Evidence of meeting #105 for Veterans Affairs in the 44th Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was husband.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Liberal
Darrell Samson Liberal Sackville—Preston—Chezzetcook, NS
Who is the caregiver now? Are you receiving funding for that?
As an Individual
I do. We also now have a caregiver who comes in during the day while I'm at work. I do the bulk of the nighttime because he's very sedentary during the day. He is in his recliner most of the day. It's after dinner and in the nighttime that I kick in and make sure that he's getting bathed and that he makes it where he needs to go without falling. His legs are very weak right now, so I have to make sure that someone walks with him.
Liberal
Darrell Samson Liberal Sackville—Preston—Chezzetcook, NS
Thank you.
God forbid, if he passes, you said that the challenges financially could be greater. Can you share what happens to the funding you're receiving now versus in the future if things go as you've indicated?
As an Individual
From my understanding—and actually, I have a letter—I'll be entitled to some of the benefits that we currently have. There's the veterans independence program, which I understand may be kept. That's the housekeeping and lawn maintenance program.
Of course, there is his pension, when it kicks in. Well, actually, he does get his pension right now, and there are a few other benefits, but some other things will of course not be available after he passes away. I think the diminished earning capacity and the income replacement benefits will go away, from my understanding. There are a few things that I'll be entitled to, but a few things that we won't have after he passes.
Liberal
Darrell Samson Liberal Sackville—Preston—Chezzetcook, NS
Thanks very much for sharing, for showing up here and for your strength. I know how difficult it must be for you. Thank you.
Conservative
The Vice-Chair Conservative Blake Richards
Thanks, Mr. Samson.
That's the end of that round.
Ms. Bérubé, you now have the floor for six minutes.
Sylvie Bérubé Bloc Abitibi—Baie-James—Nunavik—Eeyou, QC
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Mrs. Kimm, thank you for agreeing to come and testify. I know that what you are going through is very difficult, and you have my compassion.
You mentioned that your husband was diagnosed with cancer in 2022 and that his life expectancy, if it was left untreated, was six to 12 months. If he agreed to treatment, his chances of survival were 75% and his life expectancy was five years.
Mrs. Kimm, do you think his cancer was caused by his career in the Canadian Armed Forces?
As an Individual
Thank you.
Yes. My husband, while serving in the navy, was exposed to toxic chemicals. He was also exposed to asbestos on some of the older ships he served on. AFFF was one of the chemicals they used in firefighting exercises. To put it into context, my husband was a marine engineer—or a “stoker”, as they called them—and quite often had to deal with toxic chemicals in the course of his duties. From my understanding from my husband, when they used, for example, the AFFF, which we now know is cancer-causing—it's renowned for it—it also leached into groundwater and poisoned it. When he was serving, they didn't use protective gear. They used it for a variety of things in the course of their duties, as I mentioned—for firefighting exercises and so forth—so he was exposed to very many chemicals, yes.
Cancer doesn't run in his family either, so it was quite shocking. When he was diagnosed, we were very surprised. It was unexpected. Just in talking to him and doing a bit of research...especially since many of his colleagues he served with also passed away from cancer. He did use a lot of chemicals in the course of his duties. Therefore, yes, it was from duty.
Bloc
Sylvie Bérubé Bloc Abitibi—Baie-James—Nunavik—Eeyou, QC
From what I know, you also said that your husband had been awarded the maximum lump sum payment, according to the schedule, at the time he made his choice.
In your opinion, was that enough? If not, why not?
As an Individual
Thank you for that question.
When we first found how how much we were going to be awarded, we were actually quite grateful. At that time, I didn't realize, though, that it was only five years of salary. We were just happy. We thought, “Finally someone's acknowledging that he got cancer from work.” It took a little while to settle in. My husband is the type who doesn't like to spend a lot of money, so he wanted to save some because we know that once it's gone, it's gone. We understand that.
