Evidence of meeting #111 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 forward.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Conservative
Blake Richards Conservative Banff—Airdrie, AB
I'm sorry. I apologize for the interruption, but we're talking about these services specifically. They were put on by your department, I believe, were they not?
Liberal
Ginette Petitpas Taylor Liberal Moncton—Riverview—Dieppe, NB
Yes. I can tell you clearly, Mr. Richards, that we did not give any direction to the chaplain general indicating that they were not allowed to give prayers. That is absolutely clear. It did not come from our department.
Conservative
Blake Richards Conservative Banff—Airdrie, AB
The chaplains who were there made the choice on their own, then, to not pray at those ceremonies. Is that what you're saying?
Liberal
Ginette Petitpas Taylor Liberal Moncton—Riverview—Dieppe, NB
Moments of reflection, Mr. Richards, are prayers as well.
Conservative
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Emmanuel Dubourg
Thank you, Mr. Richards.
Now let's go to MP Wilson Miao for six minutes, please.
Liberal
Wilson Miao Liberal Richmond Centre, BC
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Minister, for appearing at our committee again and again. It's always great to see you here with your officials.
As you know, we are undertaking this important study about the definitions of wartime service and special duty service. We have some gulf veterans sitting in the room here. You remarked that you recognize the Gulf War as a war. How can we make sure that, from a compensation perspective, it matches what was done in the past under the Pension Act as compared with the new Veterans Well-being Act?
Liberal
Ginette Petitpas Taylor Liberal Moncton—Riverview—Dieppe, NB
Thank you so much for that question. Again, thank you for the work this committee is doing on this very important study.
I'm going to finish the answer that I started with Mr. Richards with respect to the fact that times have changed when it comes to providing benefits and supports to our veterans. As I indicated, the needs of veterans from the First World War and the Second World War are very different from those of our modern-day veterans today. One of the reasons that review of the pensions was done back in 2006 and again in 2017 was specifically to ensure that we could meet the needs of the veterans who have served our country in different missions.
If we look back to 2006, what was brought forward was agreed upon by all parliamentarians in the House of Commons. In 2017—the minister at the time was Seamus O'Regan—we reviewed the benefits that were available to veterans. At the time, we wanted to ensure not only that financial benefits were going to be provided to our veterans, but also that we had a holistic approach to making sure we could provide our veterans with the services they needed. As a result, the new pension under the Veterans Well-being Act came in.
I want to recognize that we really wanted to focus on the seven.... When we talk about well-being for veterans, we want to make sure that we are really considering all levels of well-being, and that's not just financial well-being.
When I spoke to case managers in the past, they indicated to me that in previous years, before the new version of the pension was brought forward, they could not offer any services to our veterans at all. If people wanted to go back to work, let's say, and they needed to address some barriers or they needed vocational services or vocational counselling, none of that was available. With this new version, we are able to not only provide them with financial compensation in pensions, but also make sure that the seven domains of wellness are being addressed as well. It provides a package to make sure that we are addressing the needs of the veterans of today, and if they want to re-enter the workforce, they will have access to some of those benefits as well.
Today's reality for veterans is very different from that of many years ago. The average age of exiting members of the Canadian Armed Forces right now is approximately 37 years old, so many of them have many more years of their career ahead of them. We want to make sure that we not only equip them for the challenges of today but also equip them for opportunities in the future.
Liberal
Wilson Miao Liberal Richmond Centre, BC
Thank you, Minister, for your response.
We also heard from witnesses at this committee recently who said Veterans Affairs Canada is not active in research and does not have a department devoted to doing research. Based on what I've been hearing, that's not my understanding.
Could you provide more insight from your perspective on this as a minister?
Liberal
Ginette Petitpas Taylor Liberal Moncton—Riverview—Dieppe, NB
I can confirm that the Department of Veterans Affairs Canada has a research directorate. We've been involved in doing research over the past number of decades when it comes to issues pertaining to the well-being of veterans.
Since we formed government, we have put in place two centres of excellence, and we do research in collaboration with them. Many of you are very familiar with the Atlas Institute. It is a centre of excellence that does applied research in the areas of PTSD, PTSI and mental health. The other centre of excellence we've put in place is the Chronic Pain Centre of Excellence. Again, this centre of excellence continues to do really important work in that area. We continue to look at and review other research that is being done internationally as well.
