Veterans Affairs Committee on Oct. 19th, 2023

[The Chair, Liberal, Emmanuel Dubourg]

I understand you, but—

[Blake Richards, Conservative, Banff—Airdrie, AB]

Mr. Chair, let me finish my intervention.

[The Chair, Liberal, Emmanuel Dubourg]

No, no, no, I understand what you are saying, but—

[Blake Richards, Conservative, Banff—Airdrie, AB]

Let me finish my intervention. I've asked for an opportunity to respond to the point of order before we rule—

[The Chair, Liberal, Emmanuel Dubourg]

I understand, but we have to go on because—

[Blake Richards, Conservative, Banff—Airdrie, AB]

We have veterans in this room who are upset about the processes.

[The Chair, Liberal, Emmanuel Dubourg]

I know. I know.

[Blake Richards, Conservative, Banff—Airdrie, AB]

I just want to ask the minister about that question. I'm doing it on behalf of veterans, Mr. Chair.

[The Chair, Liberal, Emmanuel Dubourg]

I understand that. We are meeting on behalf of veterans, and it's televised. I know that. However, like I said, if you take three minutes to ask a question, you have to leave at least two minutes for the witnesses to answer your question, and you have to stop interrupting those interventions. That's why I'm saying that.

[Blake Richards, Conservative, Banff—Airdrie, AB]

I have a point of order, Mr. Chair.

Could you point to where, in the Standing Orders, it indicates that it's required for someone to give the exact amount of time for the minister to answer a question as has been used to ask it?

The member has the opportunity to use that time to get answers. In this case, it's on behalf of veterans who are upset about the processes, and I'm trying to ask the minister about those processes.

[The Chair, Liberal, Emmanuel Dubourg]

Mr. Richards, let me tell you. You have five minutes to ask questions and to wait for the answers. If you want to take your five minutes, your total five minutes, to comment or to say something, that's all. However, like I said, please do not interrupt. If you do not agree with the answer, I can understand that, but the witnesses should have their time to answer you, please.

So, now it's—

[Blake Richards, Conservative, Banff—Airdrie, AB]

I agree, Mr. Chair. Let's hear her answer about what she's going to do to fix those processes.

[The Chair, Liberal, Emmanuel Dubourg]

It's okay.

Minister, I want to give you just 30 seconds to reply if you want to.

[Bryan May, Liberal, Cambridge, ON]

I have a point of order, Mr. Chair.

His time is long gone. Through all the points of order and—

[The Chair, Liberal, Emmanuel Dubourg]

No, no, no.

[Bryan May, Liberal, Cambridge, ON]

—his interventions throughout, his time is long gone.

[The Chair, Liberal, Emmanuel Dubourg]

Mr. May, listen. I have my chrono right here, so I know. That's my job; I'm doing that. If I give 30 seconds to the minister, I'm allowed to.

All right, let's move on.

I'm sorry about the interruption, Minister. Please, if you have any comments, you have 30 seconds. After that, you can come back in another round to go further.

[Ginette Petitpas Taylor, Liberal, Moncton—Riverview—Dieppe, NB]

Thank you so much, Mr. Chair.

Again, we certainly recognize, Mr. Richards, that not all clients are 100% satisfied with Veterans Affairs Canada. That is why we can always improve our processes. That is why we have our ADMs working hard to make sure that we offer quality service and make the necessary investments to provide veterans with access to the case managers, to their agents—

[Blake Richards, Conservative, Banff—Airdrie, AB]

Can you tell us specifically what you're doing to improve the processes, though?

[The Chair, Liberal, Emmanuel Dubourg]

Excuse me. Excuse me, sir. I just said that I would give the minister 30 seconds.

[Blake Richards, Conservative, Banff—Airdrie, AB]

Mr. Chair, it's not your job to cover for the minister.

[The Chair, Liberal, Emmanuel Dubourg]

No, no, it's not my job, I know, but I said that she had 30 seconds, and within those 30 seconds, you're interrupting again. Please, we are in front of veterans. We are working for them, so we need answers.

You have 10 seconds.

[Blake Richards, Conservative, Banff—Airdrie, AB]

Exactly. We need answers about what she's going to do to fix the processes.

[The Chair, Liberal, Emmanuel Dubourg]

Okay, now it's over, and I'd like to go now to Mr. Miao for five minutes, please.

[Wilson Miao, Liberal, Richmond Centre, BC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Welcome, Minister. Congratulations on your appointment to this file.

As well, I'd like to welcome all the guests and veterans. I really appreciate all the service that you've done for our country.

Before I start my question, maybe I will let the minister finish her comment if she has more to add in response to the question that my colleague asked.