Veterans Affairs Committee on Feb. 9th, 2023

[Mike Mueller]

Thanks for the question.

Your comments with respect to all of the different challenges make a lot of sense. You have some of the upskilling requirements that are needed.

I would agree with the previous individual's comments about the soft skills. I'm sorry; I've forgotten your name. The soft skills that veterans have coming out of the military are absolutely top-notch. Those hard skills are also absolutely top-notch, but sometimes there is that need for some upskilling.

We also heard that comment across the country, generally with respect to company-specific skills that are required. That's why we're especially pleased to see the investment that the government is making in industry-led training, because that's clearly needed among industry.

The other piece I would also—

[The Chair, Liberal, Emmanuel Dubourg]

Thank you, Mr. Mueller. I'm sorry. We'll come back.

Mr. Samson, the floor is now yours for six minutes.

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

Thank you very much for being here today.

I must say, listening to your presentation, that I was quite impressed. When we look at the aerospace industry and see that you have a significant number of veterans, it is quite impressive. I thank you for that. The work you do is that transition, which is so crucial, and we know it's necessary.

I know my colleague asked questions around the recognition of qualifications, but are both of your organizations aware that there's an education training program out there for veterans that can be used to support the veterans' upskilling or upgrading?

Go ahead, Monsieur Trépanier.

[Normand Trépanier]

Yes, we are. We understand. We know.

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

Are people using that program? Are there veterans who are taking courses thanks to this education and training allowance?

[Normand Trépanier]

Yes, definitely. Not everyone uses it, but we know that this allowance is very widely used. We ourselves encourage veterans to take advantage of this allowance when they need it and they meet the requirements, like having a minimum of six years' service.

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

Mr. Mueller, what about you? The question is about the veterans you're hiring and whether they are using, as far as you know, the education and training program when they may not have all the skills when they arrive. There's funding available for them.

[Mike Mueller]

Yes, I am aware of the program that is available. I don't have any updated information as to whether those folks coming into the aerospace industry specifically are taking advantage of it.

Going back to the previous question, building the awareness of what's available is absolutely critical, both from a veteran perspective and from a potential employer perspective. How can we take advantage of some of these tools that are out there, or guide veterans to some of the tools that are there?

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

My question now is for the two witnesses regarding recruiting: what recruiting strategies have been put in place, and what are the best practices for recruiting more veterans?

[Normand Trépanier]

If I had been able to finish my speech, I would have answered some questions.

We visit military bases and we make sure that people know about the Helmets to Hardhats program. People are then able to register free of charge. We explain the program and what we can do to help them in their new career.

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

Thank you, Mr. Trépanier.

Time is moving on, but I would like to hear Mr. Mueller's answer.

[Mike Mueller]

Recruitment is top of mind for our industry. We work closely with colleges and universities, and of course with veterans organizations.

The other area where we've really tried to have discussions is with regard to air cadets. They are a great group of young adults who are going through air cadets right now, and who are potentially going to go into the military. We want to ensure they understand both the benefits of the aerospace industry and the potential jobs that are available to them, either when they come out of the air cadets or when they come out of their term with the military.

Again, we need greater awareness of how we make sure that everyone knows of the opportunities we have in the industry. We have work to do on that, absolutely.

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

Thank you very much for that.

I do want to mention this to our colleagues. Mr. Bury and Mr. Trépanier, it's impressive that you are also helping or hiring those resettled Afghan interpreters. Tell me a bit about that. It seems complicated, but I'm impressed with what you are doing.

I do want to thank you, before you answer, and I know my colleague from the NDP will touch on the fact that you are also hiring women, members of the LGBTQ community and marginalized Canadians. That's also quite impressive.

Can you just touch on the resettled Afghan interpreters?

[MGen (Ret'd) Paul Bury]

This is an initiative that we undertook about 12 months ago, and it slowly took form. We work with other community-based organizations that help resettled Afghan interpreters.

Working with Canada's Building Trades Unions over the last, I would say, six to eight weeks, we've been quite successful, not only making them aware but recruiting them to the organization. Just over the last few weeks, we've been successful with the United Brotherhood of Carpenters in the Toronto area in placing quite a number of them. That is a successful initiative, and it's thanks to VAC funding that it happens.

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

I really appreciate the work and expansion you're bringing to Atlantic Canada. I think it's really important. The needs are quite wide right across the country, but also in Atlantic Canada. People might be surprised, but there are workers with many needs.

Thank you for the work you're doing on that end. I appreciate it.

[The Chair, Liberal, Emmanuel Dubourg]

Thank you, Mr. Samson.

Ms. Michaud, the floor is yours for the next six minutes.

[Kristina Michaud, Bloc, Avignon—La Mitis—Matane—Matapédia, QC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I'm very happy to be here with my colleagues this evening. I have replaced committee members several times in the past, but this is the first time I have done it on the Standing Committee on Veterans Affairs. I am definitely going to learn some things this evening.

