Veterans Affairs Committee on Oct. 20th, 2022

[Michael Cooper, Conservative, St. Albert—Edmonton, AB]

There are no further files that are being reviewed or that have yet to be reviewed. Is that correct?

[Paul Ledwell]

We are reviewing files right across the department for any references that may have been raised.

[Michael Cooper, Conservative, St. Albert—Edmonton, AB]

Okay. Again, that's ongoing, so how can you assert that this was an isolated incident?

[Paul Ledwell]

We have undertaken that review and have been able to determine that there was a single incident—

[Michael Cooper, Conservative, St. Albert—Edmonton, AB]

—so far.

[Paul Ledwell]

We've undertaken the review of all the files.

[Michael Cooper, Conservative, St. Albert—Edmonton, AB]

You've undertaken a review of all the files, but you said that it is ongoing—or is it not ongoing?

[Paul Ledwell]

The file review has been completed.

[Michael Cooper, Conservative, St. Albert—Edmonton, AB]

It's been completed? Okay.

Involving this particular employee, we know of the one incident involving the veteran that was unprompted. That's established. In the case of the second incident, which occurred earlier, do you have any details about what the nature of those conversations was?

[Paul Ledwell]

We have established that this was raised by the veteran.

[Michael Cooper, Conservative, St. Albert—Edmonton, AB]

It was raised by the veteran, but you said that the policy—and correct me if I'm misunderstanding anything—is that if it's raised by a veteran, then that Veterans Affairs employee can talk about benefits issues. Can they have further discussions pursuant to policy? They cannot.

[Paul Ledwell]

No, they cannot.

[Michael Cooper, Conservative, St. Albert—Edmonton, AB]

Was that conversation strictly confined to the issue of benefits?

[Paul Ledwell]

It was strictly confined to that issue—

[Michael Cooper, Conservative, St. Albert—Edmonton, AB]

How do you know that?

[Paul Ledwell]

It's based on the file note.

[Steven Harris]

Deputy, perhaps I could add here that as part of the review of those files, we've actually spoken to that veteran subsequent to the review. We've spoken to that veteran. That's to—

[Michael Cooper, Conservative, St. Albert—Edmonton, AB]

Sorry; you spoke to that veteran?

[Steven Harris]

—confirm details of that conversation—

[Michael Cooper, Conservative, St. Albert—Edmonton, AB]

I'm sorry. You spoke to that veteran? I'm just a little confused, because it was reported that that veteran had accessed MAID, and then you said, Mr. Ledwell, that you couldn't speak to whoever that veteran was who accessed MAID, and now you're saying that the veteran was spoken to. We're hearing three different things.

[Steven Harris]

No, sir, I don't believe it's three different things.

What you've heard was that the discussion was around the veteran's considering medical assistance in dying. Mr. Ledwell indicated that he couldn't confirm. I can confirm to you, though, that we've spoken with the veteran as part of the investigation. That's what I can confirm. That's how we know the details of the conversation. It's because we've spoken with the veteran.

[The Chair, Liberal, Emmanuel Dubourg]

Thank you, Mr. Harris.

Thank you, Mr. Cooper.

Now we have one last question—

Mr. Rogers, would you like to intervene?

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

Mr. Chair, given the time, I suggest we adjourn.

[The Chair, Liberal, Emmanuel Dubourg]

Okay. Thank you. I understand.

Are there any objections from committee members to adjourning the meeting?

I see that no one objects.

It must be said that we started the meeting five or seven minutes late.

On behalf of myself and the members of the committee, I want to thank the witnesses who participated in today's meeting.

First, I would like to thank Paul Ledwell, Deputy Minister of Veterans Affairs Canada, and Steven Harris, Assistant Deputy Minister, Service Delivery Branch.

I would also like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who is supporting the committee: our interpreters, the technical team, as well as Mr. Sugrue, who acted as procedural clerk today, and Ms. Dallaire, the clerk of the committee.

The meeting is adjourned.