Veterans Affairs Committee on Nov. 12th, 2020

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

Sir, I thank you for—

Chair, I would like to ask another question. One minute?

[The Chair, Liberal, Bryan May]

You have about one minute. Go ahead.

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

Okay.

Sir, the programs are there. I understand that. The problem is the backlog in dealing with benefits and medical needs. This is where our problem is. They can't access those programs to the extent that they should because the systems are not in place. If this was any kind of a business initiative, it would have been dead in the water a long time ago.

When are we going to get access to those files and this seamless transition from the armed forces into the veterans scenario that you have talked about? We're looking right here. It's a two-year period for many of these people.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bryan May]

We're at time, almost, but I'll allow time for a very brief answer please.

[Lawrence MacAulay, Liberal, Cardigan, PE]

Of course, some of the programs I was explaining will help ease the transition from the military to civilian life.

It's also vitally important, Mr. Chair, that I indicate to everybody that the employees in Charlottetown at Veterans Affairs Canada are the best in the country. I stand behind them 100%. They have done an excellent job and they've worked hard from home during this pandemic. It is vitally important to recognize that.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bryan May]

Thank you, Minister.

Now we go over to MP Amos for five minutes, please.

[William Amos, Liberal, Pontiac, QC]

Thank you, Chair. Thank you, Minister.

If I have time, I would like to share my opportunity to speak with member Andy Fillmore in Halifax.

Minister, the riding of Pontiac, as you're well aware is 30,000 square kilometres of territory all across western Quebec. I have over 40 small towns in my riding. There are many Legions. These are community institutions of great significance to our region. They're institutions in the community that go beyond providing support to veterans and their families; they provide a meeting place for communities.

Your recent announcement of $20 million of support landed very well. There was great appreciation for it. I've had that opportunity to speak with many of my Legions and they want you to know how much they appreciate that investment, but they also want you to know that they're concerned about their future, they have major financial difficulties and they're very concerned about their ability to provide that extra level of support.

I wonder if you could speak to the investment that has been made, but also the challenges that face our Legions that are so important to all of Canada.

[Lawrence MacAulay, Liberal, Cardigan, PE]

Thank you, William.

Bill C-4 came about with a lot of consultation with the Legion, ANAVETS, VETS Canada, True Patriot Love and many other people across the country to make sure you and I and everybody on this call and many people right across the country understand how vitally important these veterans organizations are.

They are the lifeblood of many communities. In fact, where I live, that's the meeting place and it's so important. Also I will tell you that—pray God, it doesn't happen—if this virus continues we have to look at this again as a Parliament. The House of Commons would have to look at it again to see what more needs to be done. It's essential; they're much more than just meeting places, which are important for social events, but these organizations work so hard as you've heard on this committee today. People are concerned about people filling in applications, helping out veterans, delivering meals. All of this work is done by these veterans organizations right across the country.

It's our responsibility to make sure that they do survive because the reason why you can say what you like to me here today is because of those veterans. That is essential and that is what makes Canada such a great place to live.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bryan May]

Thank you.

We'll move now to MP Fillmore for just under two minutes.

[Andy Fillmore, Liberal, Halifax, NS]

Thanks, Chair.

Thank you, minister, for joining us.

I want to ask you about the centre of excellence on PTSD and mental health. Perhaps you and/or the deputy can help me out here.

In 2018 the government announced $17.5 million for the centre of excellence on PTSD and mental health. I see that the centre is asking for $6.3 million under the appropriations we are considering today.

Could you update the committee on the work that is being done at the centre and speak to whether you feel that the investments being put towards the centre are achieving their goal? Are they serving veterans living with PTSD and mental health challenges?

[Lawrence MacAulay, Liberal, Cardigan, PE]

Andy, thank you very much.

Of course, everybody on the committee understands how places like the PTSD centre of excellence are of great importance. Having been around here for a long time, we all thought that you had to see an injury. That certainly was the case.

Mental health is such a vital part of what we do. The country is obliged to make sure that these services are supplied.

I'll turn it over to the deputy to explain further.

