Evidence of meeting #106 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 policy.
A recording is available from Parliament.
President, Persian Gulf Veterans of Canada
As far as we know, yes, because the insurance document states the SDA for it, the sea duty allowance, and there's no wartime service in the Veterans Well-being Act at all. It's not mentioned anywhere in the well-being act. You would have to look elsewhere for that answer.
Liberal
Bloc
Luc Desilets Bloc Rivière-des-Mille-Îles, QC
In light of what I've been hearing for the past little while, I think we're missing a very important perspective. Since we'll be hearing from department officials next week, I propose the following motion:
That the committee invite the Minister of National Defence to appear before the committee in relation to the study of the recognition of Persian Gulf Veterans, for one hour, as soon as possible.
I realize we have a pretty tight schedule. If there is unanimous consent, can we adopt the motion? If not, can it be sent out?
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Emmanuel Dubourg
The motion is admissible since it's related to the study. We can ask the committee members, but they don't have a copy of the motion.
Mr. Desilets, would you mind rereading your motion for everyone?
Bloc
Luc Desilets Bloc Rivière-des-Mille-Îles, QC
I move:
That the committee invite the Minister of National Defence to appear before the committee in relation to the study of the recognition of Persian Gulf Veterans, for one hour, as soon as possible.
Liberal
Liberal
Liberal
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Emmanuel Dubourg
We are back.
Before the break, Mr. Desilets's motion was on the floor.
If there are no questions or comments, we'll go straight to the vote. So far, I see no hands.
Is there unanimous consent to adopt Mr. Desilets's motion?
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Emmanuel Dubourg
I will immediately ask the clerk to schedule the witness for an hour as soon as possible, as per the motion.
Mr. Desilets, you have 30 seconds left of your two and a half minutes.
Bloc
Luc Desilets Bloc Rivière-des-Mille-Îles, QC
Great.
Mr. McGlennon, a few minutes ago, we were talking about the minister. If I'm gauging the mood correctly, the minister is sensitive to the issue. I've had conversations with her about it. I say that, but other ministers have been sensitive to the issue in the past.
Are you expecting a follow-up from her?
Vice-President, Persian Gulf Veterans of Canada
I have seen her twice since that meeting. Recently I met with her at the blessing of the Afghan memorial. She promised that she would be meeting with me, Harold and Sammy shortly. She's waiting for a report.
Bloc
Luc Desilets Bloc Rivière-des-Mille-Îles, QC
That's great. Thank you very much.
That's it for me, Mr. Chair.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Emmanuel Dubourg
Thank you, Mr. McGlennon and Mr. Desilets.
Now let's go to Ms. Blaney for two and a half minutes.
NDP
Rachel Blaney NDP North Island—Powell River, BC
Thank you, Chair.
I want to clarify that the minister does not have to wait for our report. She can do things without it, but I appreciate that she is waiting for our report.
The next question I have is for either Harold or Mike. In the work you've done, how are other countries recognizing service in the Persian Gulf similar to yours?
President, Persian Gulf Veterans of Canada
I deal with the Americans and Desert Storm veterans quite a bit. I've talked to a representative in England. I've talked a bit to a couple of guys in Australia. That's the extent of it, but they don't seem to be fighting like we are to get recognition at all.
They invite us to whatever events they have because we were some of the coalition people working with them, and they respect us a lot. As an example, the United States Memorial Day parades go on down in the States, and Desert Storm veterans are the biggest group down there marching in that. Guess who's behind them? The six little Canadians carrying a Canadian flag. We're the only other country that's invited to march with the American Desert Storm veterans. We're included 100%.
They don't have the same fight down there that we have here. They recognize Gulf War illness. Canada does not recognize Gulf War illness. They have a registry down there of Desert Storm veterans with the VA. Canada does not have a registry of Persian Gulf veterans, or any other veterans from any other conflicts, as far as I know, for medical purposes.
It seems they can actually wear these medals. They're recognized by the country that gave them to us. They can actually wear them, and some of the other countries can too.
There is a lot of respect out there for Canada. It's just that we have to fight Canadians on the stuff that we shouldn't have to fight Canadians on.
NDP
Rachel Blaney NDP North Island—Powell River, BC
Just to clarify, the medals you're wearing are on the one side, and you cannot wear them on the other side with the other service medals.
President, Persian Gulf Veterans of Canada
That's correct. We have to wear the Kuwait Liberation Medal and the Saudi Arabian liberation medal on our right side because we're deemed as being recognized. The Governor General has informed us, the committee, that we can't be recognized for that, but other countries seem to give veterans other medals, and they can wear them and nobody says anything about it.
It's a country that we helped liberate, and we can't do anything. We have been told no.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Emmanuel Dubourg
Thank you, Mr. Davis.
Now let's go to Mrs. Wagantall for five minutes.
Conservative
Cathay Wagantall Conservative Yorkton—Melville, SK
Thank you so much, Chair.
Thank you so much for your testimony today.
I want to clarify something with either of you, Harold or Mike.
You established Persian Gulf Veterans of Canada in 2017. How many times since then have you reached out to the Department of National Defence for a meeting?
President, Persian Gulf Veterans of Canada
I think I've reached out two or three times.
