department.

[Colin Fraser, Liberal, West Nova, NS]

Thank you, Minister.

I think that is true. We have heard from a number of veterans who have testified before our committee about the challenges they face. One of the things that make it even more difficult, of course, is worrying about having enough money to pay the bills, so I believe it is important that the earnings loss benefit continue on the track you have it on.

Could you please talk about the permanent impairment allowance just for a minute so that I understand why the improvements to it are so necessary?

[Kent Hehr, Liberal, Calgary Centre, AB]

What we are finding is that the permanent impairment allowance is put together to track a man's or a woman's career as it would go forward in the military after they have suffered an illness or injury. To be honest, we weren't doing a very good job of tracking those numbers. In fact, most people who came into Veterans Affairs Canada found themselves not progressing along any career path changes.

What we did was secure money from the Treasury Board in the last budget to do a better job of adequately assessing a person's career and to make sure they are getting the incremental changes to their earnings that they would have received should their career not have been cut short by illness or injury. This will allow them to recognize their success and understand that their inability to serve in the military has not impacted them in a financial way. We looked at it in a more fair and fulsome fashion that recognizes more what their outcomes would have been but for the injury.

[Colin Fraser, Liberal, West Nova, NS]

Thank you.

I will now turn to the office reopenings, which are also mentioned in the supplementary estimates. Minister, I want to thank you for going to Sydney, Nova Scotia. I'm from the other end of Nova Scotia, but I know that you were there with the Prime Minister to see the reopening of that office. It was very important to veterans right across the Maritimes to know that the office was reopening. I thank you for being there to do that.

With regard to the offices right across the country, you've said that five of them have now reopened, so there are four more of the nine to go, as well as an additional one that I think was committed to, in Surrey, British Columbia. Could you talk about those openings and when we can expect to see them right across the country?

[Kent Hehr, Liberal, Calgary Centre, AB]

It was a great day in Sydney with the Prime Minister, where we met the community that was looking forward to the reopening of that Veterans Affairs office. It was a real joy for me to be there personally. As well, you could see the relief in the community and among many of the veterans who were looking forward to that occurring.

I can say that we have opened five of the offices to date. We will have all nine open by May 2017. We continue to hire new employees to fill those spaces and to adequately staff them. When we came into office, shortly after October 19, our analysis was that we needed some more help, given that in Surrey, B.C., we have a large cohort of veterans who are settling in that area. I think the number is upwards of 5,000, so that area needs help and assistance.

We never had outreach in the north that was really effective and proactive, so we put together a mobile team to go out there and do the good work, ensuring that our first nations, Métis, and Inuit veterans, as well as other members who have served up in the north region and who choose to settle there after the fact, get the help they need from our department. This is a large nation, and I think moving towards that northern presence has been a good move. It will allow us to serve the population better and will allow more flexibility in programming and getting people help wherever they live in this great nation.

[The Chair, Liberal, Neil Ellis]

Thank you, Minister.

Ms. Mathyssen, go ahead.

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

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Minister, for being here.

I have a number of questions. I hope we can get to all of them.

The first is in regard to Ste. Anne's Hospital. I'm wondering what is the benefit to veterans of that transfer from the federal department to the province, because I have heard some concerns raised and some complaints from veterans that the service has declined since the transfer. Are you aware of those complaints? If so, have you responded or will you respond to those concerns? That's number one. The second part of the same question is, are the working conditions of the staff who look after folks there the same as prior to the transfer or different?

[Kent Hehr, Liberal, Calgary Centre, AB]

Ste. Anne's has a long proud history in our nation. It was the first Veteran's Affairs hospital. It came on board after World War I. As you know, when we went to national health care in 1967, we essentially went to provincially run health care systems, and Ste. Anne's was the last of the Veterans Affairs hospitals that we returned to provincial control.

Largely, Veterans Affairs Canada provides health care in over 1,500 facilities across the nation from coast to coast to coast. That's largely what our veterans community has called for; they want to live in the communities where they're living. This model that we have gone to is essentially a more effective and more efficient way. I can also say that because at Ste. Anne's Hospital some veterans were reaching the end of their lives, sadly, we were were not using the hospital as much.

In the midst of running an efficient health care system that allows more of the Quebec people to take part in it, this is a good deal for us at Veterans Affairs Canada and for the Province of Quebec. We have to look at the whole health care system in that manner. I can say that, in the transfer, we know—I was back there on November 11—that many of the veterans are very happy with what is happening there. I can say that we're always on the listen to what is happening on the ground. Yes, we have heard some issues come up, yet we remain committed to the veterans at Ste. Anne's. I know that my deputy minister is in contact on a regular and ongoing basis.

Maybe you would like to take it from here, Deputy.

[Gen Walter Natynczyk]

Thanks very much, ma'am, for the question.

I'll just say that about half of the federal employees accepted offers with the province. Before the transfer, we worked with the Province of Quebec to recruit and to train many additional staff for the hospital. One of the positives of this transfer, as the minister indicated, is that folks in need in the region now have access to the facility.

Currently, we have in the order of 260 veterans in the hospital, but the capacity of the hospital is well above 400. Opening those beds to Canadians across the board is key. The other aspect is that is so positive is that we actually have spouses of veterans who for the first time can be in the same facility as the member who served.

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

Thank you.

I want to talk a bit about the testimony we heard in regard to mefloquine. Health Canada has updated concerns as of August in regard to the long-term impact of mefloquine. Does VAC intend to address the needs of veterans who were denied benefits because of a lack of understanding of the impact of the drug? Will VAC reach out to veterans who have previously been denied services in order to make sure that their needs are met?

Finally, what kind of support can or will VAC provide for mefloquine survivors, those who are still experiencing the symptoms of night sweats, insomnia, and suicidal thoughts?