I would first like to thank the witnesses for being here. We are grateful for their presence.

Mr. Trépanier, you didn't have time to finish your opening speech. I did note some things that I found extremely interesting. For one thing, you pointed out that where veterans are equally qualified, the federal public service will perhaps give preference to a veteran in the hiring process, unlike the private sector.

You may have some recommendations to make to us on that subject, so I will give you an opportunity to pick up where you left off in your speech when you were cut off and to tell us more on that specific point.

[Normand Trépanier]

Thank you, Ms. Michaud.

Yes, in the public service, where applicants are equally qualified, the service member will have priority. That is not the case in the private sector. So we would like veterans to be recognized outside the public service as an underrepresented group in the same way as women, whom we hope to see in the construction industry, and as indigenous people and visible and other minorities, to encourage them to apply for jobs.

[Kristina Michaud, Bloc, Avignon—La Mitis—Matane—Matapédia, QC]

Thank you.

Do you want to add anything else? There may be somewhat interesting points in your speaking notes that are worth mentioning.

[Normand Trépanier]

There is one point I would like to add, briefly. I want to thank Veterans Affairs Canada for the funding it has granted us for offering construction site safety training. As you know, everyone who goes onto a construction site must have received training on occupational health and safety.

At present, all these courses are given in Ontario, a province we have been using as a testing ground for a year now. I can assure you that it is a success all around. We would now like to provide this training nation-wide. However, Employment and Social Development Canada would have to provide funding for that. We have applied for funding already, but we have not had an answer after waiting for a year. I hope we will get an answer. If we had this funding, we would be able to develop the same project Canada-wide.

I would also like us to be able to have access to service members who are going to be starting their transition to civilian life in the near future and who—I don't want to say they're "vegetating"—are waiting to leave the Canadian Armed Forces. If we could take them on and provide them with the training they need, they could start working in the trade they have chosen right away after being demobilized, rather than waiting a month or two before acquiring the necessary skills.

[Kristina Michaud, Bloc, Avignon—La Mitis—Matane—Matapédia, QC]

Thank you.

On the answer you have been waiting a year for, you can write to my colleague Luc Desilets who ordinarily sits on the committee. We would undoubtedly be able to help you move things forward so you get an answer within a short time.

The analysts at the Library of Parliament have kindly prepared a summary for us of the national veterans employment strategy and the existing programs, including the one referred to by Mr. Samson.

Do you find the existing programs useful? Do you use them? Do you think they have a positive effect for the veterans who come to you? Have you identified other items or other needs in which the government could invest? Could the government introduce new programs?

[Normand Trépanier]

What we have at present, thanks to the Veteran and Family Well-Being Fund, is ideal. In fact, I don't want to pat ourselves on the back, but it is Helmets to Hardhats that approached Veterans Affairs Canada in 2014 to have a fund like the one in the United States created.

The department listened to us, and we now have this fund and it is working well. Yes, we use it. We encourage our veterans to look into it and use it if they meet the criteria. That gives them access to resources and funding to attend a postsecondary education institution or university.

All indications are that the answer is yes, ma'am.

[Kristina Michaud, Bloc, Avignon—La Mitis—Matane—Matapédia, QC]

Thank you.

Mr. Mueller, we all imagine that the aerospace industry, kind of like a number of industries, unfortunately experienced problems during the pandemic.

Can you tell us about the repercussions? How is the industry doing? Has it recovered from the pandemic? Did the pandemic cause a labour shortage, as we are seeing in a number of other areas? Do you think veterans could add value to your industry? How do you see the situation at this point?

[Mike Mueller]

Thank you very much for the question.

We saw some significant challenges through COVID-19. I don't think it's any surprise to anyone on this committee that aerospace took a disproportionate hit from the impacts of COVID-19.

I think the latest numbers we saw were that about 3,500 jobs were lost in the sector. These are high-quality, highly skilled, good-paying jobs. I think they're 30% higher than the average manufacturing job. They are quite good jobs. We're very concerned about that. We do see a bounce-back. It's coming sooner in maintenance, repair, overhaul and manufacturing, which is a good sign.

For long-term viability, we need to find the people. We need to make sure that we have a good pipeline of talent coming into the industry. That's where I think veterans are very well placed for this piece. I should say that we as an industry are committed to working with the government and this committee to make sure we're securing employment for veterans.

We see this happening on an organic basis already. There are some challenges there. We talked about the awareness piece. We talked about the colleges and the upskilling pieces. I'm very pleased to see the committee looking at the need for a strategy.

Another thing we've been calling for is a broader—

[The Chair, Liberal, Emmanuel Dubourg]

Mr. Mueller, I'm so sorry, but the time is up. We’re at six minutes and 39 seconds. You'll have the possibility to answer other questions, even though Mr. Samson took one of your questions.

Thank you, Mr. Samson.

Ms. Blaney, you have six minutes to ask questions. Please go ahead.