Veterans Affairs Committee on Dec. 2nd, 2024

[Steven Harris, Senior Assistant Deputy Minister, Service Delivery Branch, Department of Veterans Affairs]

This project was funded in part by a Veterans Affairs Canada program. We have received several complaints about it, as you have also noted, Mr. Desilets. We are working with the organizers responsible for the monument to find out more about what they are going to do to fix the problems there.

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

Have the plaques been removed?

[Steven Harris]

I don't know what the final decision is on this subject, but we can certainly follow up with committee members.

I know that this is what has been requested, or that this was what was expected at the very least.

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

What do you mean when you say this was what was expected?

[Steven Harris]

I mean that people expected that the plaques would be removed.

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

Right.

Obviously, the veterans in question are frustrated. They learned that people were going to be bowing to them before the monuments, when they are alive and well. This is a major mistake, in my opinion. Obviously, there are calls for an apology to be made to these people. Ms. Le Scelleur has never received a telephone call from anyone. She learned through a friend that her name was on a monument erected in memory of people who had died.

I reiterate: there are 12 people in this situation, including Gen. Dallaire.

Ms. Le Scelleur would like to get an apology, as would the other people in the same situation. She is even going so far as to ask that the monument be removed. Her profile appears on the sculpture, but there is no reason for it to be there, in my opinion.

So I would like you to follow up with us about this.

I would also like to get some details about the decision-making process. Veterans Affairs Canada nevertheless paid out $3 million on this project. How did the list of names happen to get approved?

If you could send that information to the committee, we would be very grateful.

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

Mr. Desilets, I give you my word that we will follow up on this.

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

I don't doubt you, Minister. As well, I forgot to congratulate you on your appointment.

Now, Ms. Petitpas Taylor, earlier, you mentioned the fact that your department had injected $4 million into commemoration activities. I understand that this is new money. Is that correct?

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

It is money that we invested in commemoration activities this summer on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of D‑Day. Part of that money was also used for the delegation that travelled to Cyprus.

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

Do you mean there will be another D‑Day commemoration activity?

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

No. It is the money that was spent for the events held in June of this year.

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

So the money has already been spent.

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

That's correct.

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

I understand. So it is not new money.

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

No.

In fact, it is new money that was used to fund the activities in June 2024 that we participated in, and to fund the mission of the delegation that arrived in Cyprus a few weeks ago.

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

Perfect.

You mentioned a $2 million investment in the Veteran and Family Well-being Fund. Is that new money?

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

It is an increase in the budget envelope we already had. Community groups can apply for funds in order to offer various programs for veterans and their families across Canada. That money is in addition to the funds that already existed.

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

That is excellent news. Thank you.

Can you say, generally speaking, what concrete measures will be taken to respond to urgent requests from veterans? Maybe there is already a response.

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

I don't understand your question, Mr. Desilets. I'm sorry.

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

A lot of money is being injected inside the department. Are there funds provided to respond to requests of an urgent nature?

I am thinking of the veteran our committee was to hear last week, although I don't want to go back over what happened, today.

Is there money provided under one rubric or another to respond to urgent requests made by veterans?

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

Absolutely. Our government has created an emergency fund precisely to respond to urgent requests for which we do not have a specific envelope.

Veterans may apply for funds in order to meet various needs. For example, these funds can be used to pay for medical services, a month's rent, or a hydro bill. They can be used for any emergency that arises. A person can apply to the Department of Veterans Affairs, the request will be assessed, and the person can receive funds.

I also have to say that there are a number of legion branches or community groups that work with veterans. Often, they will contact us directly to make sure we are able to send them money.

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

Thank you, Minister.

[The Chair, Liberal, Emmanuel Dubourg]

Thank you, Mr. Desilets.

Now let's turn to Ms. Rachel Blaney for six minutes, please.

Ms. Blaney, go ahead.

[Rachel Blaney, NDP, North Island—Powell River, BC]

Thank you, Chair.

I thank the minister and her team for being here with us today.

Our office has been a bit inundated, Minister, in the last week or so, with a new VAC policy on VIP benefits for veterans with mental health conditions. What we've heard from multiple veterans is that they are now being required to have paperwork—a questionnaire, actually—filled out every year to prove that they still need the VIP benefits. They were quite shocked to receive this. Many veterans are calling, and their understanding is that this policy does not apply to veterans with physical injuries or conditions.

I have two questions around this.

One, I know that the department has had a very clear commitment to conducting a gender-based analysis of every policy. I'm concerned that it wasn't done on this one because, of course, this will disproportionately impact women veterans who have MST claims.

The other thing I am concerned about is why an extra step of red tape is being added to this benefit that previously didn't require this paperwork.

I want to add that I've also talked to a lot of medical professionals who are resisting filling out paperwork. They are reimbursed for filling out the paperwork for VAC, but often they have to wait very long to get the reimbursement. They are now telling veterans that they won't do it.

When I put all of those things together, I'm really concerned about what that's going to mean for vulnerable people with mental health issues who will now have to prove every year that they still have that mental health issue. It also goes back to what I've been talking about around trauma-informed care. To me, this is another example of a complete lack of trauma-informed care.

I'm wondering if you could help me understand what's happening.

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

Thank you, Ms. Blaney, for bringing this matter up. Again, I'll certainly be following up with the department.

I can tell you that when it comes to accessing services, especially for individuals who are living with mental health conditions, we certainly don't want to add another layer of complexity to that. We want to make sure they have access to the services that they deserve and need.

With respect to the other part of your question, about ensuring that our staff have trauma-informed training, again, with the priorities that have been laid out in the 42 recommendations that this committee brought forward in the women's report, that is top of mind for me and a priority for the department.

With respect to the change, however, I'm going to have to ask one of my officials. I really would like to hear a bit more about that, but I certainly will follow up on the matter.