Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.
The new rehabilitation contract has been problematic from the beginning. Veterans Affairs Canada claims that case managers and the union have been consulted. That is false.
We received a copy of the contract a few days before the contract was awarded. We appointed union representatives to various sub‑committees but they were seldom invited to the planning meetings. None of our questions and none of the questions asked by case managers were answered.
We wrote to the minister to ask that he meet with us and listen to our concerns. He ignored our request twice. The third time, he declined and referred us to the department which still hasn't answered our questions.
The department initially held townhalls where questions were encouraged from employees. Then, when the department couldn't give any satisfactory answers, they shut off the chat function and stopped allowing direct questions. A few weeks ago, the department held another townhall with case managers. Once again, no chat and no questions.
This is not collaboration or consultation.
None of the case managers' questions about their roles and responsibilities or how this contract would actually work have been answered. The case managers have not even been fully trained on how to implement this contract.
Given the situation, we have asked that the implementation of the rehabilitation contract be pushed back, and we hope your committee will consider this possibility.
We fully support the case managers' recommendations that Veterans Affairs Canada commit to a case ratio of 25:1. This is essential. We also need long‑term funding for this department in order to put an end to temporary or short-term funding. Our veterans are not temporary; they are veterans for life.
Our union and our members are fully committed to serving veterans. They are our friends, our family members, our neighbours and our heroes.
Our veterans deserve better.
Thank you.