Veterans Affairs Committee on May 13th, 2022

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

I think my—

[The Chair, Liberal, Emmanuel Dubourg]

Mr. Tolmie, please answer in 30 seconds, my friend.

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

At least you gave me a warning.

[The Chair, Liberal, Emmanuel Dubourg]

I'm generous. I said 30 seconds.

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

Well, it is a Friday afternoon.

I'll just end by saying this: My suspicions are that there's a similar trend. I would love to see what the difference is between a retired Canadian vet and other seniors, but that's for another time.

Thank you very much for your time.

Thank you for allowing me extra questions.

[The Chair, Liberal, Emmanuel Dubourg]

Thank you so much, Mr. Tolmie.

Now let's go to Mr. Churence Rogers for five minutes.

Mr. Rogers, go ahead, please.

[Churence Rogers, Liberal, Bonavista—Burin—Trinity, NL]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you to our witnesses today.

It's good to hear the information you're providing to us. I have more questions than we have time for. In the meantime, I would like to comment on the mandate and scope of your study, and what that means, of course, for what we're trying to accomplish here and the decisions we're trying to make.

How do you see the tables you've put together being useful to this committee in assisting in the appropriateness of maintaining or abolishing the “marriage after 60” clause?

An answer from either of you would be appreciated.

[Josée Bégin]

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I can answer the question.

As I explained earlier, when we first received the request to appear before the committee, my colleague Andrew and I looked at the request and felt we did not have specific information. In spite of all the data we have at Statistics Canada, we felt we didn't have the information you were looking for. The tables we provided to the committee only explain the population that could be eligible. We know the data does not provide you with the picture or with what you're looking for, specifically, but only the universe or base to understand the socio-economic profile of the spouses of veterans, whether they are still alive or deceased.

[Churence Rogers, Liberal, Bonavista—Burin—Trinity, NL]

I understand fully.

At least we're contemplating the purpose of that research in the first place—it was so narrow in its mandate—and how it might inform the committee, so we can make a good decision and a solid recommendation on this particular issue to Veterans Affairs or government, and on whether we need to gather more information from a more comprehensive study. I'm assuming that's where you'd want to go.

[Josée Bégin]

Regarding where Statistics Canada would want to go, I'd like to reframe that in terms of what we can do to support. The role of the statistical agency is to provide information to policy-makers and Canadians on a wide variety of topics that impact Canadian society and businesses in Canada. In this particular case, for us to provide you with the information, the piece of the puzzle that's missing—if I could say that—we would need to have more information about the spouses who would have applied for the specific benefit you're studying at this moment.

[Churence Rogers, Liberal, Bonavista—Burin—Trinity, NL]

Thank you.

A previous witness said the U.S. cancelled what they called the gold digger clause 10 years ago. I'm just curious as to what kind of information they gathered to make that decision. We're requesting that, if we can: access to that particular information.

Are you aware of any information they have in the U.S. that may have informed their decision?

[Josée Bégin]

Mr. Chair, I'd like to answer the question.

No, unfortunately, Statistics Canada does not have any information that would describe the data that was used in the U.S. to make that decision.

[Churence Rogers, Liberal, Bonavista—Burin—Trinity, NL]

Okay. Thank you very much.

Mr. Chair, that is the extent of my questions today. Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Emmanuel Dubourg]

Thank you so much, Mr. Rogers.

Now let's go to Monsieur Desilets.

Mr. Desilets, you have the floor for two and a half minutes.

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

The addition of the minutes that Mr. Caputo gave me to my two and a half minutes makes it four minutes.

Mr. Heisz and Ms. Bégin, according to your study, the median income of a spouse who established a relationship with a veteran aged 60 years or over is between $26,000 and $35,000, I believe. You were saying that the percentage of low -income spouses ranged from 19% to 23%—I think that's right—for spouses of deceased veterans.

Could you provide more information about this low-income level? What, according to, you is the amount that defines low income?

[Josée Bégin]

Mr. Chair, I will turn to my colleague Mr. Heisz for this one.

[Andrew Heisz]

Thank you for your question.

In this instance, the guideline for low income is set at 50% of the median income for Canadian families. An adjustment is made on the basis of the size of the family using a specific matrix that varies for each family size. Then we look at current income and compare it to the threshold definition to see if the families…

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

Can you tell me what the approximate amount is for this average income?

[Andrew Heisz]

Could you repeat the question?

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

I understand the calculation that you're doing. What amount do you use for average income?

[Andrew Heisz]

I think I understand your question. We can provide the income thresholds used in the study. This information is available at our website, but we can send the tables to the committee.

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

If you could get them to us, we'd be grateful

Is the Guaranteed Income Supplement, the GIS, included in this income calculation?

[The Chair, Liberal, Emmanuel Dubourg]

I'd ask you to please be brief.

[Andrew Heisz]

I don't understand the question. I'm sorry.

Ms. Bégin, could you answer that one?

[Josée Bégin]

Do you want to know whether the Guaranteed Income Supplement is included in the total income calculation?