Veterans Affairs Committee on Dec. 2nd, 2024

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

I think it would be good to find out why, because that's a significant percentage.

On the appropriation of $2 million for the veteran and family well-being fund, with a focus on equity-deserving groups, give me just a very brief description of what that means—for what purpose with equity-deserving groups?

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

With respect to under-represented groups that we've seen, oftentimes they perhaps haven't had access to the services that they needed. Again, monies were put aside to ensure that community groups could apply for funding in order to ensure that the needs of those veterans were met.

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

Thank you.

Regarding the $2.75 million for government advertising programs, obviously, if you have the money, you know what you're going to be advertising. How are you targeting women veterans and those transitioning to civilian life? What are the actual advertising programs that are going to take place?

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

That's a very good question, Ms. Wagantall.

Most of those programs are during veterans month. They're to make sure that we promote veterans month and also promote veterans, but it's also to ensure that veterans are aware of the services and supports that are available to them.

The ad campaigns that we have certainly will depict what a veteran looks like. It can be a male or a female. We really want to make sure that it's very reflective.

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

Do you have them laid out already so as to come to the number of $2.75 million?

[The Chair, Liberal, Emmanuel Dubourg]

That's the last question.

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

I didn't hear your question.

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

To come up with an amount, you have to decide what it is you're going to spend it on in advance. What that money will go towards has been laid out. It's more funding, so—

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

One priority that I've heard from veterans time and time again, and from members of the committee, is that they want to ensure that veterans are aware that they are entitled to services and benefits. A big part of the ad campaign that we're doing is really encouraging them if they are a veteran, and making sure that they self-identify as a veteran—

[The Chair, Liberal, Emmanuel Dubourg]

I'm so sorry. Thank you very much.

Now let's go to Ms. Lisa Hepfner for five minutes, please.

Go ahead, Ms. Hepfner.

[Lisa Hepfner, Liberal, Hamilton Mountain, ON]

Thank you, Chair, and thank you, Minister and team, for being here with us today.

I know that my colleague Rachel Blaney has already brought up the Women Veterans Council, whose members we just learned about today, and I want to go back there as well.

I'm not sure whether there's anything that you didn't have a chance to mention about the selection of the candidates today, but perhaps you can go back and fill in any blanks that you may have left.

Also, tell us more about the significance of this council. What do you hope comes out of this whole exercise?

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

Thank you so much, Ms. Hepfner, for that question.

In the report you did in the women's study that you did, one of the recommendations was to form a women's advisory council. I have to say that it was well on its way to being created, but I was very pleased to see it as one of the recommendations in the report. It's truly important, because women have indicated to us that they feel invisible. We don't want them to feel invisible anymore.

I think it's really important to ensure that we have an advisory council that will provide me with advice with respect to the barriers, the obstacles, the discrimination and the needs of women veterans. Moving forward, I'm looking forward to receiving advice and recommendations from these women.

As I've indicated to Ms. Blaney, hundreds of people applied to be members of the council. I was really quite pleased to see the level of interest that we had from folks from coast to coast to coast. The selection committee took their time and interviewed the candidates, and today, as indicated, we were able to announce the 12 members of the council.

For those individuals who are watching or listening to us, if you don't mind, I would like to share with the committee who these folks are, because I know that many of them have already appeared before the committee here in different ways.

We have Constable (retired) Jennifer Chorney, from the RCMP; Warrant Officer (retired) Celine Filion, from the CAF; Major Dawn LeBlanc, from the CAF; Corporal (retired) Sarah Lefurgey, from the RCMP; Captain (retired) Hélène Le Scelleur, from the CAF; Sergeant (retired) Jessica Miller, from the CAF;

Colonel (retired) Telah Morrison, from the CAF; Dr. Wenshuang Nie, from the CAF; Corporal Ellen Peters, from the RCMP; Captain (retired) Lindsay Shields, from the CAF; Constable (retired) Vivienne Stewart, from the RCMP; and Lieutenant-Colonel (retired) Eleanor Taylor, from the CAF.

As we can see, the RCMP and the Canadian Armed Forces are well represented.

We also see here that there are individuals from all parts of the country, not just here in Ottawa. It's really from coast to coast. We have francophones and anglophones. We really wanted to make sure that we had a good representation.

Again, as I've indicated, I spoke to every one of them that I was able to reach last week to congratulate them. We'll be having our first meeting in January.

[Lisa Hepfner, Liberal, Hamilton Mountain, ON]

You said they were excited about this opportunity. Can you tell us more about what they really want to do with it and what they've told you?

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

I think they see this as an opportunity to share some advice to the minister and also to the department. They certainly have a lot of lived experience, and that's why they were chosen to be on this council as well.

