Veterans Affairs Committee on June 5th, 2018

[Veronica Morin]

When I first moved home I experienced discrimination, for example going shopping and being followed around the store. A part of me wanted to stop the saleslady and tell her I can pay for my stuff. I'm not here to steal anything, and don't treat me like this because you don't even know that I've made the ultimate sacrifice for our country, just for you to have the right to follow me around the store and treat me the way you're treating me.

I can't say stuff like that, but that's what I think in my head. I just can't say it. That's just an example of the kind of discrimination I felt. To see my kids have to deal with that in school and at grade school it's not something I would wish for any parent to deal with. Yes, it's very heartbreaking.

[Robert Gordon Kitchen, Conservative, Souris—Moose Mountain, SK]

Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Neil Ellis]

We'll end with Mr. Bratina. We have a couple of minutes.

The floor is yours.

[Bob Bratina, Liberal, Hamilton East—Stoney Creek, ON]

Thank you very much.

I want to say to both of you how impressed I am and we are that you faced issues in your lives, very different situations, and you decided not to sit back and hope something happens. You've come all this way to speak to us, and Mr. Ledoux via technical hook-up, and I think it's laudable that you're not going to let wrongs go unrighted.

I think we owe it to you, as the Standing Committee on Veterans Affairs and all parties, and I'm sure we all agree that we'll get a response. We may not be able to solve everything but we'll certainly take the issues we've heard and see that the powers that be understand them and hopefully come up with solutions for you.

In your case, Veronica, with your children, you've gone through a rough patch. My hope is—because my son's now 35 and he's doing other things—that they will grow into a new kind of respect for the history of your family. Do you see that?

[Veronica Morin]

Yes.

[Bob Bratina, Liberal, Hamilton East—Stoney Creek, ON]

Your husband was an honourable, respectful soldier.

[Veronica Morin]

Yes.

[Bob Bratina, Liberal, Hamilton East—Stoney Creek, ON]

He deserves the love and acknowledgement of his sons. I'm sure that will come along for you.

[Veronica Morin]

Thank you.

[Bob Bratina, Liberal, Hamilton East—Stoney Creek, ON]

Just for the specific issues you've brought to us, I'm wondering if what you're getting at is that somehow the Canadian and U.S. militaries need to coordinate these programs.

[Veronica Morin]

Yes, I think we really need a middle person to bridge the gap that's between our countries. It doesn't make sense to me and I don't think it makes a lot of sense to other people so obviously it's something that needs to be addressed and looked at carefully.

[Bob Bratina, Liberal, Hamilton East—Stoney Creek, ON]

Thank you .

Mr. Ledoux, I wrote down a lot of notes when you were speaking so I'm looking forward to getting some answers when we have an opportunity to return.

Thank you both.

[Veronica Morin]

Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Neil Ellis]

That ends our time for today. I'd like to thank both of you for all you are doing to help veterans and continued support. I do apologize about our technical difficulty. The clerk will get back to you with a timeslot in the next couple of weeks.

That ends today's meeting. We'll adjourn and thank you both again.