Evidence of meeting #38 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 work.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Conservative
Cathay Wagantall Conservative Yorkton—Melville, SK
Can I ask how many you've actually been able to place within Veterans Affairs or the public service?
Contract Manager, Agilec
I don't have that handy, but it's something that I can track down and provide.
Conservative
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Emmanuel Dubourg
Thank you.
Now I'd like to invite MP Wilson Miao to ask questions for six minutes or less, please.
Liberal
Wilson Miao Liberal Richmond Centre, BC
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you to all the witnesses for being here today.
First, through the chair, I'd like to direct my questions to Ms. Jones.
You mentioned in your opening remarks what kinds of tools there are. Can you elaborate more on what are the tools to support not just the veterans but also their families during the transitional services you offer?
Contract Manager, Agilec
Current transition services are really focused on employment and education or training pursuits and on making informed decisions. We have a secure portal, as I mentioned, that has 15 different courses, in both English and French, around that transition job search preparation. There's one on PLAR, prior learning assessment recognition, related to education.
There are also resources for veterans and their families through that transition process that are pointing more to the other programs and services and service providers that are available, so that we're making sure that we're building awareness for each person on what's available to them linked to our program.
They bring their whole self to the program. Our role is not to be duplicating anything else that's out there but is in fact to be helping them to research and find resources, and to also work closely with Veterans Affairs to see what other programs and services they may be eligible for, and helping them get connected to the right place that way as well.
Liberal
Wilson Miao Liberal Richmond Centre, BC
Thank you for that.
Also, you mentioned in your opening remarks that 60% have set goals and 40% have set goals for education. How is that being achieved through the process? Also, what is the successful employment rate for veterans using your service?
Contract Manager, Agilec
I don't have the specific data with me today around the success rates. Again, it is something that I can provide to you.
From an employment perspective, some are remaining in CAF, so again, it's about early access and getting connected to resources and to a coach. They're able to re-engage the services as long as they maintain eligibility. They're able to re-engage the services whenever they need and they can come back directly to us versus having to go through a new application.
In terms of employment at CAF, some people have chosen, through the journey of decision-making, to re-enlist if they're a veteran, while others, again, are pursuing public service employment. We have that broken down. It's just not with me today, but I'm happy to provide it.
Liberal
Wilson Miao Liberal Richmond Centre, BC
It would be great if you could share that with the committee as well.
Also, you mentioned the entry level versus the executive level. Which one tends to be more in terms of numbers for released veterans acquiring your services?
Contract Manager, Agilec
Again, I don't have specific numbers here with me. We do see participants who are coming out of the military from a very senior position and are looking to not have that type of role. It does vary by each person.
I don't have any specific data with me today to further that.
Liberal
Wilson Miao Liberal Richmond Centre, BC
No problem.
Thank you very much for that.
Next, I would like, through the chair, to direct my question to Ms. Adams.
You mentioned your organization is a for-profit. How much would it cost for a veteran to take a course in your organization?
Chief Executive Officer, ReTrain Canada Incorporated
Our courses vary. The beginning courses are about $1,200 for two weeks of full-time training. Then they can go up to $5,000 to $6,000 for 12 weeks.
Liberal
Wilson Miao Liberal Richmond Centre, BC
What are the success rates when a veteran takes a course and looks for employment after?
Chief Executive Officer, ReTrain Canada Incorporated
Depending on the course, it can be anywhere from 75% to 85%. We work with other placement partners. Manpower, for example, is one that we work with. They do the placement part.
Liberal
Wilson Miao Liberal Richmond Centre, BC
Since your courses are offered virtually, do you offer this service across the country for our veterans?
Chief Executive Officer, ReTrain Canada Incorporated
We most definitely do across Canada, absolutely. We've been doing that for years, well before the pandemic.
Liberal
Wilson Miao Liberal Richmond Centre, BC
Do you see any challenges that veterans will face depending on their location when it comes to employment and access to the courses?
Chief Executive Officer, ReTrain Canada Incorporated
They need to have access to computers. That can be a challenge if they don't have one; they might need to get funding for that.
If they are remote, sometimes there can be issues with Internet access, but we've been able to overcome many of those things.
I think probably the biggest challenge people have is that there's an acceptance of these types of training programs and that they can actually be successful with a condensed program, where we're very specific on what it is they are learning and moving them forward in a career that way.
Liberal
Luc Desilets Bloc Rivière-des-Mille-Îles, QC
Thank you, Chair.
I thank our guests for being here to help us in our understanding of this issue.
Mrs. Jones, will your organization provide services under the government's $500-million contract for rehabilitation services?
Can you hear me?