Finally, Canada is also a member of the Five Eyes research group. Actually, Canada is a chair of that group as well.
We certainly recognize that there's always much more work that needs to be done in the area of research, but, as a government and as a department, we are committed to ensuring that that work is done.
Recently, you tabled a report on women veterans. We recognize that longitudinal studies when it comes to women veterans and women's health are very important.
These are the issues that we continue to take very seriously, and I'm pleased to see that the government and our department continue to do the work in that area.
Liberal
Wilson Miao Liberal Richmond Centre, BC
Thank you, Minister.
We also heard from Rear Admiral Summers and Vice Admiral Miller at a recent meeting. They shared some powerful testimony on how they received bags of letters from students all across Canada who wanted them to know that their service was important and that Canadians were in their corner, even if they were halfway across the world. Vice Admiral Miller recalled that they responded to every letter.
With all that in mind, how can we help young people develop a better appreciation of the service and sacrifices made by armed forces veterans and, in particular, Persian Gulf veterans?
Liberal
Ginette Petitpas Taylor Liberal Moncton—Riverview—Dieppe, NB
Saying thank you to these brave Canadian men and women is truly important. Through the Department of Veterans Affairs and through the tools we have, we want to make sure that we can make it easier for teachers and professionals.
Through the Veterans Affairs website, there are many tools that are available to ensure that commemoration is encouraged for young people.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Emmanuel Dubourg
Thank you very much, Mr. Miao.
As you know, you should address all of your questions through the chair, but I'm flexible on that.
Don't forget that we have interpretation, so try to respect the time.
I now have the pleasure of inviting the committee's second vice‑chair to speak for the next six minutes.
Mr. Desilets, you have the floor.
Bloc
Luc Desilets Bloc Rivière-des-Mille-Îles, QC
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Good afternoon, colleagues.
Thank you for being here, Mr. Freeman, Mr. Ledwell and Minister Petitpas Taylor. It's always good to see you.
Minister, you said earlier that the veterans deployed in the Gulf were in a war zone. The word “war” is still an issue in this matter. I would like to clarify this point.
Is that what you said?
Liberal
Ginette Petitpas Taylor Liberal Moncton—Riverview—Dieppe, NB
I said that they were in a danger zone.
They were in harm's way.
I did say that they were in a danger zone.
Bloc
Liberal
Ginette Petitpas Taylor Liberal Moncton—Riverview—Dieppe, NB
The troops sent to this region often refer to it as a war. According to my personal definition, it was indeed a war. The men and women deployed in this region are saying as much. I also said that, even though Ginette Petitpas Taylor considers it a war, the definition in the legislation may not be the same.
Bloc
Luc Desilets Bloc Rivière-des-Mille-Îles, QC
Do you have an issue with having a definition of the word “war” and having the impression that they were at war, but not being able to reflect this in our legislation?
Liberal
Ginette Petitpas Taylor Liberal Moncton—Riverview—Dieppe, NB
Again, I think that we must recognize that the legislative reviews carried out over the past few decades ultimately sought to meet the needs of the men and women who served in this war. I'm talking about Afghanistan and this mission, but I'm also thinking of other missions.
I want to make sure that the men and women veterans who suffered injuries and who have scars can access the services that they need when they need them. These services include compensation, rehabilitation, employment and other services.
We want to provide a range of services to help veterans overcome their challenges and move on to the next stage of their lives.
Bloc
Luc Desilets Bloc Rivière-des-Mille-Îles, QC
I understand that these Canadian military members were at war, but that Canada was not.
Is that right?
Bloc
Luc Desilets Bloc Rivière-des-Mille-Îles, QC
Is this logical and consistent?
Do you agree with this statement?
Liberal
Ginette Petitpas Taylor Liberal Moncton—Riverview—Dieppe, NB
The war wasn't happening here in Canada. However, we deployed the Canadian Forces to this region to take part in the fight.
Bloc
Luc Desilets Bloc Rivière-des-Mille-Îles, QC
Nevertheless, we took part in three other recognized wars and the war wasn't happening here either.
Liberal
Ginette Petitpas Taylor Liberal Moncton—Riverview—Dieppe, NB
Mr. Desilets, I look forward to receiving the committee's recommendations. As Minister of Veterans Affairs, my priority is to ensure that we meet the needs of the men and women who served in the Canadian Armed Forces and that we're there when they need us.