Veterans Affairs Committee on Nov. 30th, 2017

[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.

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

I can appreciate that.

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

This is the biggest increase. The earnings loss benefit—

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

Excuse me—

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

—went from 75% to 90%.

[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.

[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.

[The Chair, Liberal, Neil Ellis]

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

Ms. Mathyssen, you have three minutes.

[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?

[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.

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

Okay.

[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—

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

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

[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.

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

There's very short time.

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

[An hon. member]

Point of order.

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

I'll be very interested to see—

[The Chair, Liberal, Neil Ellis]

Irene, there's point of order.

[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.

[The Chair, Liberal, Neil Ellis]

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

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

Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Neil Ellis]

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

[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?

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

What specific changes?

[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.