Yes, their professional experience is stellar, but also, we really want to hear about their lived experience within the forces, the RCMP or as a CAF member. We're looking forward to hearing their advice and being able to work with them.

[Lisa Hepfner, Liberal, Hamilton Mountain, ON]

What sort of influence will their discussions have on the greater VAC?

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

Well, I'm asking them to take on some serious work. As you know, we are talking about women in the forces—women in the Canadian Armed Forces and women veterans—and we certainly want to make sure that we improve the lives of those who serve our country. I'm looking forward to receiving their advice, and I'm going to be taking their advice very seriously as we move forward with our policies and decisions.

Just as in the women's report, the ACVA report with the 42 recommendations that you guys have brought forward, there's a lot of work that needs to be done here, and I'm ready to roll up my sleeves—I already have—and really want to hit the ground running in making sure that we're able to do as much as we can in order to better the lives of our women veterans.

[Lisa Hepfner, Liberal, Hamilton Mountain, ON]

I have full confidence in you in all of that. Thank you for your work, Minister.

Also, last week we had visits from some members of Parliament from Ukraine. I know that they visited us at the status of women committee. We talked about things like gender-based violence. They also visited with members of this committee.

Would you tell us what sort of advice Veterans Affairs Canada can give to Ukraine? Is there anything we can do to help them?

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

I was really pleased to hear that the delegation met with folks here in Ottawa. Last year I met with First Lady Madam Zelenska and a group of her delegates from Ukraine as well. They came here.

The First Lady's priority is really the mental health of veterans when they return home. She wants to ensure that those services are put in place. They're starting from scratch. Mental health services are not something that they talk about openly in Ukraine, as we do here in Canada. They want to look at best practices and how they can put in place the services that veterans need. Last year, when we met with them, we signed a letter of understanding indicating that we would share as much information as we can with them, any practices and any research we have. We are willing and able and we want to take part in that sharing of information.

Just two weeks ago, there was another delegation here. I believe that many members from the committee perhaps met with them as well, again, in wanting to share that information.

Inside of Veterans Affairs Canada as well, we've set up and organized an internal committee to make sure that sharing that information is easier. We want to work collaboratively with the Ukrainian government and with the embassy here in Ottawa to do all we can to provide them with the assistance they need.

[The Chair, Liberal, Emmanuel Dubourg]

Thank you very much.

I will now give Mr. Desilets the floor for two and a half minutes.

[Luc Desilets, Bloc, Rivière-des-Mille-Îles, QC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Mr. Harris, how do you interpret the rise in the number of applications for disability benefits? It is actually quite enormous, when there are not very many missions abroad at the moment. We have to go back practically to the Afghanistan mission.

[Steven Harris]

We talked before about things we are doing to publicize these benefits and the services offered to veterans. I think that encourages people to submit requests for services.

We know that health is complicated, whether it be mental health or physical health. Obviously, people in the Canadian Armed Forces are placed in very dangerous situations. That puts enormous pressure on them, both mental and physical, and there will inevitably be injuries.

So even though there are no wars or other things of that kind, they are serving all over Canada in other fields, where they may also be injured.

[Luc Desilets, Bloc, Rivière-des-Mille-Îles, QC]

Listening to Ms. Blaney's question just now, I was surprised to learn there was a new form to fill out. Has any thought been given to making efforts to reduce the bureaucracy? There are more and more employees, it keeps on growing and the bureaucracy keeps on getting more complex. Obviously, it is increasingly difficult for our veterans who come home in bad shape from some missions.

Would it be possible to set up a pilot project in which case management officers could refer individuals to appropriate resources when they are just flatly not able to fill out their paperwork?

[Steven Harris]

We continually review the forms and applications that veterans have to fill out, to make sure they are able to do it. In some cases, we can get assistance not just from legion branches, but also from medical and mental health experts, to help people fill out the forms.

The process to which Ms. Blaney referred has not yet been initiated. We are currently making sure that people can easily access benefits. Things should not be more complicated. People a veteran knows, such as their family doctor or someone in their community, would be asked to determine whether they need something, instead of that being done by a bureaucrat in an office somewhere.

[Luc Desilets, Bloc, Rivière-des-Mille-Îles, QC]

What you are telling me is fine, in theory. Veterans can be referred to legion branches, but we all know that legion branches are not in the best position to help them. A lot of branches are struggling to survive.

Veterans can be referred to community organizations, but does the Department of Veterans Affairs not also have responsibility for helping veterans who are having problems respond to requests?

[Steven Harris]

Yes. In fact, we are currently setting up a network of people, including mental health specialists, who will not only be able to help veterans fill out the forms, but also be able to help them in their healing.