Veterans Affairs Committee on Feb. 1st, 2022

[Lawrence MacAulay, Liberal, Cardigan, PE]

Mr. Chair, could I just say that if I can and need to be there, I too will be, Rachel. I think you know that.

[The Chair, Liberal, Emmanuel Dubourg]

Thank you so much.

The next round will be five minutes.

We have Mrs. Anna Roberts for five minutes, please.

Open your mike and go ahead.

[Anna Roberts, Conservative, King—Vaughan, ON]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

My question for the minister is this: What resources does this government provide to assist veterans and their families in their transition to civilian life? Why are they not connected with Veterans Affairs immediately after leaving the service?

[Lawrence MacAulay, Liberal, Cardigan, PE]

Thank you very much.

I appreciate your question, and it's a very important question. I can assure you that on military bases across the country, there are Veterans Affairs staff dealing with people.

What we are trying to do is make sure that people.... I believe that when they enter the Canadian Armed Forces, they should be told that there's a day coming when they will leave the Canadian Armed Forces and to be ready for that. I think it would help an awful lot in terms of the difficulties we have in some areas with homelessness and other difficulties...with jobs.

In fact, settling in to a regular lifestyle and not being in the Canadian Armed Forces, as you are fully aware.... We both know that if you're in the Canadian Armed Forces, you have a doctor, for example, and when you come out, you likely do not have a doctor. In this country, sometimes it's very difficult. But that's only one of the things. They need to find a job. That's why there are so many things. We have these job fairs.

I think, first of all, your question is so important. Canadian Armed Forces personnel need to know that, number one, some day they will be leaving and they will become veterans and to make sure they make use of, let's say, the education fund—

[Anna Roberts, Conservative, King—Vaughan, ON]

Respectfully, I don't have a lot of time. I have a couple of questions that I want to get in and that leads me to my next question.

Health care services provided by each province vary. A standard national program would ensure that our veterans received the assistance they require, such as access to mental health programs regardless of which province they choose to live in. How will this government ensure a streamlined transition?

My research has led me to believe, from speaking to veterans like Mr. Paul Breeze and Tom Hobbs, who has addressed this committee on numerous occasions leading back to 2008, that the services provided are not sufficient to support our veterans.

How can we as a nation ask our veterans to go to war, yet when they leave the service, we expect the provinces to take care of them, when we know that each province, and especially...? My research has led me to believe that one of the worst provinces.... I'm embarrassed to say that, because I'm from Ontario. It is lagging behind all services for the vets. Could you help me understand that?

[Lawrence MacAulay, Liberal, Cardigan, PE]

Again, that's an important question, and of course, you're fully aware that health care is under the provinces.

We want to make sure that when Canadian Armed Forces members leave the armed forces and become civilian citizens, they are aware of every asset they have there.

For example, in Veterans Affairs Canada, we just announced $140 million in mental health benefits in order to make sure that we're able to help people with PTSD and many other things. This money is available when you apply to Veterans Affairs Canada as of April 1. We expect it will be approved and in play on April 1. If you have any of these problems, you qualify for benefits, even if your application has not been reviewed, in order to make sure that you're able to have the mental health support you need.

That's one thing the Government of Canada is doing, and I think it's a very important move in the mental health area to help our veterans.

[Anna Roberts, Conservative, King—Vaughan, ON]

That takes me to my next question. I'm glad you brought that up.

Research has shown that service dogs are essential to mental health and the well-being of our veterans and their families. Does this government recognize the value that service dogs provide to our veterans? When will this government implement a standard national program that will allow our veterans access to service dogs?

There is a reason for why that touches me very dearly. I spoke to a police officer who was a veteran, and he had to fight to get his service dog, so that he could go to work. He is now limited to desk service due to his injuries from the war, but it took him years and years for a law to be implemented, because every province has different laws.

Do you agree that if we have asked our service members to go to war for us, give us our rights and freedom, that this government owes them a program no matter where they decide to live, whether it's in Newfoundland or out in Victoria? Should we not as Canadians be responsible for them?

