Evidence of meeting #31 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 dogs.
A recording is available from Parliament.
4:50 p.m.
Certified Trainer, Meliora Service Dogs
Before I answer your question, I also want to tell you that the United States has an insurance company for service dogs called Trupanion. The United States Department of Veterans Affairs, through Trupanion, covers medical insurance for veterans' service dogs. Veterans Affairs Canada could do something of this nature to help our community.
Sorry, I'm drawing a blank. Can you repeat the question?
4:55 p.m.
Bloc
Luc Desilets Bloc Rivière-des-Mille-Îles, QC
Do you think that we should follow Australia's example?
4:55 p.m.
Certified Trainer, Meliora Service Dogs
Absolutely.
I'm a veteran, as you know. I've been doing this work for the other veterans for over 10 years. I give 100%. I think that I've given 120% to my country and that, as a result, I deserve a service dog to make my life easier and to brighten up my daily life.
A service dog costs next to nothing, at most $1,200 per year. That isn't much. Over a period of eight to ten years of service, it would cost maybe $10,000. That's a base price. There isn't any profit in that. This includes all expenses: food, insurance, veterinarian, and so on. Even the training is included in the cost.
I do everything for free for everyone. Everything comes out of my pocket. I'm looking forward to getting help. I'm quite serious about that.
4:55 p.m.
Bloc
Luc Desilets Bloc Rivière-des-Mille-Îles, QC
What do you think is preventing Veterans Affairs Canada from covering these costs? What's the hold up?
4:55 p.m.
Certified Trainer, Meliora Service Dogs
It's politics. We listen to a person who knows someone else in the government, because we think that the person must be credible. So we listen to this person, who isn't credible at all, and who is even making things worse for veterans instead of better.
In reality, 80% of the members of our organizations, perhaps even more, aren't doing this work for the right reasons. These members aren't doing this to help our fellow soldiers and get them out of the trenches, so to speak. I get my fellow soldiers out of the trenches. Others leave them there and only want their money's worth. These members tell the soldiers that, if they want a dog, they must pay a certain amount, that Assistance Dogs International is there, and so on. I'm sorry, but it doesn't work. There are hold‑ups everywhere and this must stop.
4:55 p.m.
Bloc
Luc Desilets Bloc Rivière-des-Mille-Îles, QC
In your opinion, is there any evidence that assistance dogs are really helpful?
4:55 p.m.
Certified Trainer, Meliora Service Dogs
Absolutely, Mr. Desilets. The studies conducted by the University of Saskatchewan and the University of Regina provided evidence. If we do things right, within a year and a half, we can reduce the use of medication by 50% to 75% in assistance recipients. The person used to be holed up in the basement. With this assistance, the person will probably return to school or take courses to become a trainer in our organization in order to help the next veteran.
In other words, our organization helps veterans get back on their feet.
4:55 p.m.
Bloc
Luc Desilets Bloc Rivière-des-Mille-Îles, QC
You mentioned two university studies. However, is there any evidence in the literature or elsewhere that the $12,000 investment would save us, say, $32,500?
4:55 p.m.
Certified Trainer, Meliora Service Dogs
We showed this to the RCMP. We sent the RCMP a file explaining how many billions of dollars we could save in drug costs as a result of service dogs.
4:55 p.m.
Bloc
4:55 p.m.
Certified Trainer, Meliora Service Dogs
Dr. Colleen Dell from the University of Saskatchewan has this information on hand.
4:55 p.m.
Bloc
Luc Desilets Bloc Rivière-des-Mille-Îles, QC
Perfect, thank you. My assistant took down the information.
4:55 p.m.
Bloc
Luc Desilets Bloc Rivière-des-Mille-Îles, QC
I have a hard time understanding. The United States is often used as a model. Do you think that they're experiencing similar challenges with service dogs?
4:55 p.m.
Certified Trainer, Meliora Service Dogs
They've experienced challenges before, but it's much more liberal. The Americans with Disabilities Act encompasses different service animals. As you've heard, there are things as outlandish as the use of a parrot, for example. They're much more liberal in that sense.
In Canada, we need an occupational standard to ensure the safety of the public, the safety of the service dog and veteran team, and the safety of the dog itself. Some people enjoy hitting a dog with an umbrella simply because the dog is next to them. Things of that nature must stop. There must be a standard so that people are informed and educated about proper behaviour.
Some people think that Veterans Affairs Canada should be left out of this. That's a valid opinion. However, the department must also be informed and aware of the situation so that it can help veterans.
I agree that we need the support of an independent body that has nothing to do with service dogs and that will take an unbiased look at the situation on behalf of all veterans in Canada.
5 p.m.
Bloc
Luc Desilets Bloc Rivière-des-Mille-Îles, QC
Okay.
I think that my time is up. Please let me know, Mr. Chair.
5 p.m.
Certified Trainer, Meliora Service Dogs
If not, I'm ready to answer more questions.
5 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Bryan May
Everyone's being very good with their timing today.
Up next we have MP Blaney.
June 14th, 2021 / 5 p.m.
NDP
Rachel Blaney NDP North Island—Powell River, BC
Thank you, Chair, and I want to thank all of the folks who are here to testify today. I really appreciate it. For those of you who have served, thank you so much for your service. It means a lot to every Canadian.
Bill, I'm going to come to you first, of course.
The more that you teach me and the longer we do this study, the more I can see that we need national standards so that the end-user benefits. Without these standards, there are so many broken pieces that create this fragmented framework that leaves veterans behind.
Could you tell us, Bill, how having a service dog changed your life?
5 p.m.
As an Individual
I was one of probably the few veterans who believed what people told you about service dogs. I actually did my research. I phoned almost a dozen providers, and only one provider asked me these questions: Am I safe, and do I have a medical team I'm working with?
That was the team I initially went with. I was on numerous antipsychotic medications. Within the first year, like Marc said, I was down to one or maybe two. Two years later I was medication-free. I'm not on the marijuana maintenance program funded by Veterans Affairs. I used my dog until my dog passed away at Christmastime. I'm in the process of working to get another one.
5 p.m.
NDP
Rachel Blaney NDP North Island—Powell River, BC
You talked in your testimony about the challenges you experienced. Most specifically, and one that we worked together on, was your experience with the service dog and how that really impacted your ability to have shelter, to have a home. I think that's really important, because you're not the only veteran I've heard from who's had a similar experience.
Could tell the committee a bit about that so that we have that testimony?
5 p.m.
As an Individual
I can give you a specific instance that happened in the last week. Exactly one week ago, two service dog team members who were in Whistler Blackcomb were attempting to gain services and were being denied service. The RCMP had to be called to get involved with the directors at Whistler Blackcomb, because the service dog act in B.C. says that if you don't have an ID card for B.C., you can't go anywhere with your service dog. The RCMP, because they have a fiduciary duty to uphold the Canadian charter, explained the situation to them. The way that B.C., Alberta and Nova Scotia are getting around that misinformation with regard to the act is the clause that they put in section 1.1 of the service dog act that says the Human Rights Code supersedes this act, but it doesn't stop the industries. Even though they have all of this misinformation, they can't just stop somebody from gaining access.
I'm sorry to say that my own sister took her pet and did the test in B.C. in 22 minutes. She has a dog that is not trained, and now she has a service dog certified by the Province of B.C. and can go anywhere with a pet. It's a very small dog, so I'm having issues with my own family with regard to how the act is written and implemented in B.C. Anybody can get a service dog in B.C., anybody. If you have a well-behaved dog, you can pass the test. My dog has a standard, not a test.