Good evening.
Thank you, Mr. Chair, all members of Parliament, and all those who have spoken thus far. I really just want to echo so much of what has been said, and not to repeat it.
Wounded Warriors Canada, for those who don't know, is a national mental health service provider that specializes in clinically facilitated group-based trauma therapy programs for our injured veterans, first responders and their families. When it comes to veterans, we're supporting just over 1,000 members every year through our services. In terms of how we fit in this discussion, while we don't support members' claims directly, what we see and deal with, through the members we're supporting with our services, are the downstream effects and consequences of the disability backlog.
I'm trying to figure out why. It seems that over the years that I've come to present here at committee, we have continued to talk over and over again about very similar things that just aren't being rectified. The consequences of that are having a significant impact on our veterans, their physical health, their mental health and their families. I'll talk a bit about that later on.
One thing I've noticed through our organization that is a bit of a challenge, and which might speak to some of the problems we're seeing in getting this work done and rectifying these significant gaps, is that we have not had stability at the ministerial level at VAC in the last 10 years. Since 2010 there have been nine Veterans Affairs Canada ministers—nearly one every 12 months. I reference this, as it goes to my point about what might be holding this up.
I understand that the department is there. It's doing what it does every day. There's leadership in other places, but let's just be honest. I don't know if anyone here has run their own business or has been part of a business, but can you imagine, if the CEO of a business changed nearly every year, what kind of effect that would have on your operations, with new policies, new implementations, new programs? Obviously, it wouldn't be very effective or efficient at all.
It's something we've felt very strongly here in our work, in trying to do more of it and trying to work collaboratively with the department. It's been very difficult having to go in to meet new people, tell the same story, and highlight the same issues over and over and over again. That's just something I wanted to draw your attention to.
Obviously, the subject is about security, dignity and respect. I was listening to the veteran you had at your previous committee meeting, Veteran Thomson, talking. It was very powerful. At times, for me, it was agonizing testimony that summed up the impact this backlog has had on him, the veteran community at large and, by extension, their families. I really only want to echo his comments and say that this is exactly what we hear and have heard for years from Canadian Armed Forces members transitioning to civilian life.
What's more, we've heard that the transition from DND to VAC must be seamless in an effort to help ensure that our members are healthy and well in civilian life. Similarly, this is something that's been talked about, seemingly, over and over and over again. Given how much work needs to be done in this particular area, as highlighted by those who have spoken before me, I would rank disability benefit claims at the very top of the priority list when it comes to making a seamless transition a reality in Canada.
From our perspective, one thing I want to remark on that might be a bit unique is the impact this is having not only on the members themselves but also on their family members, that often silent support behind the Canadian Forces and our veterans: their spouses, partners and kids. Through our programming supporting those people—couples, spouses and children of our injured veterans—it's important to note that added stresses and pressures of disability claim wait times are compounding the impacts and effects of operational stress injuries, such as PTSD, on both the individual members and their families.
I'm sure that everyone has read the literature review undertaken by the veterans ombudsman on veterans' spouses, which was released in September, which really chronicles all of this research: the impact, what's been written, what's been discussed, and ultimately the findings from those members and the families themselves. It was interesting and profoundly impactful that spouses are suffering negative impacts to both their physical and mental health prior to, during, and following medical release. This is consistent with our experience and something that we definitely feel needs to be rectified.
I'm not sure whether you've had a veteran's spouse appear before the committee, but it might be a suggestion for future presentations on the matter we're talking about and the impact that we're trying to address.
I look forward to having an ongoing dialogue with everyone here this evening. I thank you for your time.