Evidence of meeting #29 for Veterans Affairs in the 43rd Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was ptsd.
A recording is available from Parliament.
5:30 p.m.
Liberal
5:30 p.m.
Chair, Assistance Dogs International, North America
Unfortunately, the demand is out there everywhere, so I don't have any solution to that particular problem.
5:30 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Bryan May
Thank you.
The last word for today's meeting will go to MP Blaney, for two and a half minutes.
5:30 p.m.
NDP
Rachel Blaney NDP North Island—Powell River, BC
Thank you, Chair.
Mr. Cousineau, perhaps I could come to you one more time. In your last answer, you talked about having the medical professionals involved. I think what you said is super important, but I'm trying to understand what the process is.
If a veteran reaches out to your organization or to one of the other organizations, who assesses whether the veteran is prepared and what supports need to be put in place, and how do they assess that? What is that process?
5:30 p.m.
Co-Founder, Paws Fur Thought
When an individual reaches out, one of the things that has to happen is the intake and screening process within Paws Fur Thought, which includes getting the prescriptions from the doctors to become involved in this process. Failure to do that literally means that we could be providing to the individual something that is contraindicated by the treating clinician. That's why we really need to be cognizant of the fact that they have to become involved in this.
People in the dog industry all love dogs, and they do an amazing job training them, but they are not medical professionals and they are not qualified mental health professionals. We need access to those.
Think about this. PTSD is acknowledged to be one of the most complex and debilitating mental health injuries that there is because of its comorbidities. Anybody who thinks there is a simple solution to a complex problem like that is dreaming. That's why it's an all-hands-on-deck scenario.
5:30 p.m.
NDP
Rachel Blaney NDP North Island—Powell River, BC
Thank you.
Those are all of my questions, Mr. Chair.
I really appreciate that answer. It really helped me understand.
5:30 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Bryan May
Thank you very much, MP Blaney.
That will bring us to the end of today's meeting.
I want to take an opportunity to thank all of the witnesses for being here today. This is a tough conversation, and I appreciate each and every one of you spending the time with us in helping us draft this report. We know that we have one more meeting with this study. It's been very educational. There hasn't been a meeting we've had where we haven't walked away—I haven't walked away—learning something new on this.
I see Laura has a friend to join us here today. That's fantastic.
Thank you very much, everybody.
Thank you to all the technicians and folks in Ottawa who allow this type of meeting to happen during this pandemic.
MP Wagantall, go ahead.
5:30 p.m.
Conservative
Cathay Wagantall Conservative Yorkton—Melville, SK
When you're done, I just have one question of the committee. Is that possible?
5:30 p.m.
Conservative
Cathay Wagantall Conservative Yorkton—Melville, SK
Thank you.
I missed the last meeting because of responsibilities in the House. I understand there were a lot of technical issues that cut significantly into the time for the individuals who were part of that particular day of testimony. I know that specifically we lost time for the psychiatrist to be able to be part of the conversation. I'm wondering if Susan Brock could be included in another opportunity for her to present.
5:30 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Bryan May
I'll talk to the clerk about what would be entailed in something like that and if it would make sense to include her in our last meeting.
With that, if there is no objection, I will adjourn today's meeting.
Excellent. We are adjourned.