[Kent Hehr, Liberal, Calgary Centre, AB]

The Department of National Defence and our department take the health and well-being of CF members and veterans very seriously. At Veterans Affairs, we provide a range of programs to promote the welfare of those who become ill or injured in the line of duty, including disability and related health care benefits, rehabilitation services, financial benefits, and supports to the families. It does not matter what type of injury a person has as long as it's tied to their military service.

I would encourage any and all members, regardless of what issues they are suffering from, as long as it relates to their military service, which you have outlined...our doors are open. Across this country, we have 4,000 mental health professionals who we work with. We have 11 OSI clinics, plus satellite clinics all over this country that we're willing to work for.... We're open for business. We have to encourage more people to come forward and to get their issues dealt with. That's what our department is committed to, full stop. If any individuals need help, I encourage them to come forward. We will do our level best to assist them in finding their way forward.

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

Okay. We will communicate that.

Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Neil Ellis]

Ms. Lockhart.

[Alaina Lockhart, Liberal, Fundy Royal, NB]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Minister and General, for being with us today in explaining some of these numbers and giving us more detail.

As you know, we've been focused on service delivery over the last several months. but one of the numbers here that I would like to talk about today has to do with commemoration. As a committee, we all understand that it's a very important item in the budget. I see here that there has been a significant increase. I'd like to comment. I feel that we've seen a surge of response from Canadians over the last few years when it comes to commemoration. Specifically, in this last year, we've recognized Beaumont-Hamel. Also, recently we've had a fair bit of support for my colleague Colin Fraser's private member's bill on Remembrance Day as a federal legal holiday.

As we go into the next year, we are looking at commemorating Vimy Ridge, Passchendaele, and Dieppe. I see an amount here. I'm wondering if you could expand for us on what events that amount is going towards and what's happening here in Canada.

[Kent Hehr, Liberal, Calgary Centre, AB]

I too would like to applaud Colin on his private member's bill on Remembrance Day as a national holiday. I think it's a good move that sets the stage for leadership in the ways we should be commemorating and thinking about the men and women who have served in the Canadian Armed Forces, the 2.3 million of them have served in that role since the beginning of Confederation.

It's a given that this is a big deal for commemoration, and it's important for us not only as Canadians and not only in remembering, but also in ensuring that we have good people who are willing to come into to the military. If we don't honour and respect their service and the sacrifice of these people and their families, then we don't do their memory the honour it deserves, and we don't show respect for those in the Canadian Armed Forces. We don't encourage good people to go into this honourable career that we in this room cherish so much and that in fact Canadians do.

It's a given that this year is very important, and I think our supplementary estimates show that. We have the 100th anniversary of the Battle of Vimy Ridge, which many historians, and in fact our Prime Minister, often say was the birth of the Canadian nation, where we really accomplished a great deal. Also, we have the 100th anniversary of the Battle of Passchendaele and the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Dieppe.

I had the privilege this summer of going to France to recognize that it's 100 years since the start of the Battle of the Somme and the Battle of Beaumont-Hamel, which is so important to Newfoundlanders and to this nation, and to understand the significance of what transpired all those years ago. Going back there is to understand the role Canada still wants to play in the world: how we want to lead and how we want to be part of building a better, more secure, more peaceful and human-rights-based world. Honouring the sacrifices that those men and many Canadians have made over the years is truly important to the work we do.

This year is a big year for that. I know that the Prime Minister and others will be going to France for the celebrations in Vimy, and I know the whole nation is looking forward to it. It's an important thing that we do here as parliamentarians. It's an important thing that Canadians do. Our department is going to ensure that we do it right.

[Alaina Lockhart, Liberal, Fundy Royal, NB]

That's great. Will there be opportunities for those who aren't able to go to Vimy—for veterans, youth, and all Canadians—to take part in that commemoration here in Canada?

[Kent Hehr, Liberal, Calgary Centre, AB]

There will be celebrations nationwide. We're currently working through a lot of the planning on that. We're working with partners at the provincial level. We're trying to organize and arrange festivities with them. Of course, we'll probably be reaching out to the municipalities as well. It's an important time in our country to reflect on and pay tribute to the men and women who have made sacrifices for our freedom.

We're lucky. Since I've been born—and frankly, this goes for all of us in this room—we've lived in peace and security our entire lives. We haven't had a battle here on the home front, and it's because of the sacrifice of those men and women who have gone before us.

[Alaina Lockhart, Liberal, Fundy Royal, NB]

Thank you very much.

We've talked a bit about Ste. Anne's already, but I want to go back to that for a second. I want to ask about quality assurance for delivery of service. We're making a transition here. Do we have a process in place to make sure that the level of service continues as we transfer?

[Kent Hehr, Liberal, Calgary Centre, AB]

General.

[Gen Walter Natynczyk]

We have a transition committee that we maintain with the province. On that, we have two key leaders out of Veterans Affairs, plus a veteran from the region, retired Lieutenant-General Michel Maisonneuve, who is also on the foundation of Ste. Anne's Hospital, and they are meeting with the province and with the hospital staff on a regular basis, and following up where there are challenges.

The key challenge, as has been alluded to before is staff, because half of the staff have changed. The key was that the federal staff had a culture and had an understanding of the veterans. When you see half of the hospital staff change over, and then we have the introduction of additional civilians and additional staff coming in, we have a period of cultural transition and training transition. It is difficult, especially dealing with a population who has served the way they have but are older in age. That has been the key challenge.

We're working very closely, as the minister indicated, and I maintain contact with the province on a very regular basis, as do the senior leadership of the department. We have visits, as the minister has indicated, and I visit as well with the hospital in talking to not only the residents' committee but also to the families of those veterans and to other key veterans in the hospital.