Veterans Affairs Committee on Oct. 24th, 2022

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

Thank you.

We will have the minister and his officials reappear at this committee.

Maybe I'll ask our witnesses. We could start with you, Mr. Meincke, because you're here with us in the room, and then I'll carry on from there. What questions should we be asking them when they return? What would you recommend this committee ask? What sorts of questions need to be asked of the minister when he returns?

[Mark Meincke]

I would definitely like to see a policy and procedure manual that clearly puts in writing what calls are recorded and what calls are not. There's no way that something structural like that is not on paper somewhere and official. I would like that so there would be no misconceptions. That would be essential in order to have any kind of confidence from the veteran community.

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

Thank you.

Mr. Conrad, do you have any thoughts on that?

[Col (Ret'd) John D. Conrad]

Yes, thank you. To add to what Mr. Meincke has said, this is absolutely foundational harm going right to the centre of gravity of what the department is all about. I would want to hear “yes” to the things Mr. Meincke mentioned, but I think I would want to hear a plan in the immediate—like in the emergent, tactical immediate—and medium to long term so this does not recur. Given how quintessential this is, I don't feel it's been addressed. That would be my question for them.

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

Mr. Thorne, we'll go to you.

[Oliver Thorne]

I would absolutely echo the comments by Mr. Conrad and Mr. Meincke. I would also ask for a clear understanding from the department as to how this will be avoided completely in future.

I know as well that a report was published by an expert panel on MAID and mental illness. I'm looking at the report in front of me on the Canada.ca website. It was published on May 13 of this year and it features a number of recommendations that they feel the government should adopt with regard to medical assistance in dying for mental health reasons. I'd like to know that the Department of Veterans Affairs has reviewed this report and that they are working to incorporate those recommendations.

[The Chair, Liberal, Emmanuel Dubourg]

Thank you so much, Mr. Thorne and Mr. Richards.

It's two minutes before one o'clock, and we have to stop at one o'clock. I'd like Mr. Casey to have a quick intervention.

[Sean Casey, Liberal, Charlottetown, PE]

I'd like to be able to ask one question before we adjourn, please.

[The Chair, Liberal, Emmanuel Dubourg]

It was supposed to go to you. Let's give 30 seconds for that, please.

[Sean Casey, Liberal, Charlottetown, PE]

Mr. Meincke, would you please ask the veteran to allow you to provide the recordings to this committee?

[Mark Meincke]

I have. If he cannot be guaranteed anonymity, it's not even a maybe.

[Sean Casey, Liberal, Charlottetown, PE]

Okay.

Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Emmanuel Dubourg]

Thank you, Mr. Casey.

Let me take a moment on behalf of the committee members, as well as myself, to thank all of the witnesses who have come before us today. I'd like to acknowledge them.

I thank retired Colonel John Conrad; retired Corporal Mark Meincke, host of Operation Tango Romeo, trauma recovery podcast for military, veterans, first responders, and their families; Carolyn Hughes, acting director, veterans services, national headquarters, The Royal Canadian Legion; and Oliver Thorne, executive director, Veterans Transition Network.

Mr. Meincke and Mr. Conrad, I must tell you that your testimony was very moving. We hope that your health improves in the days and years ahead. So, I thank you for being here in committee.

I'd like to remind committee members that this Thursday we will study the report on survivor pension benefits in camera. We will also consider the motion that was passed today. This is to advise you accordingly.

Thank you. I'd like to acknowledge the entire team with us: the interpreters, the clerks and the rest of the team.

The meeting is adjourned.