[The Chair, Liberal, Emmanuel Dubourg]

Minister, a quick answer please because the time is almost up.

[Lawrence MacAulay, Liberal, Cardigan, PE]

Of course, we have an interest in service dogs, the health of veterans, and the mental health situations. In 2019, for example, we funded Wounded Warriors Canada, a program to expand the PTSD and service dog programs. We have a number of pilot projects in order to make sure how this will work.

[The Chair, Liberal, Emmanuel Dubourg]

Thank you so much, Minister, and Mrs. Roberts.

I'm going to pass the floor to Mr. Churence Rogers, for five minutes.

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

Thank you, Mr. Chair. It's good to see you, Minister.

I'm new to the veterans affairs committee, and I'm really pleased to have been appointed to this great committee to work on behalf of the veterans who served our country, and to represent some of the veterans who live in my riding of Bonavista—Burin—Trinity.

Minister, in last year's budget we invested an additional $15 million in a veteran and family well-being fund. This is a crucial program that our government introduced in 2018 to help fund grassroots veterans organizations across Canada. We recently made some announcements on funding with this money from the last budget.

Could you tell us about some of these organizations that are getting help through this latest round of funding, and what work they're doing with or in support of veterans across the country?

[Lawrence MacAulay, Liberal, Cardigan, PE]

Thank you very much, Churence. It's good to see you too.

I would have to say the veteran and family well-being fund is something that I'm very proud of. It's a great program. It's something our government introduced, and it's having an impact on the lives of veterans and their families. It's helping a lot of great organizations that wish to help veterans.

I'm certainly very pleased, Churence, that we were able to put an additional $15 million into this program in last year's budget, and the rollout has been well accepted in many organizations. We know some veterans feel more comfortable when they can turn to their peers in grassroots organizations. That's why it's so important that we work with these organizations and they do great work.

Just as an example, Helmets to Hardhats will receive $700,000 to assist women and LGBTQ2 veterans in skilled trade careers. That, as you know, Churence, can tie into our education program that has been put in place. There's $80,000 a year just to upgrade your education so you are more valuable to industry.

Ottawa Innercity Ministries will receive $175,000 to address the rise in social isolation. With all the difficulties, Churence, that people have gone through during this pandemic, that gives this inner-city ministry a chance to work very hard with that.

Homes for Heroes Foundation in Calgary will receive $250,000 to support the Calgary veterans village. I was at that village, and it was so wonderful for people who had just left the armed services and were having some difficulty. For example, one family was just coming out of the tiny homes and they were going to move into their own home. He had a full-time job; she had a job, and they're right back into society. That's what we want to be able to do. It's valuable to the veteran and it's valuable for our economy.

We have many others like VETS Canada, Wounded Warriors, Veterans Transition Network, Sunnybrook—which you have heard of, and it's a great place—and many more.

There are so many great things that this program has done to give veterans a chance to really become what they want to be in civilian life. It's valuable for both sides.

Thank you for the question. I appreciate it.

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

Thank you for that. I appreciate your passion and your compassion for our veterans and the way you've delved into this portfolio and worked so hard to make life a lot better for the veterans we represent.

Mr. Chair, I know time is short so I'll just finish at this point. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Minister.

[The Chair, Liberal, Emmanuel Dubourg]

Okay. There's no intervention by the minister, so we can go on.

[Lawrence MacAulay, Liberal, Cardigan, PE]

I would just like to add something on the importance of that program. I think it's not the largest amount of money in the program, but the family and veterans program has done so much to give the veterans.... They feel so good about themselves. All you have to do is see that in reality to realize what this has done for veterans.

As I said to Churence, it's valuable for the veterans and it's valuable for our economy.

[The Chair, Liberal, Emmanuel Dubourg]

Thank you very much, Mr. Minister.

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

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

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Mr. Minister, in your final sentence you said that veterans seem to be feeling good out there. I find that a little hard to believe.

