Veterans Affairs Committee on Nov. 25th, 2020

[Linda Brimson]

As unpleasant as the hardships of COVID have been, I can't help but feel grateful that we have had to think harder, think smarter and realize where we could trim and where we need to expand. Yes, we would survive, but I think it has made us sharper on our focus and made us look at this, and say, okay, you put the fires out, but you need those one- and two-year plans. You need to partner with local and national groups.

Yes, we would survive, but I think we had to have a reckoning and a hard look at ourselves.

[Deanna Fimrite]

I agree. I think ANAVETS as an association will survive, but it does bring forward that bigger question that we were facing before COVID-19. We have to find a way to hand this association down to the next generation and ensure that it continues. We haven't done a great job on that thus far. Hopefully, COVID-19 will teach us some lessons on how we're better able to connect with the next generation of veterans to ensure that it does survive.

[Nick Booth]

I think the other point that may emerge from this is better collaboration in the sector. There are a lot of military charities, both large and small, and there may be ways in which the sector could begin to collaborate better, from just service delivery in local communities to avoid duplication right through to more challenging ideas like sharing premises or sharing purchasing.

There are various ways in which everyone can cut costs in their organizations without losing their brand identity or their relationships with their supporters. I think the old adage is “never waste a good crisis”. I think people should be embracing this, challenging though it is, to explore new ways of communicating and new ways of collaborating, for which perhaps there was no mandate or burning platform for them to do beforehand.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bryan May]

Thank you very much.

Up next we have MP Blaney for two and a half minutes.

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

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Max, I know you have to go and pick up your kids. it looks like it's a bit of a gray day and not a rainy day, so I guess that's good; I'm hearing snow.

I think you've outlined very clearly the challenges you're facing and how they impact your life and the life of your family. You've talked about applying several times for the caregiver allowance and the responsibility that your family—not just your wife, really, but your whole family—takes on in supporting you. We've talked about that. If you could put it officially on the record here, why is VAC saying no to you?

[Max Gaboriault]

Because, plain and simple, it's policy. I can feed myself, dress myself and bathe myself. For those reasons, I don't qualify for the disability tax credit either—it's the exact same reasons. It discriminates against cognitive injuries, meaning brain injuries, and this is my fourth year of advocating. I think I started about three years ago, and nothing whatsoever has changed.

COVID is just making things worse for me. I'm a psychotic patient. I have to try to remain calm at all times. I'm sedated to function in normal life. As an example, on my own, I found a treatment, but it's in Victoria. I have a driving service that can take me to it, but I have to wear a mask.

I can't wear a mask for a long time because all of you look like terrorists to me. I was wearing a scarf while on patrol doing my job. I'm not going to explain that further because it triggers me. This means that even if everything goes through, I won't be able to go and get the treatment I need because it triggers me, which could put the driver in jeopardy. I have to abstain from a lot of things because of it. I can wear it for a very short amount of time. Now, though, I think it's required everywhere in B.C., indoors and probably in other places, which makes it very difficult for me. On top of that, I'm hard of hearing, and I can't see anybody's face to read their lips so I could function better.

I don't know if I answered your question, because I'm getting lost in my head.

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

You answered my question. Drive safely with your children, Max.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bryan May]

Thank you, sir.

Up next we have MP Carrie for five minutes, please.

Perhaps you can lower your mike. We'll have a better chance of hearing you.

[Colin Carrie, Conservative, Oshawa, ON]

One of these days I'm going to get that right, Mr. Chair.

I want to dig in a little bit deeper into recommendations and what MPs and the government can do to help keep these veteran organizations viable and surviving past this pandemic. I think the services you provide are going to be needed even more in our community. I know that's the case in Oshawa for sure.

Mr. Gimblett, you suggested that perhaps if the programs were a little bit more flexible—you mentioned if the organization had an HST number, for example—that would allow organizations to get that necessary support to keep open over the winter months.

Do you or any of the witnesses have suggestions on what we could do to ensure that these organizations remain open? The more I hear about what you do, I realize it's so important, and you really are so cost-effective. I just wonder, if you close, what Veterans Affairs will do basically to pick up the slack that your organizations provide for our veterans. Do you have some good recommendations for us on how we could help you make it through this second and, hopefully, last wave?

