Veterans Affairs Committee on Oct. 19th, 2023

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

Can you give us an example of something concrete that you intend to introduce?

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

I will be rolling out the strategy in the very near future, Mr. Richards.

You will certainly be getting an invitation. How's that?

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

We'll anxiously await that, then.

Let me ask you again about the idea of having targets. In the departmental plan for 2023-24, under “benefits, services and support”, there were 17 goals listed. Only six of them had targets or metrics that you were looking to achieve.

Can you commit that in next year's departmental plan, when you have goals, they will all have targets that you'll try to achieve, and due dates by which you will try to achieve those things?

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

I'm certainly really prepared to make sure that I speak to my team about that, for sure.

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

I would sure rather have heard a commitment to making sure.

If you're going to have a goal, you have to have a target that you're trying to achieve and you have a due date to achieve it or else it's meaningless. That's what I think I see now when you only have six of 17.

I really hope that maybe in the future you'll commit to making sure that you do have targets and due dates for anything you're looking to achieve.

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

Having target dates and objectives is really important. I absolutely take your point.

Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Emmanuel Dubourg]

Thank you very much.

Now we go to Mr. Miao for five minutes.

[Wilson Miao, Liberal, Richmond Centre, BC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Allow me to ask my question again, Minister.

Our government has developed a lot of good programs for veterans. Some veterans in my riding of Richmond Centre have shared with me that because not everyone is using digital platforms, some might not be aware of what programs are offered by VAC, even when they are eligible.

What are some ways for those veterans to stay updated, even if they're unfamiliar with the technologies?

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

That's a really great question.

Making sure that veterans have access to services continues to be a challenge. We certainly recognize, with the modern-day veterans, that they're perhaps more agile or skilful in making sure that they have access to the digital tools that we have out there.

I think that certainly more work needs to be done.

I gave the example earlier with respect to indigenous veterans. Many of them live in the northern part of Canada in very isolated areas. Many indigenous veterans are not or were not aware of the benefits and services they're entitled to. Some of the things we have taken on are to ensure that our tiger team, if you will, of experts at VAC who have been seized with the veterans portfolio, go out once a month in the northern part of Canada and meet with veterans face to face to make sure they are aware of the applications, the services and benefits they're entitled to.

Again, more work needs to be done. There are some tools with respect to My VAC Account and the rest of it, but that is a challenge that's been identified. We certainly want to make sure that individuals who are entitled to benefits are aware of those benefits.

I don't know if Steven or Paul want to add anything.

[Paul Ledwell]

I could add to that, Mr. Chair, just quickly.

One key aspect of this is working through other organizations as well. We know that the Royal Canadian Legion is very present across the country, as an example. It's providing support and services directly to veterans to better understand what's available to them and better help them gain access to the programs.

It's not just the Royal Canadian Legions. There are many organizations coast to coast to coast that are representing veterans, working with veterans and networking. Getting the word out through those organizations is very important as well.

[Wilson Miao, Liberal, Richmond Centre, BC]

Thank you.

I'd like to take this opportunity to congratulate all of the brave soldiers and veterans who represented Canada at the recent Invictus Games in Germany. We're very happy and honoured that Canada will be hosting the Invictus Games in 2025. It is important for veterans to be able to share their stories. Through sports, the Invictus Games is a way to inspire recovery.

Can you tell us how the government supported our veterans who participated in this year's Invictus Games? Also, talk about the next Invictus Games in Vancouver in 2025.

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

This year I was honoured and privileged to attend the Invictus Games that were held in Germany. I met with many of our competitors who were down there. I got to know them and got to hear their stories.

I'll share this story. When I got there, I asked some of the Veterans Affairs staff how many medals Canada had won so far. The staff didn't know the answer and said they would get back to me. After spending three hours with the athletes, I quickly realized it wasn't about the medals. I thought it was good for this Veterans Affairs employee that he didn't have the answer to that question because it's really not about the medals. It's really about seeing our athletes being together, supporting each other, sharing and bonding.

It was a very touching and moving event for me there.

You're right. Canada is going to be hosting the Invictus Games in 2025. It's a $15-billion investment that the federal government has provided. Did I say billion? It's a $15-million investment.

It's going to be really exciting because it's the second time that Canada is hosting the games. It till be in Vancouver and Whistler. It will be the first hybrid games and the first winter sports that we'll be hosting. Again, the athletes are really excited—even the ones from the Caribbean countries where snow is probably not readily available.

It's just a really great example of Canada again showing leadership in this area. It's a real honour and privilege that our country will be hosting the games for a second time.

[Wilson Miao, Liberal, Richmond Centre, BC]

Thank you very much for sharing that. I look forward to seeing whether members of our committee can also join together to attend the Invictus Games in Vancouver in 2025.

Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Emmanuel Dubourg]

Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Miao.

Mr. Desilets, you have two and a half minutes.

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

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Of course, Mr. Miao, we want to be there.

Madam Minister, as someone who knows how a department works, how do you explain the fact that your department sent a letter to the winning firm, Daoust, in which it was offered a sum of money to compensate for lost revenue, so they say?

How do you explain that? In what context is this being done? Why is this being done?

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

Mr. Desilets, I think we need to take another step back. The decision was made this summer to give the winner's contract or prize to the Stimson team.

Did the Department of Veterans Affairs send the letter? I'm not sure which letter it is. Can you confirm that the letter in question came from the Department of Veterans Affairs?

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

Yes, that's correct.

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

Okay.

I'll ask one of my colleagues to give you an answer.

[Paul Ledwell]

Yes, a letter was sent to Daoust. It's a fairly normal process in the context of the procurement of services within the government, whether for small or large issues. This offer was normal under the circumstances.

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

Isn't it an admission of guilt in a way? Why were they offered money?

[Paul Ledwell]

It's a matter of process. It was suggested that it was important to offer this amount to Daoust, since it had been very close between these two firms.

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

Thank you.

Madam Minister, I would also like to point out that the bogus survey you're using to promote a project other than that of the Daoust firm makes no mention of women. It only mentions veterans. We don't know the gender of the respondents. So we don't even know if a single female veteran participated in the survey.

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

Mr. Desilets, I never said it was a scientific survey or questionnaire. We asked Canadians from coast to coast to coast. Over 10,000 Canadians responded to the survey. The vast majority were veterans. We wanted to hear from Canadians, and this is the result.

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

Thank you very much, Ms. Petitpas Taylor.

This means that we'll be seeing you here again between now and November 9.

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

I think we'll have the chance to talk again here. I don't know what more I can add, but we'll meet. I'll be there.