However, after doing a bit of research into his file, I realized what it equated to. I thought, “Boy, a person who had a very lengthy career in the military, who is dying from that career, gets the equivalent of five years' salary.” That was shocking to us. And while it did help—that money did, of course, help, and still does—the realization of what he's going through versus the amount of money he got.... It just seems so unfair. He's losing his life. I'm not downplaying this, but he didn't lose a limb; he can't get a prosthetic. He's going to die before the end of the year; I heard it from the palliative care doctor and his oncologist.
While we are very appreciative to get that money, just from some of the other veterans I spoke to in our family, it's not enough. How do you put a dollar sign on someone's life? Obviously, you can't—you just can't—but I think the fairness.... After looking at what the United Kingdom provides for their veterans, it's quite shocking when I looked at a comparison.
I hope I've answered your question.
Bloc
Sylvie Bérubé Bloc Abitibi—Baie-James—Nunavik—Eeyou, QC
Your husband pretty much gave his life for the country, according to what you just said. You also said that veterans have contributed a lot to the country.
Since then, has your husband received any other benefits from Veterans Affairs Canada related to his health condition?
As an Individual
Yes, my husband receives an income replacement benefit, and a diminished earning capacity benefit. He also has received support.... There are two kinds of benefits we've received: monetary and actual physical supports. For example, he has a lift chair to help him stand up and sit down. He has supports in his bathroom. These things do help him in his day-to-day activities, but he also receives a monthly amount for the two that I just mentioned.
Bloc
Sylvie Bérubé Bloc Abitibi—Baie-James—Nunavik—Eeyou, QC
You've been a caregiver since 2022, is that right?
Conservative
The Vice-Chair Conservative Blake Richards
Thank you.
Now, we will go to the NDP and Rachel Blaney for the next six minutes.
NDP
Rachel Blaney NDP North Island—Powell River, BC
Thank you, Chair.
Thank you so much, Mrs. Kimm, for being here with us today. Thank your husband on my behalf for letting you come here and be away from him during such a hard time, and of course for his tremendous service to the country.
My first question for you is this: Why did you want to speak to the committee?
As an Individual
Thank you for your question.
I wanted to come before the committee today to speak to you all because you are the body that can make a difference. You hear many things from many people. You affect policies. You affect legislation.
It's very important for me to sit here in person before you so that you can hear my story, our family's story, with the hopes that you are able and willing to make this change. It's so important. I was reading the committee mandate, and it says, “Pursuant to the Standing Orders, the government is required to respond to the opinions and recommendations presented in ACVA reports if so requested by the Committee.”
I'm here today in the hopes that you will help to effect change, not only for my family, but also for other veterans going through similar circumstances. Many are silent. They don't know how to ask for help. My heart goes out to those who cannot, because the freedoms we have today are only here because of those in the past who fought for us. Now, we really have to reciprocate. We have to fight for them, and that's why I'm here today.
NDP
Rachel Blaney NDP North Island—Powell River, BC
Through your testimony and your answers to the committee, I heard you talk a couple of times about one of the things that you want to see, which is legislative change. Could you talk a little about what that looks like for you, and what your thoughts and recommendations to the committee would be on that?
As an Individual
To confirm, are you talking about the legislated monetary change?
As an Individual
Because the amounts are legislated, what we need to do is to have a really good look at those numbers. Are they adequate with what is being given in comparable Commonwealth countries? We all fight together. Our veterans have all fought in wars together. They didn't care who sat on what side of the fence. They were there for a common purpose: to defend their countries, to defend our freedoms.
Finding out that Canada is really lacking in the compensation means that we have some work to do. We need to bring it up to similar standards, like the U.K.'s, for example, and it has to be done through legislation.
NDP
Rachel Blaney NDP North Island—Powell River, BC
Thank you.
In listening to your testimony, one of the questions that came to mind is this: What can Veterans Affairs do to really assist veterans in recognizing the benefits and compensation that they may be entitled to? It makes me think of a conversation you and I had not too long ago about finding out that your husband was eligible for a bit of money for clothing, I believe, and you just had no idea.
I'm wondering how you think it could be explained better to families.