[Mike Gimblett]

We need help with operational funding. It's very obvious, sir, that we are all very good at fundraising, because we've shown that pre-COVID. But now with COVID, and having a very limited ability to fundraise, we need help just to keep the lights on and pay our bills, and things like that. Like I said before, we have never asked for help. We've always been the group helping. Now, through no fault of our own, we're in a very tough situation and need help to get through the winter.

[Linda Brimson]

I would add a couple of things: funding either through federal funding or through downstream organizations that might focus on assisting small museums; helping us have better accessibility, as our veterans use more walkers, wheelchairs, canes, and have less walking ability; and helping to maintain these heritage buildings safely and to have good walkways, good lighting, a paved parking lot. Frankly, if a lot of these grassroots organizations go, I don't think the federal government will be replacing us. Right now the federal government can't meet the individual needs of somebody like our witness here, Max. The money isn't filtering down to a grassroots level. It's been challenging for us to access and do a new horizons grant, that type of thing.

[Colin Carrie, Conservative, Oshawa, ON]

Thank you very much for that.

We just completed a study on the backlog and we see so many veterans not being able to get their support, sometimes waiting years for it. What really impresses me about your organizations and why I see you as so vital is that a veteran can walk in the door and immediately see a familiar face, somebody who can relate to them, have conversations with them, like-minded thoughts and experiences, and make them feel comforted in their community.

Do you see yourself over the next couple of months being able to bridge the challenges coming out of the pandemic? I know that the program that was announced was for $20 million. The Legion has access to $14 million.

Mr. Gimblett, my understanding, because your organizations aren't part of the Legion, is that you don't get that funding downstream, as Ms. Brimson mentioned. You have to come up with some other ideas. My understanding is that you found out about the program funding for the $6 million last Wednesday. You had four days to make the application. Were you able to get your application in on time? Did you find out how the decision-making process was going to be? How long is it going to be before you get those decisions so that you can make plans to make it through the winter months?

[The Chair, Liberal, Bryan May]

Mr. Carrie, I'm sorry, you're well over time here, but I will allow a quick answer to at least one of those questions.

[Colin Carrie, Conservative, Oshawa, ON]

Thank you very much.

[Mike Gimblett]

As MP Carrie said, we found out last Wednesday that we had to have the applications in by Sunday. Just taking a very quick look at the funds, we didn't want to be greedy; all that we applied for was help with our insurance.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bryan May]

Thank you very much.

Up next we have MP Samson.

I may cut you a little short, sir, because we want to carve out some time for quick committee business.

[Darrell Samson, Liberal, Sackville—Preston—Chezzetcook, NS]

Thank you. I want to thank all the presenters here today. It's extremely important.

Mr. Gaboriault, thank you very much for your presentation. It was of great importance in helping us better understand your situation and this project, which is very important.

You talked about going back to school to continue your education. Was it through Veterans Affairs Canada's Education Assistance Program?

[Max Gaboriault]

No, it was as part of the retirement for medical reasons and army discharge process.

[Darrell Samson, Liberal, Sackville—Preston—Chezzetcook, NS]

Thank you very much.

[Max Gaboriault]

My pleasure.

[Darrell Samson, Liberal, Sackville—Preston—Chezzetcook, NS]

I also thank you for your years of service; we are very grateful to you.

Mr. Booth, as you know, your organization received $1.5 million last week for the very important task that you and your organization do. I know my time is running very quickly, but can you tell us what the plan is with that money in the next three months—the short term—to make sure that you continue to support your veterans?

[Nick Booth]

Yes. Our plan over the next three months would be to make sure we can continue to deliver our community programs to our partners and also stabilize our organization so that we can continue to represent and advocate for veterans with the government, as we've been doing throughout the crisis.

To that point, I want to answer Mr. Carrie's point about recommendations.

The other thing I would strongly suggest that the committee might note is the ongoing importance of the well-being fund. It's something that veterans organizations across Canada can apply for. They are distributing the balance of the $3.5 million of the VOESF, but ongoing. I know that as the government progresses money each year, there is always a jostle for the budget, but the ongoing importance of the well-being fund, not only to True Patriot Love but also to many veterans organizations, is critical.

I would leave that as a plea.

[Darrell Samson, Liberal, Sackville—Preston—Chezzetcook, NS]

I thank you very much for underlining the well-being fund. I believe that fund will be open in the next few weeks before the end of the year. It's going to be extremely important to continue to help other organizations on the ground.

Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bryan May]

Is that all you have?

[Darrell Samson, Liberal, Sackville—Preston—Chezzetcook, NS]

I have more, but you told me I only had two or three minutes.