Veterans Affairs Committee on Feb. 6th, 2023

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

Thank you.

I have questions for both groups with us today.

I'll start with you, Mr. Sangster. I was intrigued by some one-on-one discussion you and I had, as well as what you said here in committee today about programs for spouses and family members.

That's something that often gets forgotten when working to help our veterans. It isn't just confined to employment or career transition; it's really across the board. It's often forgotten that the service these men and women give to this country has an impact on their families and their spouses as well.

One of those areas is in this area, because many veterans are often required to move across the country a number of times during their service to our country. This can create difficulties in terms of being prepared for that transition to civilian life afterward. It also applies to the spouse and the family. It's great to hear you talking about that.

I know you have a unique perspective. You had some time in your career in government. You had some time in your career in the private sector in leadership roles, and of course in this leadership role with the National Association of Career Colleges. You have the ability to put something in place and work through that organization to see something come to fruition.

You mentioned the idea that there should be a program for spouses and family members to help get them trained and give them the skills that are needed by employers. Can you elaborate a bit more? Do you have more thoughts on what that program should look like?

[Michael Sangster]

We're proposing today the start of a conversation. I have not yet put together, with pen to paper, what we'd exactly like to see, because we don't believe we're the only partner at the table.

We believe the Chamber of Commerce, the Business Council of Canada, trade unions, employers in this country.... When I say employers, I think of large telcos, large banks, Canadian Tire and Tim Hortons. I think of large employers that are spread across this country whose employees could easily move from location to location.

When we talk about the mental health of a serving member of the military, I believe that if we're taking care of the family.... I do believe, as you said, that when members serve in our military, their families serve right alongside them. They carry that stress and anxiety. If we could do one small thing that helps them feel better about the world, and where it's going.... Even as members move into their own retirement from the military, knowing that their spouses and children are in a good place is going to help them feel good about retraining.

We see other post-secondary institutions being a part of this conversation. We've not defined the whole program, but I do believe our country would benefit from doing this.

To Mr. Desilets' comments, I believe that's what you asked us to do. It's to come with some ideas and come with what we can propose and bring ideas from different people to the table.

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

That's very much appreciated.

I have a question for Mr. Meunier or Ms. Arnold. It's for whoever wants to answer from Garda. Hopefully, we'll get a chance to come back to this conversation, but I want to go there first. It is in regard to the right of first refusal.

As other members of the committee have said, we had the Corps of Commissionaires come here last week to tell us they felt that the 60% target was an unrealistic target in this day and age. You're telling us that you think that opening it up for more competition so that you have the opportunity to provide those services would maybe lead to more veterans being employed.

Much like others, I don't have a dog in this fight. I just want to see more veterans employed. I would love to get into that a bit.

You mentioned 21 companies, including yours, that are available in the security industry. You do have some federal contracts. You mentioned CATSA, and there are some with immigration as well.

Because you can only speak for your own company, can you tell us the number of employees you have? How many of those are veterans? In particular, with your federal contracts, what is the percentage of hours currently worked by veterans in federal contracts? What are your barriers in order to hire more?

[Jean-Luc Meunier]

Colleen will probably add to what I will say.

We have many divisions and many types of contracts. We don't measure the veteran ratio by contract but by division, like the cash service division that we have. These people carry arms, as you know, so 25% of the ranks are people from the forces. This is a good place for them. They are used to that. They are well-disciplined and know exactly what to do. The training is minimal, because they are suited for that type of role.

Unfortunately, on the contract side, I don't have the stats.

Regarding the detention centre, many of them are.... Sorry; there's no more time, apparently.

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

Can we just let him finish?

[Jean-Luc Meunier]

I can come back to you with more stats afterward.

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

He's willing to give you 15 seconds to give the stats now, if you'd like. That's what I think I heard.

[The Chair, Liberal, Emmanuel Dubourg]

You have 15 seconds to close.

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

You mentioned the detention centre specifically.

[Jean-Luc Meunier]

They are attracted by this, but, as I said, I don't have the stats by contract. I have them more by division, like the 25% for cash services, as an example.

[Colleen Arnold]

Something important to note is that those contracts with the detention centres and airport security are not governed by an RFR. They go out by RFPs, so they don't have the same contract requirements.

[The Chair, Liberal, Emmanuel Dubourg]

Thank you so much.

Now I'd like to invite Mr. Wilson Miao.

I don't know if it's going to work, but Wilson Miao, you have five minutes or less. Please go ahead.

[Wilson Miao, Liberal, Richmond Centre, BC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Through the chair, I'd like to ask the following question of Garda.

You mentioned in your remarks that you employ more than 35,000 Canadians across the country. Am I correct?

[Jean-Luc Meunier]

You're correct.

[Wilson Miao, Liberal, Richmond Centre, BC]

What is the ratio of veterans?

[Jean-Luc Meunier]

It's a mix, depending on the division they are working for. In Canada, it's on voluntary basis, so we cannot force them to declare whether they are veterans or not.

Again, the one we have good stats for is the cash management division; there, 25% of the ranks are veterans. I don't have the stats for the rest, but we can work this out and provide them to you. I don't know what [Inaudible—Editor].

[Wilson Miao, Liberal, Richmond Centre, BC]

Can you explain to us how your organization recruits veterans? Is there a specific process you use to facilitate the hiring process?

[The Chair, Liberal, Emmanuel Dubourg]

Excuse me, Mr. Miao. Give me just a second, please. We have to make sure the sound is good.

Mr. Miao, you can split your time with one of your colleagues, because we have to make sure the sound is 100% perfect for our interpreters.

[Wilson Miao, Liberal, Richmond Centre, BC]

Mr. Chair, can I try again, or is my voice not so good?

I'll share my time with my colleague. How is that?

[The Chair, Liberal, Emmanuel Dubourg]

Thank you so much, Mr. Miao, for your understanding.

MP Darrell Samson will use the four minutes that you have left.

[Darrell Samson, Liberal, Sackville—Preston—Chezzetcook, NS]

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Not only will I use his four minutes, but I'll use his question.

What are some of the recruitment strategies or best practices in both your organizations?

I'll start with you, Monsieur Jean-Luc.

[Jean-Luc Meunier]

Simon will be better to answer this.

[Simon Bernier]

We wanted to create a different path for veterans to be hired by us, so we have a specific landing page for them, which is gardaworld.com/military. They get into an environment where we try to speak their language as much as we can, so they're submitting their resumés or CVs through to specific recruiters whom we've actually trained in understanding the title and the career path that they had in the past.

This definitely eases the process for them, so that we can accustom them to a job that fits their skill sets even more than other companies I trust.

[Colleen Arnold]

I'll just add to that.

We have specific recruitment days that focus on veterans and their families. Interestingly enough, we heard about the spouses and how difficult moving is, given the different schedules, etc.

We do have a very flexible workforce that is separate from the permanent, regular workweek type of group. In Quebec, we call them les réservistes. We have a lot of veterans and reservists with the military, and their families, who can put their name in this pool. We'll call them, and if they're available, they'll work; if they're not available, we'll call them the next time.

[Darrell Samson, Liberal, Sackville—Preston—Chezzetcook, NS]

Thank you.

Mr. Sangster, maybe you can talk a little bit about your recruitment as an association or individual, and some of the best practices.