Veterans Affairs Committee on Dec. 2nd, 2024

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

Thank you.

Let me ask you about homeless veterans.

We're seeing more and more homeless veterans in this country. I've asked this question a number of times, and yet I never seem to really be able to get a full response: How many homeless veterans are there in this country?

When I talk to organizations across this country, whether it be veterans food banks or those who help homeless veterans across this country, for their own particular cities they're often able to give me an exact number of how many homeless veterans there are in their communities. For some reason, VAC can't seem to provide accurate numbers of homeless veterans across the country.

Have you done any work on this? Do you have a better sense of how many homeless veterans are out there? Can you tell us if the problem is growing or not?

[Mitch Freeman, Acting Assistant Deputy Minister, Strategic Policy, Planning and Performance Branch, Department of Veterans Affairs]

What I would say to the member is that the current count from a national point of view is 2,600 homeless veterans across the country. We work very closely with—

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

I'm sorry, but before you carry on, there's research out there that's been reported on. For example, a Maclean's magazine article reported a number that came from a study saying that there are probably well over 10,000 veterans. Why does that number differ so much from the number that you have? You seem to have a much lower number.

Are you underestimating the problem out there? Is VAC not doing its job to ensure that we're accurate there in not only finding these veterans but ensuring that they're receiving the services and support they need?

[Mitch Freeman]

I think this is part of the work under way with our colleagues at housing, infrastructure and communities around providing supports to and identifying the homeless veterans across the country—not just in one community, but across the country, coast to coast.

As you—

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

I'm sorry to interrupt, but there's only so much time. I'd like to ask specifically why the numbers are so different—

[The Chair, Liberal, Emmanuel Dubourg]

I'm sorry, Mr. Richards. Maybe you can come back to that. We're already at seven minutes.

I will go to Mr. Casey for six minutes, please.

[Sean Casey, Liberal, Charlottetown, PE]

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.

I want to direct my first question to Mr. Freeman.

Mr. Freeman, I understand that now you are the acting assistant deputy minister for the strategic policy, planning and performance branch. In taking on that role, did you continue on with some of the responsibilities you had before taking the acting assistant deputy minister role?

[Mitch Freeman]

Certainly I've appeared before the committee a number of times as the director general of policy. I'm now taking on additional responsibilities around acting assistant deputy minister that are inclusive of the policy, planning and performance roles, which would contain things like cabinet business unit and affairs intergovernmentally, or federal-provincial relationships.

[Sean Casey, Liberal, Charlottetown, PE]

Have you been questioned quite a bit about being a part-time assistant deputy minister?

[Voices]

Oh, oh!

[Mitch Freeman]

You would be the first one asking me that question.

[Sean Casey, Liberal, Charlottetown, PE]

Okay.

I think this is for the finance people on the call, but maybe you want it, Mr. Harris. It's a straightforward question that I know you all know the answer to. What is the total expenditure for Veterans Affairs Canada?

[Steven Harris]

Mr. Chair, we might ask Jonathan Adams to answer that question.

[The Chair, Liberal, Emmanuel Dubourg]

Mr. Adams, go ahead, please.

[Jonathan Adams, Director General, Finance, Department of Veterans Affairs]

As highlighted through the supplementary estimates (B), we are seeking to increase the departmental budget to $7.7 billion. Over 90% of that funding is directed to veterans' benefits and services. That's where all of the funding and the allocation of the spending go.

[Sean Casey, Liberal, Charlottetown, PE]

The total annual expenditure is $7.7 billion, and 90% is paid out to veterans. Is that it?

[Jonathan Adams]

That's correct.

[Sean Casey, Liberal, Charlottetown, PE]

Okay, thank you.

I don't know whether you've been following this, but right now there is a filibuster happening in the House of Commons that has the potential to result in no supplementary estimates being approved because they won't get to a vote.

If that happens—and it appears that it's entirely likely that it could happen, if that's the Conservatives' choice—

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

It's your choice.

[Sean Casey, Liberal, Charlottetown, PE]

—what will that mean to veterans?

[A voice]

[Inaudible—Editor]

[Steven Harris]

Again, I might ask—

[Sean Casey, Liberal, Charlottetown, PE]

I'm getting some heckling on the other side.

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

I'm not heckling—

[Sean Casey, Liberal, Charlottetown, PE]

You do not have the floor.

Before we get to this, in the House, just so that you know, we are engaging in a debate in which only the Conservatives are delivering speeches, because they don't want it to get to a vote. If it never gets to a vote, we have to continue talking about it. That has the potential of taking over the entire agenda so that we don't get to vote on the supplementary estimates.

What impact will that have on veterans?