Veterans Affairs Committee on Nov. 21st, 2024

[Kathy Grant]

I want to clarify that they're using American images of Black soldiers in Canadian media and publications. It's not the Americans, but the Canadians getting the information incorrect. No matter how many times we say not to use this image and they say they will not use this image.... Sure enough, even on Remembrance Day, CBC had an image of those same three Black Americans and had them labelled as from the No. 2 Construction Battalion.

It needs to change. I think there needs to be a site that says to not use these images in order for it to be.... I know that in talking.... I'm really happy to meet them from Saskatchewan because the oldest Black World War II veteran was born in a place called Tisdale, Saskatchewan, and his name is Alvie Burden. I think he lives in Vernon, B.C., and he's going to be turning 103 years old in January. He got funding. I think some liquid was poured on him. I think they got like $20,000. It was kind of like a gas or whatever, so he was able to benefit from that.

[Fraser Tolmie, Conservative, Moose Jaw—Lake Centre—Lanigan, SK]

Thank you for your answer.

Here is my next question: Canadians are using American media—I mean, our own CBC. What does that say about us, our not using our own historical pictures and documents? Is that a form of neglect?

[Kathy Grant]

I would say that the documents are mislabelled.

[Fraser Tolmie, Conservative, Moose Jaw—Lake Centre—Lanigan, SK]

They're mislabelled. Okay.

[Kathy Grant]

Sometimes they may not get the memo that it has changed. I know—whether it's from Library and Archives Canada, the Canadian War Museum or whatever—they had mislabelled images from maybe eight or nine years ago, and they've removed them and have the correct labelling. However, some people still have the wrong information. I think it is just making sure that this gets communicated to educators, and that's what we're doing with schools. We're saying, “If you see this image, don't use it.”

[Fraser Tolmie, Conservative, Moose Jaw—Lake Centre—Lanigan, SK]

Okay.

One of the things you touched on.... You know, I've served in the military, but I also was an air cadet and I loved the cadet program. It was a fantastic program, and I have seen cadets of different cultures and different backgrounds, which means that it's a very open organization. It's also a recruitment tool. I'd be interested to hear what your thoughts are with this government now reducing the budget for cadet programs.

[Kathy Grant]

I can't comment on that. What I can comment on is a person by the name of Dr. Stephen Blizzard, who worked very closely with the cadets. I think that just working with the cadets and just having them share their stories.... I find they're very respectful, no matter what colour they are, and they're just open. There's an openness and a willingness.

Even on Remembrance Day, when we had Agatha Dyer, the Silver Cross mother, there was a cadet who came up to her and wanted to know more about the story. It's sharing the story. I think the cadets themselves, whether the money is reduced or not, have that drive so that it will continue.

[The Chair, Liberal, Emmanuel Dubourg]

Thank you very much.

I also would like to welcome one of our colleagues, Mr. Matthew Green, who is replacing Ms. Blaney.

The last four minutes go to Mr. Sean Casey.

Please, Mr. Casey, go ahead.

[Sean Casey, Liberal, Charlottetown, PE]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Welcome to our witnesses.

Thank you, Mr. Belanger, for your service.

I'd like to start with you, Mr. Belanger. I know that your organization recently had a commemoration for national Indigenous Veterans Day. Can you talk a bit about the ceremony and how your community marks that day?

[John Belanger]

What happens in our community during.... Are you talking about November 8?

[Sean Casey, Liberal, Charlottetown, PE]

Yes.

[John Belanger]

Schools in our community hold a veterans day gathering for all the students. We have two schools and they each hold one on that day. When you go there, all the young ones at the elementary school—starting from kindergarten and going up—know what Remembrance Day is. Also, you go to the high school, and of course, they're going to know what Remembrance Day is. It is a huge thing. Then, on the actual day of remembrance, on November 11, our community gets together. They do their march, prayers and everything at the cenotaph that's in the middle of our community.

[Sean Casey, Liberal, Charlottetown, PE]

I noted on your website that the ceremony is private for families and supporters. Is that, in fact, the case?

[John Belanger]

No.

[Sean Casey, Liberal, Charlottetown, PE]

Okay.

[John Belanger]

We will invite anyone who comes out. We encourage people to come out. I will tell you that, in our community of Île-à-la-Crosse, the surrounding communities come to it because of the lack of participation within their own communities. It makes us very happy to have them come to our community.

[Sean Casey, Liberal, Charlottetown, PE]

I'm looking at the Métis Nation-Saskatchewan, and what struck me was the reference to a private ceremony for Métis veterans and their families on Indigenous Veterans Day. What struck me was that the private ceremony was livestreamed.

[Mervin Bouvier]

I think what you're talking about is Batoche.

[Sean Casey, Liberal, Charlottetown, PE]

Right.

[Mervin Bouvier]

We had a ceremony there on November 8, and we had army veterans and RCMP from areas surrounding Duck Lake come together. It was an aboriginal ceremony to support us. That was Batoche, and it was to support the aboriginal, Métis and first nation veterans.

[Sean Casey, Liberal, Charlottetown, PE]

Thank you for that.

Ms. Grant, I was interested in your comments around Black veterans' interactions with Veterans Affairs Canada. The comment, if I heard it correctly, was that, in conversations that Black veterans have with other communities, it's apparent to them that they're treated differently.

First of all, have I fairly characterized what you said? I wonder if you can speak a bit more to that and what you would suggest to Veterans Affairs Canada to make it better.

[Kathy Grant]

There were a few Black veterans I spoke to.... I wouldn't say that it's across the board. I think that they were very pleased to be able to have their voices heard as a result of what Veterans Affairs Canada did to modify their taking of the information. They have explained that they find that it is easier.

Also, they said that, when they're speaking with someone who might be a member of the Black community as opposed to someone who was not, there's a better rapport because they better understand the community and they better understand the culture. That might be something to be promoted to make sure that, when they call in, there's someone who might be from their community who better understands. That might not just be for the Black community. The indigenous community might have a better rapport or better understanding of certain things or certain language. That's what I would recommend.

[Sean Casey, Liberal, Charlottetown, PE]

Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

[The Chair, Liberal, Emmanuel Dubourg]

Thank you so much, Mr. Casey.

[Matthew Green, NDP, Hamilton Centre, ON]

I have a point of order.