Veterans Affairs Committee on March 20th, 2023

[Lisa Marie Barron, NDP, Nanaimo—Ladysmith, BC]

Thank you, Minister.

[Lawrence MacAulay, Liberal, Cardigan, PE]

Will I do that? Yes, I will.

[Lisa Marie Barron, NDP, Nanaimo—Ladysmith, BC]

Thank you.

My colleague Rachel Blaney has also been working on the clawbacks to serving women who won their class action sexual harassment lawsuit against the RCMP. She has been up to ask you a question about that as well. It's a shame that we're seeing their pensions being clawed back because they received settlements. I'm wondering if the minister could speak to why the government is currently retraumatizing these brave women.

Will the minister stop the clawbacks immediately?

[Lawrence MacAulay, Liberal, Cardigan, PE]

We appreciate the work the veterans ombud's office has done in providing the recommendations to the government, and I thank her.

The women who came forward and disclosed their experiences in the Merlo Davidson did so with incredible courage. We will contact the veterans—

[The Chair, Liberal, Emmanuel Dubourg]

Thank you—

[Lawrence MacAulay, Liberal, Cardigan, PE]

—who have had their disability pensions reduced—

[The Chair, Liberal, Emmanuel Dubourg]

Thank you, Minister. The time is up, so I have no choice.

Now I have Mr. Fraser Tolmie for five minutes.

[Fraser Tolmie, Conservative, Moose Jaw—Lake Centre—Lanigan, SK]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Minister, thank you for joining us today.

Minister, in your response to my colleague, Mr. Richards, earlier concerning medical assistance in dying, you said, don't you trust the government? You put the onus on Mr. Richards to come forward with veterans who had been offered medical assistance in dying.

Minister, I think I need to point this out to you, sir. Veterans don't trust the government. Veterans have served, their trust has been broken and they feel betrayed. I think that's something where, even though you're putting the offer out to speak to these vets, they feel they have lost confidence. The veterans I met this past weekend....

You stated in the House two weeks ago that there is absolutely no one falling between the cracks. Do you believe that?

[Lawrence MacAulay, Liberal, Cardigan, PE]

First of all, what you asked me was whether I said.... What I intended to say, if I did not say it, is that the public service, Veterans Affairs, the deputy minister of Veterans Affairs and the RCMP are involved in this investigation. They had every opportunity. As you know, there have been statements made that different numbers of people have had this problem, but we need them to come forward. If anybody has the information, come forward. We need that information.

We did an extensive investigation. I know you respect the RCMP. The fact is that, if there's any problem with what has been done, we want to know. If there's anybody who hasn't been treated right, we want to know. I want to know. The deputy wants to know, and I'm sure the public servants of Veterans Affairs do.

I stated that I think we have the best public servants in the country at Veterans Affairs Canada. I have had the privilege to work with them twice in my career, and they are fabulous.

[Fraser Tolmie, Conservative, Moose Jaw—Lake Centre—Lanigan, SK]

Thank you, Minister.

Okay, as I stated earlier on, I met with veterans this past weekend in Moose Jaw, where they were able to come forward and share some of their stories with regard to accessing help from Veterans Affairs. When you stated in the House that there is absolutely no one falling between the cracks.... What you stated in the House and what I heard on Saturday morning are completely opposite.

Do you stand by your comments?

[Lawrence MacAulay, Liberal, Cardigan, PE]

I indicated quite clearly what this contract was for and what it is to do. Yes, I stand by my comments to make sure that we provide the appropriate service for veterans right across the country when they need it and where they need it. That's what I have done, and that's what I will continue to do.

That's why we have this contract.

[Fraser Tolmie, Conservative, Moose Jaw—Lake Centre—Lanigan, SK]

Minister, what I have seen and what I have heard from my constituents, from veterans, is completely opposite to what you have just shared with me.

Minister, with regard to the almost a billion dollars of unspent funds and the reduction of the backlog, many of the people I have met.... Their applications have been denied. They have been turned down. They have been denied because of technicalities in their applications and red tape.

The question that comes to my mind is this: Is that why we're seeing a reduction in the backlog? Is it because applications are being denied, which means that, with the backlog going down, the money and surplus that you have is still not being accessed by veterans?

[Lawrence MacAulay, Liberal, Cardigan, PE]

No, that is not correct at all. The fact of the matter is that the number of people who have applied for veterans assistance at Veterans Affairs has been over 40%. The fact is that a lot of people are applying because, as you are fully aware, there have been a lot of enhanced programs since your government was in power. There are a lot of opportunities for veterans for education and rehab. All of these things are so important for veterans, and many people are looking for—

[Fraser Tolmie, Conservative, Moose Jaw—Lake Centre—Lanigan, SK]

Minister, while I have just one more minute here, sir.... How many applications have been denied?

[Lawrence MacAulay, Liberal, Cardigan, PE]

I don't handle all the applications.

[Fraser Tolmie, Conservative, Moose Jaw—Lake Centre—Lanigan, SK]

How many applications have been denied? How many people have been denied or rejected?

[Lawrence MacAulay, Liberal, Cardigan, PE]

It's approximately 20%.

[Fraser Tolmie, Conservative, Moose Jaw—Lake Centre—Lanigan, SK]

Twenty per cent of veterans who have to prove they need help are being rejected.

Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Emmanuel Dubourg]

Thank you so much.

Now, for the last question, I invite Mr. Sean Casey.

You have five minutes or less.

[Sean Casey, Liberal, Charlottetown, PE]

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.

Minister, first of all, thank you so much for your kind words about the dedicated staff at Veterans Affairs. I was here during the Harper cuts. I distinctly remember Minister Steven Blaney coming to the national headquarters in the dark of night, unannounced. Everyone was scared to death that he was coming to shut her down. Your tribute to the hard-working folks at Veterans Affairs is very well placed, especially after everything that's transpired in recent months.

In his opening salvo, Mr. Richards made several statements without affording you an opportunity to respond to them. I want to bring that back and give you a chance to do that. He referenced a 16-week service standard and said that, when the veterans he talked to heard that, they laughed.

Do you know what 16-week standard he's talking about?

[Lawrence MacAulay, Liberal, Cardigan, PE]

Of course I do. I think I've indicated that, over my years in Veterans Affairs, this is the goal to meet. As you know, it went from 23,000. We're in tune to meet that. We're in line to meet that national standard this summer to make sure we provide the funding for veterans.

[Sean Casey, Liberal, Charlottetown, PE]

Is that the backlog?

[Lawrence MacAulay, Liberal, Cardigan, PE]

Yes.

[Sean Casey, Liberal, Charlottetown, PE]

Okay. Thank you.

He mentioned there's been a contract switchover, leaving veterans without services. Do you know what he's talking about?

[Lawrence MacAulay, Liberal, Cardigan, PE]

I know what he's saying.