Evidence of meeting #80 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 going.
A recording is available from Parliament.
11:50 a.m.
Conservative
11:50 a.m.
As an Individual
No. The very first thing you learn in research methods when you start a Ph.D. is that the most important thing about doing an intervention is properly identifying the problem. There are three ways to attack a problem. One is empirical, going to the literature—although not everything is in the literature. Two is theoretical. You look for a theory that supports what you're going to look at, and you try to use that as your framework. The last, and probably the most important thing, is experiential, going to the people for their story of the problem. Those are the three ways you properly define your research problem. You do not just do a literature search, only look at randomized control trials, and toss out case studies because they're the lowest form of evidence, but sometimes that's where you have to start. It's the theoretical, empirical, and experiential definition of a problem.
11:55 a.m.
Conservative
Cathay Wagantall Conservative Yorkton—Melville, SK
Aaron, you mentioned the in-patient facility. How integral was that in your negotiations with the government that convinced Equitas to go with the Liberals' assurance that that would be part of the picture?
11:55 a.m.
Representative, Equitas Society
I was told that that was absolutely going to happen and that it was going to happen immediately, that the pension reinstatement would be within the first 100 days.
11:55 a.m.
Liberal
Colin Fraser Liberal West Nova, NS
Thank you all very much for being here. It is appreciated.
Ms. Elms, I'll ask you a question. First of all, I want to thank you for indicating that the family must be involved and how important that is in the transition. We are studying barriers to transition and trying to make some thoughtful recommendations on how the transition piece can be improved to remove some of these barriers.
For a previous study, General Dallaire was in front of our committee and talked specifically about involving the family and engaging its members, because they are key partners in a successful transition. I very much agree with what you said, and that meaningful engagement will definitely be part of the recommendations we'll be making as to how we can do that.
With the your children's education benefit that you mentioned, just so I understand, you said that you basically have to start from scratch each time you apply, each year that one of your children is....
11:55 a.m.
As an Individual
The same forms are sent every single year. When my son had an RESP, all we had to send was a verification of enrolment. I don't understand why I can't just send a verification of enrolment.
11:55 a.m.
Liberal
Colin Fraser Liberal West Nova, NS
No kidding.
What level is your son at? Is he in college or university?
11:55 a.m.
As an Individual
He's in university. He's doing his second degree, but you get four years under VAC. You get four years as long as you start before you're 30. You reapply every year, and they pay a portion of your tuition and give you a stipend every month.
11:55 a.m.
Liberal
Colin Fraser Liberal West Nova, NS
When that documentation comes, you're saying that the line that quotes the file reference talks about your deceased husband.
11:55 a.m.
As an Individual
It says, “Subject: Regarding Deceased, Elms, Bradley Alfred.”
11:55 a.m.
As an Individual
Yes. It just happened a month ago. I've asked them multiple times. I've asked my case manager to please put forward my request. I've asked the 1-800 number, and I've filed a complaint with the ombudsman. It's enough. I'm tired of intercepting my adult children's mail.
11:55 a.m.
Liberal
11:55 a.m.
Liberal
Colin Fraser Liberal West Nova, NS
It's a small thing. This is something that we can certainly try to fix. That's ridiculous.
11:55 a.m.
Liberal
11:55 a.m.
As an Individual
It's on one of the specific education letters. There's one that doesn't come like that, and there's one that comes like that all the time. I should have brought them with me, and I could show you which one it was.
11:55 a.m.
Liberal
Colin Fraser Liberal West Nova, NS
That's okay.
Can you send us a copy of that to the committee so we can have a look at it and follow up?
Is that okay?
11:55 a.m.
As an Individual
Certainly I can do that. Just tell me how to do it, and I'll do a screen shot. I've tried.
11:55 a.m.
Liberal
Colin Fraser Liberal West Nova, NS
Thanks very much. I wish I had more time to ask questions, but that's it.
