Veterans Affairs Committee on Oct. 28th, 2024

[The Chair, Liberal, Emmanuel Dubourg]

I'm sorry, Mrs. Wagantall. The time has expired.

[Cathay Wagantall, Conservative, Yorkton—Melville, SK]

I would like an answer to that question.

[The Chair, Liberal, Emmanuel Dubourg]

It's up to the minister. She can send a response to the committee through the clerk.

[Cathay Wagantall, Conservative, Yorkton—Melville, SK]

That would be good.

[Ginette Petitpas Taylor, Liberal, Moncton—Riverview—Dieppe, NB]

I can send it.

[The Chair, Liberal, Emmanuel Dubourg]

We will distribute it to all members.

[Cathay Wagantall, Conservative, Yorkton—Melville, SK]

My question is, what was their designation when they went to war?

[The Chair, Liberal, Emmanuel Dubourg]

Mrs. Wagantall, thank you very much.

[Cathay Wagantall, Conservative, Yorkton—Melville, SK]

I'm just asking to clarify.

[The Chair, Liberal, Emmanuel Dubourg]

Thank you. Your time is up. As I said at the last meeting, bring your chronometer with you. Each member has questions, and we have to respect the time allowed.

Next, we have Mr. Sean Casey, for five minutes, please.

[Sean Casey, Liberal, Charlottetown, PE]

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.

Welcome, Madam Minister, Mr. Freeman and Mr. Ledwell.

Madam Minister, I'm quite impressed that you were able to get to the Kingston Legion. If you got in your car and went to Kingston, you'd find yourself about seven kilometres away from the Kingston Legion, which is actually located in the municipality of New Haven, so good on you.

Madam Minister, Mr. Richards asked you about prayer at the D-Day ceremonies, but he didn't ask you about flags. He asked some other witnesses about flags, so I'd like you to talk about flags.

By way of background, on October 7, a Veterans Affairs employee was here. Mr. Richards said, “We've seen a lack of Canadian flags in the colour party at official Canadian events for the 80th anniversary of D-Day.” Unfortunately, she was not afforded an opportunity to answer that question.

At the next meeting, a question was posed to some veterans who were here testifying on this particular study. Those veterans were asked:

How [would it] make you feel as a veteran who fought for this country, who was prepared to give your life for this country, to know that during the recent D-Day commemorations in France, there were no Canadian flags as part of the ceremony?

Minister, I understand you were there. Could you tell us whether there were any Canadian flags as part of the ceremony?

[Ginette Petitpas Taylor, Liberal, Moncton—Riverview—Dieppe, NB]

Absolutely there were Canadian flags at the ceremony, Mr. Casey. Mr. Richards, who was present with me, and also Ms. Blaney, who was present with me during the week-long events, saw many, many Canadian flags that were displayed.

I have to say that I find it quite disappointing, incredibly disappointing, that someone would lead this committee in error and also state that to veterans. That is just not okay. It's one thing—

[Blake Richards, Conservative, Banff—Airdrie, AB]

On a point of order, it was quite clear that the colour party at those ceremonies—

[Lisa Hepfner, Liberal, Hamilton Mountain, ON]

That's not a point of order. That's debate.

[A voice]

That is not a point of order. That is a point of interruption.

[The Chair, Liberal, Emmanuel Dubourg]

No. I am sorry, Mr. Richards. We will continue with the discussion. We have all of that.

Minister, I'm so sorry. The floor is yours.

[Ginette Petitpas Taylor, Liberal, Moncton—Riverview—Dieppe, NB]

Again, during the Canadian events we had that day at Juno Beach, the department and the Canadian Armed Forces ensured that there were 13 Canadian flags that were flying and went up the flagpole that day. Members of the Canadian Armed Forces actually took those flags and made sure they wrapped them appropriately. Members of Veterans Affairs Canada ensured that they were placed in beautiful shadow boxes, Mr. Casey, to be presented to each of our elderly veterans at our last ceremony that evening, at the last evening of our events.

I remember very clearly, actually, that Mr. Richards came up to me and said, “What a beautiful touch that was,” that we were able to present each and every veteran with a flag that flew on Juno Beach the day of the Canadian service.

I can tell you, with regard to every event we attended, that if the committee allows me, I'd be more than happy to table many pictures of the events that occurred that week, to ensure that people can see that we were quite proud in ensuring that our Canadian flag was present. I'm sure that many members of the committee who were there would be able to testify to that as well.

[Blake Richards, Conservative, Banff—Airdrie, AB]

On a point of order, again, I would be happy to table the pictures that show there were no flags at the colour party that were Canadian flags.

[The Chair, Liberal, Emmanuel Dubourg]

That's discussion, Mr. Richards. Thank you very much. You will have your turn to speak. It is not your turn now.

Go ahead, Mr. Casey.

[Sean Casey, Liberal, Charlottetown, PE]

Mr. Chair, will the time from Mr. Richards' non-points of order be added back to my time, or does he get them?

[The Chair, Liberal, Emmanuel Dubourg]

No, no, he doesn't have them. There's no problem at all.

[Sean Casey, Liberal, Charlottetown, PE]

Thank you, Chair.

[The Chair, Liberal, Emmanuel Dubourg]

You're welcome.

[Sean Casey, Liberal, Charlottetown, PE]

There was some other testimony from the last meeting on this study that I want to draw to your attention to. It came from a couple of veterans who appeared before the committee and indicated that Charlottetown was far away from vets and politics and “the wrong place to be”. It was “hidden...away on a little island so conveniently far away that it's too far for a veteran to know they're being served properly.”

It doesn't matter to me whether it's you, Madam Minister, or your deputy, but I would ask you to respond to those comments as to whether it is a disservice to veterans to have the national headquarters of the Department of Veterans Affairs located outside the national capital region. Thank you.

[Ginette Petitpas Taylor, Liberal, Moncton—Riverview—Dieppe, NB]

Thank you, Mr. Casey.

I'll be very frank: I am very proud knowing that our Veterans Affairs headquarters is in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island. On our watch, the offices certainly will not be moved out of Prince Edward Island. I want to thank all the Veterans Affairs staff who do incredible work day in and day out, on the island but also across the country. We have 69 Veterans Affairs offices across the country, from coast to coast to coast, that offer quality services to all veterans.

I truly do not feel that all national offices have to be centralized in Ottawa. I think it's very healthy to ensure that we're close to the people. Being in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, has worked very well for the department. Again, on this watch, the office certainly will not be taken out of Prince Edward Island.