Evidence of meeting #4 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 need.
A recording is available from Parliament.
12:40 p.m.
Liberal
Sherry Romanado Liberal Longueuil—Charles-LeMoyne, QC
Okay.
In terms then of operating expenditures, could you elaborate a little about the adjustments? You mentioned you're going to be hiring more caseworkers. Can you elaborate on how many caseworkers you're going to be hiring, or case managers, as you refer to them?
12:40 p.m.
Director General, Finance, Human Resources and Corporate Services Branch, Department of Veterans Affairs
I believe there have already been somewhere slightly in excess of 150 hired this year, and hiring is ongoing as we speak. When the other departmental officials show up on Thursday, they may say it's 160 and you will wonder whether I misspoke. However, hiring is ongoing and they're carrying on.
I can't answer definitely on how many case managers or disability support staff the department is hiring. You will have Michel Doiron, who is the assistant deputy minister of service delivery, on Thursday, I believe. I think he would be more than happy to speak to that.
12:45 p.m.
Liberal
Sherry Romanado Liberal Longueuil—Charles-LeMoyne, QC
I have another kind of bizarre question.
We just had a presentation by the ombudsman, and he talked a little about what we call a guichet unique, or a one-stop shop for veterans services and so on. I'd like to get your sense on what you feel about this issue.
I know it's a bit off the supplementary (C)s, but in terms of providing service to our vets, there was a recommendation of a guichet unique or one-stop shop. Would that be something that's in line with your vision of how we can improve services?
12:45 p.m.
Director General, Finance, Human Resources and Corporate Services Branch, Department of Veterans Affairs
That's a hard question to ask someone in finance.
I'd say that rightly belongs in the service delivery area, and Michel Doiron would be responsible for service delivery for veterans. I think you're also having our deputy minister here, and he could speak to that more fully than I could.
12:45 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Neil Ellis
Having said that, on behalf of the Standing Committee on Veterans Affairs, I thank you both for taking time out of your busy schedules today. I guess we will be seeing a lot of each other over the next three to four years.
Thank you very much.
With this, we need to call a vote on 1c under Veterans Affairs Canada in the amount of $29,528,515, and vote 5c, in the amount of $81,062,000.
VETERANS AFFAIRS CANADA
Vote 1c—Operating expenditures..........$29,528,515
Vote 5c—Grants and contributions..........$81,062,000
(Votes 1c and 5c agreed to)
Shall the chair report votes 1c and 5c under Veterans Affairs Canada of the supplementary estimates (C) 2015-16 to the House?
12:45 p.m.
Some hon. members
Agreed.
12:45 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Neil Ellis
We need to suspend for a minute and come back in camera to quickly discuss committee business. I need you for about three minutes, if we could clear the room. We just need to get set for next week.
On behalf of the committee, I'd like to again thank everybody in the audience for attending today, and everybody who took part.
[Proceedings continue in camera]