Veterans Affairs Committee on May 1st, 2023

[Col Lisa Noonan]

If someone has submitted their release—let's say, it's a non-medical release—then they will get an appointment. They can request one with a release administrator and a transition adviser, and that's when the whole process starts. If it's a medical release and they are posted, perhaps, to the transition centre, then there is a slightly different but complementary process that brings them through the different steps as they transition out of the military as well.

[Rechie Valdez, Liberal, Mississauga—Streetsville, ON]

I'm curious if there are opportunities for follow-ups or check-ins on the individual, or is there someone there for a woman veteran for a long, extended period of time?

[Col Lisa Noonan]

As we release the individual from the military, the transition centre does a six-month follow-up with the individual, and if there are any ongoing issues that VAC thinks the CAF can assist with, then there's that two-way communication as well. The fact that they're integrated right now with us in the transition centres helps tremendously for that communication.

[Rechie Valdez, Liberal, Mississauga—Streetsville, ON]

What other changes would you like to see made that would be more welcoming and inclusive for women in the field?

[Col Lisa Noonan]

As we go along, we're trying to think of those gaps that may exist currently. I think any specific programs that will help women as they adjust, in terms of specific employment types of things they may face that are different from men, would be really interesting to explore. Perhaps we could offer workshops or, if we don't have the skills to do that, we could get a third party organization to offer those kinds of programs.

I think, as well, as we continue to progress the research, we'll see some of those gaps that exist even better, and be able to develop new programs as a result.

[Rechie Valdez, Liberal, Mississauga—Streetsville, ON]

Thank you.

Can you share some of your biggest successes in terms of the increase in representation of women in leadership positions in CAF?

[Col Lisa Noonan]

Do you mean in the CAF writ large, or in the CAF transition group?

[Rechie Valdez, Liberal, Mississauga—Streetsville, ON]

Writ large.

[Col Lisa Noonan]

I think there are quite a few. In recent years, there's been amazing progress in terms of women in the CAF. So many key appointments are happening in terms of succession planning of women—opening all those doors. Breaking those glass ceilings for the progression of women is a huge one. In addition, I think there's a recognition now of some of the things. That “invisible” thing that someone mentioned before is, I think, becoming less prominent. Now we're starting to look at specific programs, no matter what domain we're talking about, whether it be health services, transition services, recruiting, retention, etc., that are specifically geared to females in the CAF. That's a very new phenomenon over the last four or five years, in particular.

[Rechie Valdez, Liberal, Mississauga—Streetsville, ON]

It's all very positive.

Colonel Wright, did you want to add anything else? It's more around any positive successes for women.

[Col Helen Wright]

Well, I think we've had a lot, and Colonel Noonan really has summarized well that not only are the opportunities for women throughout the CAF and at the highest levels of leadership open, but we're seeing more people in those positions. We're getting the role models and the inspiration, I think, for our younger members to see that there are no limits in the CAF for their careers.

[The Chair, Liberal, Emmanuel Dubourg]

Thank you, Ms. Valdez.

Mr. Desilets, you have the floor for two and a half minutes.

[Luc Desilets, Bloc, Rivière-des-Mille-Îles, QC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Ms. Noonan, women injured in the line of duty, just like men, have to fill out the infamous CF‑98 form. Do veterans who have suffered sexual trauma have to fill out that form?

[Col Lisa Noonan]

With regard to the questionnaire, do you mean in terms of the forms for VAC for benefits?

[Luc Desilets, Bloc, Rivière-des-Mille-Îles, QC]

The requirement to report an injury by completing this form ensures a follow‑up. Our concern is especially for women who have been sexually assaulted. We have heard here in committee that this is not really something that is desired or desirable.

[Col Lisa Noonan]

I would think this may be a better one for Colonel Wright, in terms of the medical release process for those who've experienced sexual trauma and anything related to that.

[Col Helen Wright]

I am so sorry; I'm not sure what form it is that you're referring to.

I would say that there is no requirement for people to fill in a form for something so sensitive as say, a sexual assault. At least from a health services standpoint, they do not need to fill in a form to come and see us to get treated or to talk to someone about a difficult experience.

[Luc Desilets, Bloc, Rivière-des-Mille-Îles, QC]

Okay. I'm a little surprised.

Ms. Noonan, in your opinion, is the transition process the same for a man as for a woman? Is it experienced in the same way?

[Col Lisa Noonan]

I think the beautiful part about the transition process we have now is that it meets the unique needs of every member. Whether they're male or female, they get the same service, but it is tailored to their unique needs as they go forward and make that transition plan with the transition adviser. In terms of all the benefits and everything else, it is the same.

[Luc Desilets, Bloc, Rivière-des-Mille-Îles, QC]

In your opinion, is the Canadian Forces medical release process applied fairly to men and women?

[Col Lisa Noonan]

I think Colonel Wright might be better with this one—I'm not sure—because I don't have the answer to that.

[Col Helen Wright]

I believe it is applied fairly between men and women, absolutely.

[Luc Desilets, Bloc, Rivière-des-Mille-Îles, QC]

Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Emmanuel Dubourg]

Thank you, Mr. Desilets.

Now I'd like to invite Ms. Rachel Blaney for two and a half minutes.

[Rachel Blaney, NDP, North Island—Powell River, BC]

Thank you, Chair.

I'm not sure whether this is for Colonel Noonan or Colonel Wright. I will let you two decide.

One of the things I've heard from far too many women are that they've delayed their pregnancies until later in life or when they are released—usually very quickly after their release. What I'm concerned about is that those who have post-traumatic stress disorder are finding it challenging to get pregnant, to maintain their pregnancy, and/or get appropriate PTSD care while they're pregnant.

Again, that becomes one of those gaps, where the translation between service at CAF where they received the injury, the post-traumatic stress, and then VAC seems like it's not very clear.

Could you explain how CAF deals with that? Is there enough research to know what medication and treatment processes are safe to continue to treat their PTSD while also being pregnant and/or breastfeeding?