Veterans Affairs Committee on June 12th, 2018

[Hélène Robichaud]

The answer is, yes, it is very much part of our existing program right now. Much like my colleagues have referenced, often it's based on self-declaration. For example, the heroes remember and interview program is based on oral histories, capturing either serving members or Canadians who would have done something extraordinary in terms of volunteering in the field of commemoration. These oral histories are posted on our website, but now clips are used extensively on social media. They go a very long way now, because it's a nice way to share stories and for family members to hear their stories. For us, I think there's more awareness that these tools are here for our indigenous veterans and our folks who are in rural Canada to be able to contribute and participate. So from a resource perspective, yes, we are; the challenge is to create more awareness of what is out there and for us to gather and garnish more information to be shared.

Going into the future, connecting with youth is really important. Modern-day veterans are also really important. We're finding in both cases that we have indigenous people who are serving and who served in the last conflict. Our challenge is about creating awareness. I am proud to say that some of our initiatives from the last couple of years, including the large events around military milestones last year, in Canada and overseas, have created a really positive outreach for Canadians. They are witnessing more inclusivity. The recent one I was speaking about, in 2005, was a change in approach for us in the department and for the Government of Canada. It influenced how we were looking to do our ceremonies and our programming going forward.

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

One of the individuals we met in Beauval was a 98-year-old veteran who had served in Sicily and Italy. He had walked over 100 miles to enlist, and upon his discharge, he walked 100-and-something miles back again. I posted the picture of this remarkable man on my Facebook. My community, Hamilton, has a large Italian Canadian population. People were very touched that this 98-year-old aboriginal veteran had gone to Sicily and Italy. As a matter of fact, his best friend lost his life during the war and was buried in Italy.

I was really pleased with the outpouring of recognition he received, but it reminded me that in most of the conversations we had, there was almost an insistence that we know and understand what these people did, and, as one man said, without an allegiance: we just did it because we felt it was the right thing to do.

So we need to get the message out, and I'm glad to hear that we're doing it.

I have a brief question on compensation. This man who walked back 100 miles was Métis. We were told that they had nothing, they got nothing, and they got no recognition. There was the suggestion of compensation. Is that a discussion that's being held among the department?

[Faith McIntyre]

I can say that we're actively engaged with our colleagues in Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs in the discussions regarding permanent bilateral mechanisms with first nations, Inuit, and Métis. Certainly, indigenous veterans are a key priority as the government moves forward in, as you know, advancing the spirit of reconciliation. It's certainly a conversation that's ongoing.

I certainly appreciate your story and the comment. Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Neil Ellis]

Thank you.

Mr. Fraser, you have five minutes.

[Colin Fraser, Liberal, West Nova, NS]

Thanks very much, Mr. Chair.

Thank you all very much for joining us today and for your comments.

Ms. Savoie, I'd like to pick up on something you talked about earlier, in response to a question from Ms. Wagantall, about a reciprocal agreement with the United States in delivering services through VAC to Canadians who fought for the American military.

We had a witness come before our committee a couple of weeks ago, and she indicated that there were no services available that she was aware of. Her spouse, now passed away, did fight in the U.S. military. Can you give an example of what services are available through VAC for those who have served in the U.S. and for their families as well? What work is being done in order to proactively engage these individuals to make sure they're aware of those services?

[Maryse Savoie]

These agreements have existed since the 1950s, so they're very old agreements.

Basically it's the same service offered; it's just that we offer the service and then we turn it in and the country refunds us. They do the same thing for the Canadian veterans in the U.S. or Australia. They then pass the bill to us and we refund them. That's how the agreement works.

It's the same service. It's based on their needs. If they need help at home or if they need mental health support, we'll provide the service and then bill the other country.

[Colin Fraser, Liberal, West Nova, NS]

So, if we got this spouse, who's before our committee, in touch with Veterans Affairs, you're saying that there would most likely be services available for that person and her family.

[Maryse Savoie]

I can't speak for a specific case because I don't know the exact information, but I would certainly encourage her to contact our offices.

[Colin Fraser, Liberal, West Nova, NS]

I just mean generally speaking.

Does Veterans Affairs Canada proactively work with the U.S. counterparts on knowing or identifying these veterans and their families who are living in Canada, so that we can make sure they're aware of the services available for them?

