Veterans Affairs Committee on March 8th, 2017

[Colin Fraser, Liberal, West Nova, NS]

Thank you so much.

I want to briefly acknowledge and thank the minister for the recognition of my private member's bill, which made it through the heritage committee yesterday. Just to make sure it's clear, it does modify the language in the federal Holidays Act to make it consistent and also affirms Parliament's recognition of this important day, but of course it's still up to the provinces to determine whether it is a non-working day.

We look forward to that going to the House for third reading. Thank you for mentioning that, Minister.

[Kent Hehr, Liberal, Calgary Centre, AB]

Thank you for the details. The devil's off them now.

[The Chair, Liberal, Neil Ellis]

Thank you.

Ms. Wagantall is next.

[Cathay Wagantall, Conservative, Yorkton—Melville, SK]

Thank you, Minister and Deputy Minister, for being here today.

My first question is around the whole process of getting our veterans employed. We've heard here that the public service is very much focused on hiring our veterans when they're qualified to serve. There's a priority there.

I had a veteran contact me last week who was highly qualified, having served in the forces in accounting, who applied to help with the Phoenix system, and never did have a communication of any kind with an actual human being. Is there any kind of an identifier to flag veterans applying for positions? If so, is there any kind of a tracking of applications, interviews, and placements of veterans?

[Kent Hehr, Liberal, Calgary Centre, AB]

That's an excellent question, and one that I identified as a problem when I came in as a minister. We're not transitioning veterans successfully to jobs in the public service as well as I would like, nor are we having as much success in getting private sector jobs for some veterans who struggle. We are working on that, and the general filled in my answer on that.

[Cathay Wagantall, Conservative, Yorkton—Melville, SK]

It's going to be a priority.

[Kent Hehr, Liberal, Calgary Centre, AB]

I hope you would bring us your individual case, if he'd allow us as a department to—

[Cathay Wagantall, Conservative, Yorkton—Melville, SK]

Sure, I'll send it over.

[Kent Hehr, Liberal, Calgary Centre, AB]

That would be good. We could possibly assist. We have to make sure that is happening with other veterans who may be finding the same thing. General, would you comment?

[Gen Walter Natynczyk]

Again, we are very much focused on hiring those priority veterans, especially those who have left the Canadian Armed Forces with an injury, and all those others with the right skills. We are engaging all the departments. The minister sent a letter to all his colleagues across government—all the cabinet ministers—to engage ministers.

Rear-Admiral Elizabeth Stuart, our chief financial officer in corporate services, our retired ADM, will be at this table later. She can probably fill in a few more details on that.

[Cathay Wagantall, Conservative, Yorkton—Melville, SK]

We'll look forward to getting actual numbers. That would be great.

Second, I am from Saskatchewan. An office has been reopened in Saskatoon. When it was opened, you weren't able to be there, and I understand that, but—

[Kent Hehr, Liberal, Calgary Centre, AB]

It was in the summer, just—

[Cathay Wagantall, Conservative, Yorkton—Melville, SK]

The announcement was in the summer, before it opened in November. That's correct. It indicates approximately 2,900 veterans will be served there. If you're looking at 25 per case manager, you'd be looking at around 115 case managers to deal with things there. Right now there is one case worker, and that individual commutes from Regina. When they can't make it, there's no one else there to fill that role. What is the timeline? What are you thinking? There are a lot of veterans in rural Saskatchewan. They have to come to Saskatoon, and timing is an important issue.

[Kent Hehr, Liberal, Calgary Centre, AB]

You ask an excellent question. In many jurisdictions across this country, it is easier to hire people with the unique skill set needed to serve veterans than it is in other—

[Cathay Wagantall, Conservative, Yorkton—Melville, SK]

But there are none in Saskatoon, the whole city?

[Kent Hehr, Liberal, Calgary Centre, AB]

I'll get to that.

[Cathay Wagantall, Conservative, Yorkton—Melville, SK]

Okay.

[Kent Hehr, Liberal, Calgary Centre, AB]

We know the importance of getting to that average ratio in terms of supporting people in their communities. That's why we reopened that office.

For more details on the specifics of Saskatoon, I'll have to turn to the general.

[Gen Walter Natynczyk]

We'll see how quickly this cascades to the assistant deputy minister of service delivery.

[Voices]

Oh, oh!

[Gen Walter Natynczyk]

I know that we've hired in Saskatchewan. I also know that in Regina we have an office. We have the integrated personnel support centre at CFB Moose Jaw. With regard to where the actual individuals are on these lists and how many are parked in Saskatoon, I'll have to rely on the assistant deputy minister, Michel Doiron.

Again, we are working toward finding the right folks in the area, with the right skill sets and the case management experience for these roles. In some parts of the country it's been tough. It's not a shortage of resources from a funding standpoint; it's making sure we find the right folks with the experience and skill sets for those locations.

[Cathay Wagantall, Conservative, Yorkton—Melville, SK]

That would probably apply to the...I understood that when this office opened, there would also be an OSI clinic there, on the fifth floor. That's what I was told.

[Gen Walter Natynczyk]

I can tell you right now that we're still supporting Saskatchewan from Deer Lodge in Manitoba, which is—

[Cathay Wagantall, Conservative, Yorkton—Melville, SK]

Not good.

[Gen Walter Natynczyk]

—not optimized, but I would not go into future intention like that.