I'm going to ask you some questions and I would ask that you respond quickly.

You have invested $40 million in mental health. Will that money go to the provinces with no conditions? Yes or no?

Please refrain from taking two minutes to answer my question, Mr. Minister.

[Lawrence MacAulay, Liberal, Cardigan, PE]

Thank you very much, Luc.

What I've indicated quite clearly now, Luc, is the fact that we are committed to making sure that in the mental health area, we.... There's $140 million there. If you apply to Veterans Affairs Canada and you have PTSD or many other mental health or addiction problems, you can start receiving benefits immediately. Now, it takes a while, as we know, for the applications to be processed, but in the mental health area, they do not have to wait.

Thank you.

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

Thank you. It's worth following. What you said is very interesting. I will surely keep an eye on this, because I'm concerned about it. I've worked as a school principal, but I also have a master's degree in psychoeducation. So I'm very concerned about mental health and suicide. Thank you, Mr. Minister.

I'm going to ask you a question again, because you didn't really answer it.

Will the funding go to the provinces with or without conditions?

[Lawrence MacAulay, Liberal, Cardigan, PE]

Thank you very much.

What we do is give it directly to the veterans. When you apply to Veterans Affairs Canada—let's say if you have an addiction or PTSD—immediately you start receiving it. You don't have to get the receipt and hold it.

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

I understand. The federal government will take care of it through the Veterans Affairs Department. I have no problem with that.

Earlier, one of my colleagues pointed out something that I find very significant, the relationship between Veterans Affairs and National Defence. We will surely have the opportunity to discuss it at another time.

I receive calls regularly about medical files not being forwarded, transfers, people waiting when they need to see a doctor, and so on.

We'll get the chance to talk about it again, but I would like—

[The Chair, Liberal, Emmanuel Dubourg]

Your time is up, Mr. Desilets.

Mr. Minister, you can take five seconds to respond.

A really quick one.

[Lawrence MacAulay, Liberal, Cardigan, PE]

Over the years, the files have been a problem. I think it's under much better control today, but it is a problem. Even the veterans themselves, sometimes if they get hurt a bit, won't report that. It's costs down the line.

[The Chair, Liberal, Emmanuel Dubourg]

Thank you, Mr. Minister.

I would like to welcome Ms. Ashton, who is replacing Ms. Blaney at committee.

Welcome, Ms. Ashton. You have the floor for two and a half minutes.

[Niki Ashton, NDP, Churchill—Keewatinook Aski, MB]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Every year we take a day to remember our veterans—Remembrance Day. We might remember them on the anniversary of a conflict or a battle, but we don't do enough to recognize our veterans' sacrifices.

After what we saw this weekend with the disturbing and deeply disrespectful actions at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and at the National War Memorial, it is appropriate that today we talk about how we can recognize the valour and sacrifice of our veterans now.

Other countries have recognized this and have reviewed the citations given to veterans who ought to be appropriately recognized for their valour, but here in Canada we have not done that appropriately. As a result, Canada has not awarded a single Victoria Cross since it took it over in 1993, and in fact, no Canadian has been awarded a VC since 1945. This must change.

There is an unprecedented grassroots movement bringing together the veteran community, including well-respected organizations such as the Royal Canadian Legion, members of the military community, municipalities and grassroots Canadians. Together they are calling for Private Jess Larochelle's citation to be reviewed and to award him the Victoria Cross that he deserves.

In September 2021 you, Mr. Minister, indicated that you recognize Jess Larochelle's sacrifice and support initiatives from the military community “to make sure that every veteran receives the service and remuneration they deserve.”

With that, will you bring forward to your government colleagues and the Minister of Defence the message of tens of thousands of Canadians, and what I would hope would be the unanimous support of this committee, to recognize the valour of Jess Larochelle by awarding him the Victoria Cross, and in doing so recognizing the valour and sacrifice of our veterans and those who have served our country throughout our history?