Veterans Affairs Committee on May 1st, 2023

[Col Helen Wright]

Thank you very much.

I would build on the same theme of research and engagement, because that engagement allows us to capitalize on the knowledge of our partners and not overlap too much. That research and health surveillance component are going to be absolutely foundational to our moving forward.

Of course, as you heard in my presentation, I'm delighted to say that we're already moving in that direction, and I'm very optimistic about the future.

[Churence Rogers, Liberal, Bonavista—Burin—Trinity, NL]

Thank you very much.

Captain Beck, do you want to add something further in terms of recommendations?

[Capt(N) Iain Beck]

I don't think so. Again, I think on our side, it is researching whether there are some vulnerabilities in our female population. If we can sort that out, perhaps we can better prepare them for that transition to the civilian setting.

[Churence Rogers, Liberal, Bonavista—Burin—Trinity, NL]

What are the biggest issues that we've identified that veterans face during the transition back to civilian life?

Colonel Noonan, do you want to comment on that?

[Col Lisa Noonan]

I think a sense of purpose, which is one of our key domains of well-being, is probably one of the most pronounced and profound things that we see. Individuals feel a loss of identity when they leave the CAF.

In order to properly transition our veterans, including our female veterans, we need to explore those kinds of things that will allow them to gain a new sense of purpose once they leave the CAF. All the different kinds of activities and programs we have.... We're going to be developing specific workshops to help with those kinds of exploration activities, and some of those could be tailored to female veterans as well.

As we go along, that is going to be very important.

There are also other kinds of issues that are interrelated with a sense of purpose in terms of financial well-being. We know from previous research that sometimes female veterans' wages or income drops slightly, and it's a bit more than male transitioning members. We have to be sure as we go along that we're helping them with what those next moves are to ensure their financial stability as they transition out of the military, whether that's post-CAF employment, doing some educational upgrading in order to be able to earn more or figuring out what they need to do to achieve that kind of stability.

Those are all the sorts of things I think we really need to focus on.

[The Chair, Liberal, Emmanuel Dubourg]

Thank you, Colonel.

We will now give the floor to the second vice-chair of the committee for the next six minutes.

Luc Desilets, you have the floor.

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

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I thank our guests for being with us. I also thank them for their service to Canada.

My first question is for Ms. Wright.

Ms. Wright, according to a study released in 2021 by the Office of the Ombudsman, women are more often released from the Canadian Forces for medical reasons than men, among other reasons.

In addition, another reported item that is not surprising is that women suffer significantly more from musculoskeletal conditions than men.

Other things veterans also suffer from include migraines, mood disorders, anxiety, and so on, which are also reported to be more common in women than in men.

Ms. Wright, I imagine you have seen this on the ground. If not, please let me know.

To your knowledge, has anything been done to combat the problem or eliminate the gender gap in this regard?

[Col Helen Wright]

That is a great question.

It's absolutely correct that the research that has been done does indicate that women release for medical reasons more frequently than men, and, as you alluded to in the question, we do see patterns of higher rates of musculoskeletal injuries in women than men. However, some of this data is actually balanced off by other studies that show things that are slightly different. For instance, we have studies that show that females experience no more acute injuries or repetitive strain injuries than males.

We have patterns that we're starting to understand, but we see that we simply need to learn more about the details of why these patterns are there, and then, of course, how best to address them once we understand them more fully.

That leads into the second part of your question about what we are doing about it. I do think the first thing we're doing is trying to understand better, so the actions we do take actually get to the root of the problem. However, having said that, we are doing concurrent activity; we're not just waiting for the research and health surveillance information to roll in. One excellent example is the work the Canadian Forces morale and welfare services is doing with respect to tailored exercise programs for women CAF members to help them reach their occupational goals, but it's also things like helping them get back to their occupational fitness as quickly as possible after having a baby. Also, inherent in that is, of course, avoiding injury.

I'll just throw out as an example that, really, it's the research leading to targeted interventions, but in the meantime doing what we can to optimize....

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

Thank you, Ms. Wright.

In the last few years, have you noted any improvements in that area?

[Col Helen Wright]

Do you mean improvements with respect to addressing women's medical issues specifically?

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

I am thinking in particular of the aspect related to musculoskeletal conditions and the fact that women are released from the Canadian Forces for medical reasons much more often than men.

[Col Helen Wright]

With respect to that specifically, I am not sure the pattern has changed, no. The pattern where we see a slightly higher rate of medical releases in females, I do not think has changed in the last few years. But we are working toward, as I said, understanding the phenomenon better, and therefore being able to change it in the future.

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

I would ask you to answer yes or no to my next question.

Are the Canadian Armed Forces adapting sufficiently to women's needs?

[Col Helen Wright]

I am a bit biased, of course, leading a program that's aimed specifically at making sure that in health services we are leaning forward and looking after women in an optimal way. I think we're moving very quickly in this direction. I'm not suggesting we have reached where we need to go yet. We're on our way. But we're on the leading edge of our military partners, for instance, with respect to looking after women and diverse members. I feel like we are making great strides in the right direction.

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

You are answering the question somewhat, but that's okay.

In October 2022, our new Minister of National Defence, Anita Anand, awarded a rather impressive $3.7‑billion contract to a Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu company to supply operational clothing and footwear to the Canadian Armed Forces.

Is this type of contract truly adapted to the needs of women and their body structure?

[Col Helen Wright]

I cannot speak to that specific contract. I'm not aware of the one you're referring to. I can say there is work under way to make sure we are adapting equipment to the female frame. An example, for instance, is the ballistic plates, which are so infamously difficult for small-statured people and women to wear. There is research going on about what design would be appropriate for those plates, and yet also, of course, continue to protect people optimally, because that's what that ballistic protection is for. That is just one example, but there is absolutely work ongoing to optimize in that area.

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

So my understanding is that there is still a long way to go for the Canadian Armed Forces to find solutions and adapt to the specific needs of women.

Is that right?

[Col Helen Wright]

We are working hard to make sure that we are looking after our women and gender-diverse members optimally but, yes, there is still work to do. However, I am pleased to say that I believe we are starting to do it.

[The Chair, Liberal, Emmanuel Dubourg]

Thank you.

Now let's go to Ms. Rachel Blaney for six minutes, please.

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

Thank you all so much for being here today. I appreciate your time. Of course, thank you for your service.

I'm going to do my best, but if you are not the right person for me to direct the question to, I totally accept your moving me on to the correct person.

I think the first person I want to ask a question to—and I hope it's the right person—is Captain Beck.

I'm curious about the transition process. Our serving women, upon release, are screened for women-specific issues such as being up to date on pap tests and mammograms and HPV vaccine if that is appropriate. They are screened with respect to sexual violence, IPV, MST, urinary incontinence, their reproductive history while in the military, along with their reproductive hazardous exposures. Are those also fully documented?

[Capt(N) Iain Beck]

I don't have the answers to all of that, but I would sure hope they are doing those things. Part of the key to leaving the military is transition of care to the civilian workforce. There is an exam, an appointment, prior to release, and certainly those types of things should be assured by the primary care provider, obviously, on the mental health front.

Colonel Wright might be able to answer that a little better.

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

That would be fantastic. If no one has the answer, could that be provided to the committee at a later date?

[Capt(N) Iain Beck]

Sure. I don't want to throw her under the bus, but she may know the answer to that.

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

Colonel Wright, do you know the answer?

[Col Helen Wright]

We are actually just in the process of revamping or adjusting the screening tools that we use for our periodic medical health exams, and that includes the one on release. We are making it much more thorough with respect to women's issues and diversity health issues as well, so your question hits right on an effort we're already working on to optimize it.