Evidence of meeting #68 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 benefit.

A recording is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

MPs speaking

Also speaking

General  Retired) Walter Natynczyk (Deputy Minister, Department of Veterans Affairs
Michel Doiron  Assistant Deputy Minister, Service Delivery, Department of Veterans Affairs
Rear-Admiral  Retired) Elizabeth Stuart (Assistant Deputy Minister, Chief Financial Officer and Corporate Services, Department of Veterans Affairs
Bernard Butler  Assistant Deputy Minister, Strategic Policy and Commemoration, Department of Veterans Affairs

9:45 a.m.

Liberal

Seamus O'Regan Liberal St. John's South—Mount Pearl, NL

When you look at the specifics of what we offered in budget 2016, $5.7 billion, and look at exactly what we have given to our veterans.... I think substantially of the disability award. Increasing the maximum to $360,000 has put more money in the pockets of 65,000 ill and injured veterans.

9:45 a.m.

Conservative

John Brassard Conservative Barrie—Innisfil, ON

I can appreciate that.

9:45 a.m.

Liberal

Seamus O'Regan Liberal St. John's South—Mount Pearl, NL

This is the biggest increase. The earnings loss benefit—

9:45 a.m.

Conservative

John Brassard Conservative Barrie—Innisfil, ON

Excuse me—

9:45 a.m.

Liberal

Seamus O'Regan Liberal St. John's South—Mount Pearl, NL

—went from 75% to 90%.

9:45 a.m.

Conservative

John Brassard Conservative Barrie—Innisfil, ON

—but you said 40% of new government spending has gone towards veterans, when in fact the numbers don't quantify that. I understand that each individual program has increased, but I don't see that 40% of new government spending has gone towards veterans.

9:45 a.m.

Liberal

Seamus O'Regan Liberal St. John's South—Mount Pearl, NL

We can agree to disagree right now, but I will say this, and I stand by it very proudly: we have seen an increase in funding towards veterans. The money they receive in their pocket is greater than we have seen in decades.

9:45 a.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Neil Ellis

I'm sorry, Minister, we're out of time.

Ms. Mathyssen, you have three minutes.

9:45 a.m.

NDP

Irene Mathyssen NDP London—Fanshawe, ON

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.

I'd like to pursue this, because there needs to be some clarity.

You said 40% of government spending. Do you mean all government spending, or a 40% increase in the VAC accounts? Exactly what does 40% mean?

9:45 a.m.

Liberal

Seamus O'Regan Liberal St. John's South—Mount Pearl, NL

It's 40% of new government spending. I'd be happy to report back to this committee on the exact number, but I will reiterate, because it's something that frankly I don't believe has been communicated nearly enough, that we have seen more money go into the pockets of veterans in these past two years than has been seen in decades. I'll be frank. the new Veterans Charter, which all parties agreed to, was meant to be a living and breathing document. It was meant to be a living tree, as goes the metaphor that's constantly used.

9:45 a.m.

NDP

Irene Mathyssen NDP London—Fanshawe, ON

Okay.

9:45 a.m.

Liberal

Seamus O'Regan Liberal St. John's South—Mount Pearl, NL

It withered since its inception, and we have listened to veterans over the course of the campaign—and before, when this party was in a third-place position. We listened very carefully to the needs, to the gaping holes that existed within the system—

9:45 a.m.

NDP

Irene Mathyssen NDP London—Fanshawe, ON

Thank you very much. I have another question that I really need answered.

9:45 a.m.

Liberal

Seamus O'Regan Liberal St. John's South—Mount Pearl, NL

—and we responded in a way that was more substantive than veterans have seen in decades.

9:45 a.m.

NDP

Irene Mathyssen NDP London—Fanshawe, ON

There's very short time.

I'm advised that 40% of new government spending is $8 billion—

9:45 a.m.

An hon. member

Point of order.

9:45 a.m.

NDP

Irene Mathyssen NDP London—Fanshawe, ON

I'll be very interested to see—

9:45 a.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Neil Ellis

Irene, there's point of order.

9:45 a.m.

Conservative

John Brassard Conservative Barrie—Innisfil, ON

Sorry, Irene, but I have a point of order.

I would like the minister to produce those numbers to this committee.

9:45 a.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Neil Ellis

Ms. Mathyssen has asked for the numbers to be sent already.

9:45 a.m.

Conservative

John Brassard Conservative Barrie—Innisfil, ON

Thank you.

9:45 a.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Neil Ellis

Ms. Mathyssen, you have a minute and a half.

9:45 a.m.

NDP

Irene Mathyssen NDP London—Fanshawe, ON

I will be very interested to see how you account for that 40%, because $8 billion seems to be rather a lot.

I want to ask questions about the reorganization at Charlottetown. We've heard bits and pieces about something going on there, and there's only one news report that I've seen.

Could you describe what's happening? What is it costing? What is the intent regarding these changes at Charlottetown?

9:50 a.m.

Liberal

Seamus O'Regan Liberal St. John's South—Mount Pearl, NL

What specific changes?

9:50 a.m.

NDP

Irene Mathyssen NDP London—Fanshawe, ON

It's a reorganization at Charlottetown, something significant. There was a news report that there are significant changes happening at Charlottetown. I wonder if you could elaborate.