Evidence of meeting #89 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 indigenous.
A recording is available from Parliament.
12:25 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Neil Ellis
Mr. Ledoux, we'll have to come back to you. They're going to try to fix the technical problem.
Mr. Kitchen, the floor is still yours.
12:25 p.m.
Conservative
Robert Gordon Kitchen Conservative Souris—Moose Mountain, SK
Thanks, Mr. Chair.
Veronica, in terms of what you mentioned about serving after 9/11, I think all around Canada we heard a number of aspects along those lines. I thank your husband for doing that.
That technology is different. I understand that. I come from Saskatchewan. My home is Estevan. It's so nice to have people from Saskatchewan here, because we understand Saskatchewan. I hate to say it, but a lot of people here don't understand Saskatchewan and the challenges we have.
12:30 p.m.
Conservative
Robert Gordon Kitchen Conservative Souris—Moose Mountain, SK
We were just up in Beauval last week and met with many people. The mayor from Îsle-à-la-Crosse came down. We had a great conversation and learned from them.
The issue they mentioned a number of times was on getting that support. You mentioned the challenges you have around support for you as a family member, being the spouse of an American soldier. You've educated me today on the aspect of TAPS. I'm really not familiar with that.
Could you tell us what that entails?
12:30 p.m.
As an Individual
TAPS is the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors. It's for military families and their dependants across all military branches. The founder of the non-profit organization is Bonnie Carroll. They provide services in the form of Good Grief camps for children. My four-year-old went to one—the baby was still too young to attend the daily activities—and he always remembers that. He always wishes they had that here.
I do understand the big difference, and that this is not a common thing in Canada. My situation is very unique, but it's very current, too. This isn't regarding World War I, II, or III, or everything within the past hundred years. This is today. When I go home, I still have to put my kids to bed and remember that it's still just the three of us. It's been nine years. I'll wake up tomorrow morning and I still won't have my husband there. This is a daily thing that I deal with still.
I've even gone to widows' retreats. Being able to relate to other widows and relate to their experiences has really helped. But then to come back home to Canada, and to not have that, and to try to function and cope with current issues and current affairs—it still affects us.
12:30 p.m.
Liberal
Emmanuella Lambropoulos Liberal Saint-Laurent, QC
No? Well, most of my questions were for....
I'm sorry, but we still can't hear you, so I'll start with Veronica. If we can hear you later, I'll ask you some questions.
Ms. Morin, thank you for being with us today. Thank you for sharing your really tough experience with us. We appreciate it.
This is the first time, I think, we've had somebody here who's the widow of someone who served in the States, so I'm not really sure what happens. You mentioned that the service stopped once you moved. The States cannot offer you any kind of support because you're living here?
12:30 p.m.
As an Individual
Yes. I have reached out and used the 1-800 number provided by TAPS for military families. Even trying to call across...some places can't even accept my phone call. The message I get on the phone is, “We cannot be reached from your country”, and that's been frustrating. I have an American income, so when I try to call and enquire about my pay, that's the message I get from them. I saw a lawyer though JAG at the Minot Air Force Base last spring to let them know my issues about it. I stay in contact with them in working to address that issue as well.
12:30 p.m.
Liberal
Emmanuella Lambropoulos Liberal Saint-Laurent, QC
Have you met anyone else living in your area in Canada who is experiencing similar issues—for instance, someone whose deceased husband worked in the military in the States?
12:35 p.m.
As an Individual
No widows; the other vet I met who worked stateside, I think in the U.S. Army, is named Aaron Ledoux. He's actually where Phillip is right now.
12:35 p.m.
Liberal
Emmanuella Lambropoulos Liberal Saint-Laurent, QC
Okay.
What would you say was the biggest issue your husband dealt with in the military in the United States that non-indigenous soldiers didn't necessarily have to deal with? What did you feel was the biggest difference between the two?
12:35 p.m.
As an Individual
Honestly, we found it to be a more welcoming community being stateside. When we stated that we were first nations, that we were aboriginal people from Canada, people were amazed. They would find reasons to try to relate to us. All of a sudden, everybody had a little bit of Cherokee blood in them just to try to relate to us.