[Gen (Ret'd) Walter Natynczyk]

Thanks, minister.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bryan May]

You have about 30 seconds.

[Gen (Ret'd) Walter Natynczyk]

Sir, the answer to your question is yes. The centre of excellence for mental health and post-traumatic stress disorder is really paying huge dividends. Again, the notion is of a hub-in-spoke approach, wherein the centre of excellence is really a hub for research. It is looking for best practices both within the country and from all of our allies around the world, bringing them together and then distributing all of that new knowledge and best practices throughout our 11 operational stress injury clinics and to the thousands upon thousands of mental health practitioners who support our veterans and their families across the country.

Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bryan May]

Thank you very much, general.

We'll now go over to Deputy Desilets.

You have five minutes, please.

[Luc Desilets, Bloc, Rivière-des-Mille-Îles, QC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I apologize, Minister, but we are really putting you through your paces today. We care about this a lot, much like you, as we know. The only thing we disagree on is the best way to fix the problem.

In his latest report, the Parliamentary Budget Officer suggested that you hire 400 staff. My understanding is that you hired 300 employees in June, 100 shy of the number recommended by the Parliamentary Budget Officer.

I don't see anything in the latest estimates about that. Does that mean you will not be following the Parliamentary Budget Officer's recommendation?

[The Chair, Liberal, Bryan May]

I apologize, just before the minister speaks, because I said it would be five minutes. Unfortunately, Mr. Desilets, it's two and a half minutes.

Please continue.

[Luc Desilets, Bloc, Rivière-des-Mille-Îles, QC]

Darn.

Please carry on, Minister.

[Lawrence MacAulay, Liberal, Cardigan, PE]

I thank you very much, Luc.

You agree somewhat with what we're doing because we all agreed with the funding for the veterans' organizations. It was so vitally important. Bill C-4 was so important in order to access the 350 employees, plus the 180 employees that would be added with it. That will will be over 500 employees who will be directed specifically to deal with the backlog.

Of course, I very much appreciate what the Parliamentary Budget Officer has to say, I always do, as it's always constructive. He also indicated that the new employees would be a big help. He did not address the digitization of the files or the coordination of the staff. Luc, that is, in fact, what has happened up to now. The new staff are in training and will be ready to tackle the backlog after Christmas, when they will be on it. We have lowered the backlog, but will lower it more.

[Luc Desilets, Bloc, Rivière-des-Mille-Îles, QC]

I see.

The Parliamentary Budget Officer suggested that you hire 400 staff. Will you? Right now, there is nothing in the votes for that.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bryan May]

Minister, be very brief, please.

[Lawrence MacAulay, Liberal, Cardigan, PE]

Mr. Chair, I appreciate Luc's question.

The fact is that we did hire 350 people, plus the 180 who are going to remain on staff, which means over 500 people in fact. That will have a major effect on the backlog, which is vitally important to do.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bryan May]

Thank you, Minister.

Now it is over to MP Blaney for two and a half minutes.

[Rachel Blaney, NDP, North Island—Powell River, BC]

Thank you.

I was feeling very hopeful for Luc and myself, thinking we would get more time, but that's okay.

Minister, first of all, I just want to thank you for the commitment to looking at how to get authorization for MPs to support veterans more quickly. I think that will help. I know that these wait times are terrible and I couldn't agree more with what Cathay said. The reality is that veterans are struggling profoundly, and I know she gets those calls from across Canada, just as I do, and it's very concerning.

I have talked to you as well about the fact that some veterans are making the decision, based on what they've heard from Liberal folks who are saying, “Apply for the CERB. It doesn't matter. We'll figure out the details on the other side.” They are doing that out of desperation because they've been waiting so long for their disability pensions to come in. They are poor, struggling folks, and they have served our country, and we certainly don't want that happening.

I thank you for the commitment around the authorization.

I am going to ask as well about what we can do to improve MPs' access to Veterans Affairs. With a lot of other departments, there are specific lines for MPs to access support. The departments work closely with our offices to help people, and we want to do more, but we need those support lines for MPs' offices and things like that to be put into place. I'm just wondering if you would help us with that as well.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bryan May]

There is just over a minute remaining.