Evidence of meeting #37 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 employment.
A recording is available from Parliament.
5:35 p.m.
Conservative
Blake Richards Conservative Banff—Airdrie, AB
Maybe I'll just add to that.
What about the challenges with family members, spouses of veterans? They sometimes face some of those same challenges you just talked about. Can you speak to that at all?
5:35 p.m.
Executive Director, Quatre-Chemins
I can go with that one.
What's interesting about identity and those challenges is to understand that the veteran doesn't live just by himself. It's a unit. The unit is being affected by that change that's happening. I think it's important to consider that the change does take a lot of time and a lot of work. We have to consider, then, that whatever strategy we put into place, we have to be patient and willing to take the time and resources to do that.
What's really important is to accept that it's going to take time for those veterans and their families to go through that change process.
5:35 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Emmanuel Dubourg
Thank you so much.
Now I'd like to invite Mr. Darrell Samson for five minutes, please.
Oh, I'm sorry. That's four minutes.
5:35 p.m.
Liberal
Darrell Samson Liberal Sackville—Preston—Chezzetcook, NS
Thank you both for your presentations. It's very important to have different voices with different research and experiences come to the table and share some of the findings, as you are able to share with us today.
Maybe I'll start with Ms. Taylor, about the small businesses. You made the point that there seems to be a gap with small businesses. How can we improve that gap, from what you've seen so far?
5:35 p.m.
President, Challenge Factory
Through the chair, the biggest gap that we have with small businesses is that these businesses don't think about veterans. The average Canadian who is not connected to anyone who has service doesn't really think of veterans or our men and women who are serving. It's not that they necessarily have a bias one way or the other about hiring or not hiring veterans; they simply don't think about them. The more we can raise awareness of this hidden talent pool, the better it will be in terms of being able to help with labour shortages that they are desperately trying to solve.
At the same time, on the veterans' side, veterans don't know very much about small businesses either. They don't know what small businesses do. They don't know what jobs are available there. They hear lots about certain types of jobs but not a lot about the rest of the full spectrum of where Canadians live and work.
5:35 p.m.
Liberal
Darrell Samson Liberal Sackville—Preston—Chezzetcook, NS
Thank you for that. I think that could be a focus point on that group. There's a lot of work we could do.
Ms. Poudrier, you referred to Alain who was looking for a part-time job because he was receiving other types of income as a pensioned veteran.
Can you tell us more about that? How many people are there in his situation? From what you have seen, are there a lot of people looking for this type of employment? Is this one of the reasons for the weakness in the hiring process?
5:35 p.m.
Executive Director, Quatre-Chemins
Thank you for your very good question.
Certain steps must be completed in order for a person to say to themselves, several years after a release process, that they are at a stage in their life when they are doing well and are ready to commit to another job.
First, this has to be taken into consideration when we think about these people. Then, I would say that some of them would like to be able to commit, not so much for the money, but for the feeling of being valued that it brings to be involved in a project, whether it's a job in a small business or volunteer work.
5:40 p.m.
Liberal
Darrell Samson Liberal Sackville—Preston—Chezzetcook, NS
Should our strategy recognize veterans who are seeking part-time jobs?
Because I have only a minute and a half left, can you tell us about your one-year program?
As you probably know, veterans who have served for six years are entitled to $40,000 for training; for those who have served 12 years, it's $80,000.
Are you familiar with that program? What connection is there with your program? Could something be done to improve the situation on both sides?
5:40 p.m.
Executive Director, Quatre-Chemins
That's an excellent question.
Yes, something simple could be done: expand the meaning of the word "training". It is limited to something that leads to a diploma. That limits access to this envelope, which means that an application by a member of the military, for example, who wants access to the services we offer is going to fall through the cracks, because it is an employability preparedness program.
We have been in talks for two years now to find out how that can fit into the right slot. We are recognized by Revenu Québec as an educational institution that leads to achieving learning outcomes that enable the person to return to the labour market. Our one-year program does offer coaching, but, technically, it extends over 13 months. There are ten five-hour meetings.
At first, we talk about the identity aspect: who are they, beyond the uniform?
That enables the person to develop their psychosocial skills, for conversation and interpersonal relationships, whether with family or with other employees. Next comes the step where they have to ask themself questions; now that they are demobilized and have a bit of perspective, how can they get involved in something new? What are they going to say yes to, and why? What makes them feel valued for themself?
5:40 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Emmanuel Dubourg
Thank you, Ms. Poudrier.
We will now move on to the second vice-chair of the committee.
Mr. Desilets, the floor is yours for four minutes.
5:40 p.m.
Bloc
Luc Desilets Bloc Rivière-des-Mille-Îles, QC
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I would also like to thank our two guests.
I am really sorry that we wasted your time.
Ms. Poudrier, who funds your organization?
5:40 p.m.
Executive Director, Quatre-Chemins
Thank you for your question.
At present, our organization is funded by foundations, including the Quebec Veterans Foundation, which primarily funds services for women, because that's where the funds go.
At the moment, we are waiting to find out whether the Veteran and Family Well-Being Fund is going to agree to fund our one-year program. At the moment, we fund the services to veterans, to make sure they don't have to pay out of pocket.
5:40 p.m.
Executive Director, Quatre-Chemins
They don't have to reach into their pocket, that's right.
5:40 p.m.
Bloc
Luc Desilets Bloc Rivière-des-Mille-Îles, QC
If I understood correctly, you look after them for a full year.
Is that right?
5:40 p.m.
Bloc
Luc Desilets Bloc Rivière-des-Mille-Îles, QC
I was interested in the part relating to identity crises.
Ultimately, we want to prepare them properly for returning to the labour market. Am I mistaken to say that virtually all veterans have to work part-time?
5:40 p.m.
Bloc
Luc Desilets Bloc Rivière-des-Mille-Îles, QC
Does the solution lie in tax amendments or in special treatment for veterans, for example?
5:40 p.m.
Executive Director, Quatre-Chemins
In fact, I think we need to initiate that discussion.
Some veterans are satisfied with the situation they find themselves in, while others are open to seeing how they can fulfil themselves in other ways, without being limited.
At the moment, in the community, people think that working is going to limit veterans and cause them to lose money. So we have to open the discussion and define the fears.
Some veterans have told us that they quit their jobs because they were afraid that Veterans Affairs Canada would see their T4 slip and reduce the amount of their compensation. So this has to be discussed.
5:40 p.m.
Bloc
Luc Desilets Bloc Rivière-des-Mille-Îles, QC
Can you give me examples of workshops? What do you do with these people? How many hours a week?
5:40 p.m.
Executive Director, Quatre-Chemins
It's five hours a month, in addition to individual meetings and virtual meetings, as needed. Each meeting has a theme. At the beginning, we learn to know ourselves. Then, we use tools like non-violent communication and enneagrams; that really helps people get to know themselves better. For some people, the uniform is a part of themselves, but it doesn't completely define them. That helps them gain some perspective.
5:45 p.m.
Bloc
Luc Desilets Bloc Rivière-des-Mille-Îles, QC
Previously, I was a school principal, as one of my colleagues opposite was. In the academic world, prior learning is recognized.
Do you also work with that concept?
5:45 p.m.
Executive Director, Quatre-Chemins
For the moment, no, because the people we work with have access to career counsellors for everything involved in that aspect.