Veterans Affairs Committee on Sept. 26th, 2024

[Joanne Kimm]

Thank you.

To put it into context, I found out recently that we could apply for a clothing allowance, which was surprising to me, because I never would have thought of that. Because of my husband's condition, I'm quite often doing laundry. We get a small stipend for that.

Veterans Affairs needs to be proactive with veterans. We need to create a veterans liaison office that actively reaches out to individual veterans to find out how they are doing, what they currently get and whether there is anything else they may need. As I mentioned before, veterans don't like to ask for help. They're used to following orders, and they're used to doing what they are told to do. It's about having an office that reaches out to them to find out what they might need. Proactively establishing those systems so veterans can get what they need without having to come before Veterans Affairs with cap in hand, asking, “Please, sir, can I have some more?” would make a difference to so many.

My husband won't ask for help. It's up to me to try to do what I can to give him that help. Having a Veterans Affairs liaison office would be a big help to those veterans who can't ask for help, or who don't know what to ask for.

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

Thank you.

In this process, have you approached the veterans review and appeal board?

[Joanne Kimm]

In our situation, because we received the maximum amount, we can't approach the appeal board. The appeal board is there for those who feel they were treated unjustly and haven't received benefits they feel they're entitled to.

In our case, we cannot approach the appeal board.

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

Thank you.

[The Vice-Chair, Conservative, Blake Richards]

Thank you.

That's the end of our first round of questions. We'll now move to a second round of questions. The only practical difference is that it's five minutes rather than six minutes for the round.

We go now to Mr. Dowdall for the Conservative Party.

[Terry Dowdall, Conservative, Simcoe—Grey, ON]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Joanne, for being here today. I want to thank your husband John, as well, for the service he's provided to our country.

I know it must be difficult to take time away from your husband in order to come here and educate us on the issues at hand. I have to commend you. You're helping others. You want some help now, too, but you're trying to be a spokesperson for the veterans we don't hear from all the time, quite frankly. I really want to thank you for that. I think it's important that this is here before the committee.

Most of the time, what I've found in committees—I've been here since 2019, not always on this committee—is that we do a lot of studies. Usually, something is picked up from the media, more so than the actual study getting accepted. Sometimes we see change. Maybe that's something that could happen today. Meeting us is fantastic. It's good to get out there. You seem to be meeting all the stakeholders. You said earlier that you met with the minister.

When did you meet with the minister?

[Joanne Kimm]

It was on July 8.

[Terry Dowdall, Conservative, Simcoe—Grey, ON]

Was that July of this year?

[Joanne Kimm]

Yes.

[Terry Dowdall, Conservative, Simcoe—Grey, ON]

That's probably the best recommendation you have.

Have you had any follow-up from there as to what the next steps might be?

[Joanne Kimm]

Do you mean from her visit?

[Terry Dowdall, Conservative, Simcoe—Grey, ON]

Yes.

[Joanne Kimm]

I received some correspondence from her thanking me for the meeting and so forth, but the recommendation was to go before the appeal board. There were other outlets, as well—for example, Veterans Affairs' 1-800 number.

Unfortunately, she was unable to effect any change. That's the answer I got from my request.

[Terry Dowdall, Conservative, Simcoe—Grey, ON]

That's not what you wanted to hear, I would imagine. You were kind of frustrated with that fact.

[Joanne Kimm]

I was disappointed. I was hoping that, if I met the minister in person, she would understand what I was asking for. Unfortunately, I didn't get the answer I was hoping for. I understand that sometimes it's difficult for ministers to get the changes they need.

[Terry Dowdall, Conservative, Simcoe—Grey, ON]

Our study will be recommendations, more so than the ability to move forward with those recommendations. I wanted to clarify that part of it.

Another thing you said that was very important, which I've witnessed since I've been in this committee—I'm one of the newer members—is that the confusion.... As you say, a liaison officer is probably a fantastic idea. I know it's hard to know whom to go to for help.

Did the caseworkers move around? We had a new contract last year. Do you find that they're moving and that you're not getting the same caseworker all the time? Does that wear on the veterans?

[Joanne Kimm]

I believe it could. In our case, we've been very fortunate. We've had two caseworkers, and one of them, I understand, deals with some of the different benefits covered by Blue Cross. The other caseworker deals more with the Veterans Affairs side of things. We've had two, but I never knew who I was going to speak with, because when you call the 1-800 number, you just get whoever answers the phone, and then they refer you to whoever is the most appropriate person. You don't know who that's going to be.

[Terry Dowdall, Conservative, Simcoe—Grey, ON]

I live with military, right beside CFB Borden in Angus, Ontario. It is one of the larger bases. I hear often from many of the veterans that they seem to feel more like they're a number than an individual. That's what I hear the most. Would you say that's kind of the case?

[Joanne Kimm]

I would agree, yes.

[Terry Dowdall, Conservative, Simcoe—Grey, ON]

Okay, that's good.

The other question I had.... This is kind of interesting. Your husband had a long career, and the amount that was received was $334,000. Is that taxable?

[Joanne Kimm]

No.

[Terry Dowdall, Conservative, Simcoe—Grey, ON]

Okay, so it's not taxable.

For 20 years, it's $300,000, which is about $60,000 per year over five years. What would your recommendation be? If somebody got it after four years in the military, should they get the same amount as someone who served 20 years?

I'm just wondering what you're hearing from the veterans side. How would you judge? If it caused your cancer, no matter how long you were with the service, should that be the reason...? I know that the amount's too low, probably, but I'm having a hard time with the years of service part. It's great that you served 20 years, but if someone was there for four years and happened to get some kind of condition because of the military, should they get a lot less?

[Joanne Kimm]

Well, as we know, cancer doesn't discriminate based on how long you serve in the military, so my feeling is, why wouldn't they get the same amount?

[Terry Dowdall, Conservative, Simcoe—Grey, ON]

Okay.

[Joanne Kimm]

Regardless of how long they served, cancer's cancer. If it was caused by service, then they should get the same amount. I don't mean the same amount person to person, but they should still receive, in our case, the maximum.

In your example, if the person is rated at 100% on that scale, of course they should get the same amount. It doesn't matter how long they've served.