Veterans Affairs Committee on Nov. 17th, 2022

[Virginia Vaillancourt]

I do.

[Sean Casey, Liberal, Charlottetown, PE]

On that confidential survey, did you find that it contained accurate and comprehensive information?

[Virginia Vaillancourt]

I'll defer to Toufic El-Daher.

[The Chair, Liberal, Emmanuel Dubourg]

Please open your microphone, Mr. El-Daher, and answer the question.

[Toufic El-Daher]

I am sorry, I forgot to turn my mic on.

Could Mr. Casey please repeat his question? I'm not sure I understood.

[Sean Casey, Liberal, Charlottetown, PE]

Ms. Vaillancourt issued a press release on July 17, 2022, citing a confidential survey carried out by the department. My question is whether you found that survey to contain valuable and accurate information.

[Toufic El-Daher]

Yes, absolutely.

[Sean Casey, Liberal, Charlottetown, PE]

You would agree, then, that most of the employees were well informed about the PCVRS service contract?

[Toufic El-Daher]

No, I do not agree with you. The employees were not kept well informed of the process.

[Sean Casey, Liberal, Charlottetown, PE]

Survey results: page 6, question 2. “I am well informed of changes that will take place with the implementation of the new Partners in Canadian Veterans Rehabilitation Services contract.”

Sixty-eight per cent agree or slightly agree. Is that information incorrect and unreliable?

[Toufic El-Daher]

They are aware that a partner will be in place as of November 22nd, but they are unaware of the contract details. That is what is worrying. You are playing with numbers and percentages. It's easy to do a survey and give a percentage.

I am telling you that we are aware that we will soon have a partner, but we do not know what will happen afterwards. People answered by agreeing that they were aware, but 68% means nothing.

[Sean Casey, Liberal, Charlottetown, PE]

Do you agree that most who responded to the survey reported that they understood the reasons for the upcoming changes?

[Toufic El-Daher]

Mr. Casey, the changes are not clear. We are not even aware of the impact that the contract will have on case managers. Even if employees answered “yes” in the survey, this means nothing. We do not know what the impact will be. I do not understand why you are asking this question. We know that there will be negative repercussions on case managers and veterans.

Surveys can be used to prove anything. You know that very well, since you are a politician.

[Sean Casey, Liberal, Charlottetown, PE]

Have you changed your mind since we started this conversation with respect to the accuracy, reliability and value of this confidential survey?

[The Chair, Liberal, Emmanuel Dubourg]

Excuse me, Mr. Casey and Mr. El-Daher. Would you like to ask the question through the chair—and your answer also, please?

Thank you.

[Toufic El-Daher]

Yes, I know. I apologize, Mr. Chair.

[Sean Casey, Liberal, Charlottetown, PE]

Have you changed your mind since we started this conversation?

[The Chair, Liberal, Emmanuel Dubourg]

Through the chair....

[Sean Casey, Liberal, Charlottetown, PE]

Okay, okay.

[Toufic El-Daher]

My answer has not changed, sir.

[Sean Casey, Liberal, Charlottetown, PE]

Mr. Chair, I wish to ask the witness whether he has changed his mind, since we started this conversation, with respect to the accuracy, the completeness and the reliability of the confidential survey that was the subject of their press release in July 2022.

[Toufic El-Daher]

My answer is still the same. You are making assumptions, not me.

[Sean Casey, Liberal, Charlottetown, PE]

Okay. If it's still your view that this information is accurate and reliable and forms the basis for your public remarks in July, then you would agree with me that most people understood the impact of the proposed changes.

[Toufic El-Daher]

We shouldn't forget that not all case managers took part in the survey.

[Sean Casey, Liberal, Charlottetown, PE]

Is that what you're saying?