I remember maybe two or three incidents when someone made some racial slur about Indians or whatever and my husband spoke up. He literally would stand up, even though his rank was lower than the supervisor's, and speak out: “Why did you say that? Do you realize that I'm first nations?” That's just how he was. He never stood for that kind of treatment. That's why it affects me so much coming home and having to deal with that. I had never experienced this before, prior to moving to the States, to the point where it was recognizable, so I was kind of shocked. I was like, “Well, I can do something about this, in a good way, and turn my negative situation into something positive.” And I feel like this is something positive.
12:35 p.m.
Liberal
Emmanuella Lambropoulos Liberal Saint-Laurent, QC
You felt that maybe during his time in the military over there, there were some people who would be racist, but overall, he was able to stand up for himself and people respected the fact that he did. He felt included in the group.
12:35 p.m.
As an Individual
There were very few incidents, considering we were stationed in Fort Eustis, Virginia, for the first four years of his military career, and two years in Fort Drum, New York.
12:35 p.m.
Liberal
Emmanuella Lambropoulos Liberal Saint-Laurent, QC
If you were to give us recommendations on Canadian soldiers and widows whose husbands passed away during military service, what is the number one recommendation you would give us to help support the families of these deceased veterans?
12:35 p.m.
As an Individual
My number one recommendation would be to make an effort to reach out to them, keep them in the loop, and provide long-term casualty assistance after their husbands have passed away, because this is such a tough subject to even talk about. I have met very few widows who can even talk about their husbands or go visit their graves. This has not been easy for me, but I believe that something good will come out of it. That's what I'm hoping for. I had a really tough time trying to squeeze nine years of my experience into 10 minutes of talking.
Providing more spaces like this and more opportunities would be helpful, and to carry on. I hope this doesn't come down to just talking.
12:35 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Neil Ellis
Thank you.
I apologize, Mr. Ledoux. I think you can hear us. They've just informed me that it will take over half an hour to get our technical problem fixed on your end.
With agreement with the committee, we can invite you back in a couple of weeks, if you would be so kind as to come back. I know a lot of people around the table want to ask you questions personally. We'll have the clerk email you; I believe the date is in two weeks. No, next week. We can confirm that.
You can hear us. If you want to stay on board and hear the testimony from Veronica, you're more than welcome. We do appreciate you taking the time and having patience with our staff and us today, for the technical glitch.
12:35 p.m.
Liberal
Emmanuella Lambropoulos Liberal Saint-Laurent, QC
Could you send us the proposal that you sent to the minister's office as well, so that we can have that added to our notes?
12:35 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Neil Ellis
You heard that? Could you send the proposals that you showed to the clerk, and she'll get them to us.
Now we go with Mr. Johns for four minutes.
12:40 p.m.
NDP
Gord Johns NDP Courtenay—Alberni, BC
Thank you, Mr. Ledoux. I know you can hear us but we can't hear you. I look forward to your testimony. I want to thank you for your service, sir, for our country, and for the organization that you represent.
Veronica, I really appreciate you sharing your story and your husband's story. My condolences to you.
You talked about the 90 days that you've been waiting. It's beyond 90 days. We're into...what, 150 days, plus? Could you speak about what that does in terms of your situation, in that period when you're waiting and there's a delay?
12:40 p.m.
As an Individual
I'm definitely not sitting back and waiting for someone to come help me. I research stuff online and I try to find things within my local community. In Saskatoon, we live in the community of Silverwood. In Silverwood, I'd literally go for drives just to read billboards and posters on different buildings and stuff, to try to find any free or cheap programs that I could join in the meantime, until vetfit could get back to me and have a program set up.
I used to have a personal trainer who could help me work out my grief. That was super helpful and I wish I could afford to keep doing that, but it's really expensive. That was one thing I realized moving home: how much more expensive Canada is, compared to the States.
12:40 p.m.
NDP
Gord Johns NDP Courtenay—Alberni, BC
Sure.
Did the government give you a timeline, after the 90 days? When you talked to them recently, did they give you a timeline on how long it's going to take before they get back to you?
12:40 p.m.
As an Individual
No, they just said that they would get back to me in 90 days.
After the 90 days, I emailed them that it's been 90 days.