[Maryse Savoie]

There's not that I know of, no.

[Colin Fraser, Liberal, West Nova, NS]

Do you think something could be done to facilitate better identification of these individuals through co-operation across the border?

[Maryse Savoie]

I'll take your comment. Thank you.

[Colin Fraser, Liberal, West Nova, NS]

Thank you.

I think, Ms. McIntyre, you just mentioned working that the department is working with Crown-Indigenous Services to identify some things that can be done to improve service delivery to indigenous veterans.

Does VAC ever deal directly with, for example, a band office locally in identifying services that are available so that the word can get out there on a reserve in Canada?

Ms. McIntyre, can you answer that?

[Faith McIntyre]

Yes, indeed.

Our work with Crown-Indigenous Relations is very broad and at a policy level, through permanent bilateral mechanisms, so I think Maryse is best positioned to respond at a local on-the-ground level for you, sir.

I'll turn it to her.

[Maryse Savoie]

It's part of us reaching out with partners and stakeholders. When we reach out to elders and leaders, we reach out to specific bands' members and so on.

So, yes, there is a lot of effort put into establishing connections and building on these connections to build a relationship and promote our programs, and create the awareness in regard to what we have to offer and, ultimately, reach out to veterans and their families.

[Colin Fraser, Liberal, West Nova, NS]

I think you're right about the outreach and communication piece being so important for people to be aware of the services that are available and to build up that trust and relationship.

I just worry that sometimes the department could be doing more engaging of the local community, either through the band office or.... We visited the town council at Six Nations reserve and they were unaware of anything that was happening at VAC. There's a veterans' community centre there, and they didn't have any materials at all from Veterans Affairs to distribute to their membership.

I think if you can identify, through the local organizations and governments, the right people to talk to in the community and get that information to them, it would be helpful.

[Maryse Savoie]

Absolutely. Thank you.

[Colin Fraser, Liberal, West Nova, NS]

I'd like to turn to the commemoration piece, which Mr. Bratina was just speaking about. I agree that it's so important. I was fortunate enough, Ms. Robichaud, to go over to Vimy for the 100th anniversary commemoration ceremonies, and I thought it was remarkable how indigenous veterans were on that trip and were paired with young people from across Canada.

I'm wondering if you see including indigenous youth on those types of trips as well as a way forward to engaging youth to understand the history of the contribution indigenous veterans have made to our country.

[Hélène Robichaud]

Yes, absolutely.

I think with our programming in 2017, we also were trying and testing out new approaches. Given that this was an event marking the First World War, those veterans are deceased, so it is very obvious that we need to ensure that the legacy is carried forward.

What better way than to connect the generations? What we've been doing in the last two years overseas, and also in Canada, is trying to ensure that there are youth who represent an indigenous community so that there's that connection.

[The Chair, Liberal, Neil Ellis]

Thank you.

Ms. Wagantall, you have five minutes.

[Cathay Wagantall, Conservative, Yorkton—Melville, SK]

Thank you, Chair.

Ms. Savoie, you talked about the Veterans in the public service unit that was created and came into play in 2016, and I want to bring to your attention what we said to Assistant Deputy Minister Elizabeth Stuart when she was here testifying with human resources.

I know an individual who wants to work for the public service and reached out to my office as a veteran who is right now involved with the JPSU. The JPSU was not aware in June 2018 of the VPSU program, so I think we have some work to do there to make sure those communications are happening right at that point where they're having to find a new direction. They were not at all aware of that program.

[Maryse Savoie]

It's surprising, because that program was launched during the Invictus Games in Toronto during the veterans career summit. That was a big event.

[Cathay Wagantall, Conservative, Yorkton—Melville, SK]

Yes. It shows you how much, over and over again....

[Maryse Savoie]

I know. There's never enough communication. I think that's one proof of it, yes.

[Cathay Wagantall, Conservative, Yorkton—Melville, SK]

That's all fine.

Again, in regard to reaching out and building those networking groups, the Yorkton Tribal Council in my riding represents in some ways a number of different first nations groups. If they were to reach out and say that they want you to come and provide them with education for, say, an individual from each reserve to be able to be aware of what those services are, to build that, would that happen?