Evidence of meeting #29 for Veterans Affairs in the 44th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was going.
A recording is available from Parliament.
4:05 p.m.
Acting Director, Veterans Services, National Headquarters, The Royal Canadian Legion
No, they have not, not directly from Veterans Affairs. No.
4:05 p.m.
Liberal
Churence Rogers Liberal Bonavista—Burin—Trinity, NL
Were you ever part of any consultations that took place? We were told by some officials that there were over 60 different consultation pieces that took place. Were you ever part of any of that?
4:05 p.m.
Acting Director, Veterans Services, National Headquarters, The Royal Canadian Legion
I was not. I took over this role in May of this year. I'm not sure if my predecessor was, but he never passed anything on to me so I'm assuming that we have not been consulted, no.
4:05 p.m.
Liberal
Churence Rogers Liberal Bonavista—Burin—Trinity, NL
It's possible that your predecessor may have been involved in some of the consultation. It's just that you're not aware.
4:05 p.m.
Acting Director, Veterans Services, National Headquarters, The Royal Canadian Legion
No, he would have passed it on to me. We sat for days going over his files and things that he was working on. I have no doubt that we were never consulted.
4:05 p.m.
Liberal
Churence Rogers Liberal Bonavista—Burin—Trinity, NL
Okay.
In your opinion, then, looking at the contract, will this contract provide good rehab or medical and psychosocial services to Canadian veterans? Do you believe that veterans have been receiving good services under the previous contracts or system?
4:05 p.m.
Acting Director, Veterans Services, National Headquarters, The Royal Canadian Legion
It's hard to have an opinion one way or the other, because I have heard really good stories about case managers and I have heard some bad stories.
We are not health care providers or professionals in any kind of service such as occupational therapy or any treatments like that, so I'm hesitant to say if the contract will be beneficial to them. Our main concern is that the veterans receive the benefits and the treatment they deserve, and in a timely manner, of course, and we'll be monitoring for that just to make sure it happens.
As for how they get that treatment, whether it's a third party or internal, we're not concerned one way or the other, as long as they are getting the help they need.
4:05 p.m.
Liberal
Churence Rogers Liberal Bonavista—Burin—Trinity, NL
Ms. Morand, you acknowledged that you've been in the business of supporting services to veterans for 20 years plus, and you're not quite sure of what your future role will be with any of the new providers. I'm surprised to hear that, given your experience and the supportive service you've provided.
I guess I'll give you another opportunity to say what you might expect from this new contract and how it might impact you and your practice.
4:05 p.m.
Occupational Therapist and Clinical Care Manager, As an Individual
I have a couple of roles with veterans. The role within rehab is the clinical care manager role. At this point, I'm not sure if that role will continue. I may not have a role. I really don't know at this point, and I've not been able to get clarification. I don't have enough information to know.
4:10 p.m.
Liberal
Churence Rogers Liberal Bonavista—Burin—Trinity, NL
I understand and appreciate that.
We hear numbers that there are going to be 14,000 veterans serviced by this new contract group organization, and 9,000 service providers, from people with your expertise to others and from regular medical doctors and personnel and so on. It sure seems that you fit the bill for a lot of that.
I'll ask you again, Ms. Hughes, does it make sense for Veterans Affairs Canada to provide these kinds of services in-house as they've been currently doing, as some witnesses have claimed to this committee?
4:10 p.m.
Acting Director, Veterans Services, National Headquarters, The Royal Canadian Legion
My understanding is that there will be case managers. They will still have a function. Some of the administrative stuff is being sent to a third party. From what I understand, the service providers they have now, whether massage therapists or anything, are going to continue. It's just going to be another third party administering the administrative part of it, the paperwork.
4:10 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Emmanuel Dubourg
Thank you, Mr. Rogers, and Ms. Hughes.
I will now turn over the floor to Mr. Desilets for six minutes.
4:10 p.m.
Bloc
Luc Desilets Bloc Rivière-des-Mille-Îles, QC
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Greetings to all my colleagues.
Ms. Hughes, you are currently serving in an acting capacity. What was your previous position?
4:10 p.m.
Acting Director, Veterans Services, National Headquarters, The Royal Canadian Legion
My previous role was as deputy director of veterans services. I was in that role for about eight years. I have been in this office for 12 years now.
4:10 p.m.
Bloc
Luc Desilets Bloc Rivière-des-Mille-Îles, QC
You've been in this position on an interim basis for seven months. Is that correct?
4:10 p.m.
Acting Director, Veterans Services, National Headquarters, The Royal Canadian Legion
Yes.
4:10 p.m.
Bloc
Luc Desilets Bloc Rivière-des-Mille-Îles, QC
You stated earlier that you were never personally consulted. Is that correct?
4:10 p.m.
Acting Director, Veterans Services, National Headquarters, The Royal Canadian Legion
Yes, that is the case.
4:10 p.m.
Bloc
Luc Desilets Bloc Rivière-des-Mille-Îles, QC
You also stated that your predecessor did not tell you whether or not he was consulted.
4:10 p.m.
Acting Director, Veterans Services, National Headquarters, The Royal Canadian Legion
That's the case, but if he had known of this, he would have contacted me. He would have passed it on to me before he left. We're still in contact today on various items, so if he had been contacted, I would know of it.
4:10 p.m.
Bloc
Luc Desilets Bloc Rivière-des-Mille-Îles, QC
You're sure that your predecessor was not informed that people were consulted in the development of this project. Is that correct?
4:10 p.m.
Acting Director, Veterans Services, National Headquarters, The Royal Canadian Legion
Yes.
4:10 p.m.
Bloc
Luc Desilets Bloc Rivière-des-Mille-Îles, QC
The transition is going smoothly with your predecessor. You are in contact with him.
4:10 p.m.
Acting Director, Veterans Services, National Headquarters, The Royal Canadian Legion
Yes, absolutely.
4:10 p.m.
Bloc
Luc Desilets Bloc Rivière-des-Mille-Îles, QC
I'm asking you these questions because my colleagues and I are very surprised at what you're saying, for we've been told by people in the department that at least 100 people were consulted in setting up the program.
Is that possible or did we misunderstand?