Evidence of meeting #40 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 training.
A recording is available from Parliament.
4:45 p.m.
Founder, It's Just 700
Yes. It has not been designed for military sexual trauma.
4:45 p.m.
NDP
Irene Mathyssen NDP London—Fanshawe, ON
Are they having trouble understanding and dealing with the female members?
4:45 p.m.
NDP
Irene Mathyssen NDP London—Fanshawe, ON
My last question is in regard to the letters that I sent and the need for assistance for people seeking mental health care. The response back was that, well, you know, we can't deal with everything and we send our members to the public system, and they have all kinds of opportunities for group therapy.
What's your response to that?
4:45 p.m.
Founder, It's Just 700
Our group therapy is with the OSISS program, which is mostly men who were in a combat role. If we think that it's good to send men who were in combat in Afghanistan to talk together and find support, then sure, that will be fair. I'm just saying that people who are in a combat-related role think there's a difference between them and, let's say, a policeman. They feel there's a different need. However, for us it's good enough: we need to go to the civilians, and we don't need our own group. By doing this, we're making sure that we can't regroup, we can't talk to each other. We can't bond and find our common issues. That's kind of a way to ensure that we can't connect with each other and find our strength together.
4:45 p.m.
NDP
Irene Mathyssen NDP London—Fanshawe, ON
This sounds very much like this burden of proof that you spoke of before. You have to prove it happened. You have to prove the situation and come up with all kinds of extraneous things to even be heard.
4:45 p.m.
Founder, It's Just 700
Take OSISS, for example. I know you talked with Frédéric Doucette a while ago, and he said he only had five cases in 15 years. I had 200 within two years, so obviously the system that they have, which is supposed to apply to everybody, is not working for us.
4:45 p.m.
As an Individual
I do. The question of burden of proof is interesting. I am stunned to hear Marie-Claude say that they will not process VAC disability claims without a conviction resultant from an alleged assault. I've seen a lot of criminal investigations in which a conviction did not result, but it's manifestly clear what happened.
In any case, the burden of proof for a conviction is beyond a reasonable doubt, and that's because there is going to be a penal consequence: somebody is going to lose their liberty, have a criminal record, or go to jail because of this. That is not an appropriate burden of proof to impose on somebody who is simply looking for treatment and benefits as a result of some sort of trauma or victimization.
4:45 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Neil Ellis
Thank you. That ends our time for testimony today.
I'd like to thank both of you for all you've done today in coming and testifying, and for what you've done for our men and women who have served. If there's anything that you want to add to expand on your answers, please email it to the clerk and he will get it to the committee.
4:45 p.m.
Conservative
Robert Gordon Kitchen Conservative Souris—Moose Mountain, SK
Marie-Claude made some recommendations. I would just like to ask if we could get those in writing.
4:45 p.m.
Liberal
4:45 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Neil Ellis
Perfect. Thank you.
We need to come back to do committee business, so we'll just recess for five minutes and come back.
Thank you.
[Proceedings continue in camera]