Veterans Affairs Committee on Dec. 5th, 2023

[Caleigh Wong]

Thank you for the question.

I think there would probably be an immediate benefit to it in that we might see.... I think there's an idea that in the red zone—the initial period of basic training, or the initial period of any start to a new thing—sexual violence is more likely to occur. There might be an immediate benefit with numbers going down, but I don't think it's a progressive move by any means.

There are other militaries that separate gender, for sure. If we were to have to do that in Canada and if that's the solution we commit to, especially in the long term, it would be quite disappointing. The reality is that these soldiers are not going to work in a segregated environment, and sexual violence doesn't just happen at basic training.

I definitely understand the sentiments of Ms. Hayward, but I don't think that is the long-term solution, no.

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

Thank you.

You referred to the system being unable to mange itself or to reduce the number of cases of sexual abuse, assault and so forth. You said the pressure has to come from the outside.

What do you mean by pressure from the outside? Which organizations or individuals in particular are you referring to?

[Caleigh Wong]

If I understand the question, it's about who is responsible for maintaining this external pressure on the military.

I suppose that would be the people in this room.

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

That's right.

I think my time is up.

Thank you very much, Ms. Wong.

[The Chair, Liberal, Emmanuel Dubourg]

Thank you, Mr. Desilets.

The last person is Ms. Blaney.

You have two and a half minutes, please, Ms. Blaney.

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

Thank you so much, Chair. I'm going to come back to Ms. Hayward.

You talked a lot about the reproductive health issues that you have because of your military injuries. Could tell us if you feel that VAC recognizes the severity of these issues? Did it fully consider the benefits that should be provided?

If not, which sounds like the case, could you explain what gaps you see there in treating women veterans' reproductive health?

[Stephanie Hayward]

During the last three years of trying to get physical therapy for my pelvic floor, I've been denied. I was fighting with them. I've had to pay out of pocket.

When I had to contact VAC's ombudsman to discuss these matters, I actually found out that all women's reproductive health has no treatment codes under it and it hasn't been updated since 1992. You can quote me on that, because that's what the ombudsman will confirm. They had to go in and physically change the codes, and they have not been updated.

I don't know if any woman veteran has received reproductive health treatment benefits. I have a pensionable condition that is like an umbrella, so I'm able to access these treatments, but when it goes to the claims department or to Veterans Affairs, I get sent to four gynecologists to prove my injury or to do another assessment.

The thing about sexual assault is that these procedures are very invasive, so I don't want to go to three different providers. I want to go to one, do the physical therapy and get out. I've been trying so hard for the last three years, to the point that now I can't afford to keep going with my child care because I don't get reimbursed in time. I can't afford to continue just when I might be able to receive it.

Every time there's a physical injury, even with the new rehabilitation program, it's been so complex to try to understand why they make you go through all these steps when.... To me, it's common knowledge. To providers outside of VAC, it's common knowledge that pelvic floor.... If I were to injure my back, the pelvic floor is one of the number one treatments for that in VAC, so why isn't it for sexual misconduct? I don't understand why injuries are different by territory.

I believe that Veterans Affairs needs to have a specialist in women's health to come on to the team and redesign the table of disabilities to represent women. Right now, the table of disabilities doesn't represent anything when it comes to women's health.

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

Thank you so much.

I think my time is up, but I would love it if you could send something in writing to us about how VAC could better accommodate single mothers, because you brought that up and I didn't have enough time to ask questions. I would love to have you explore that.

Thank you so much for your testimony.

[The Chair, Liberal, Emmanuel Dubourg]

Thank you so much.

Thank you to both of you for your testimony. We will stay in touch through the clerk.

I would also like to say that it has been incredible for me and the committee members to learn that you have had such negative experiences.

On behalf of the committee members, good luck in your career, in your endeavours and in your families.

I would now like to thank the witnesses for joining us.

We had Stephanie Hayward as a veteran and we had Caleigh Wong as a veteran. Thank you.

We're going to take a two-minute break because we're going to go in camera.

Thank you very much. Stay in touch. Thank you for coming.

[Proceedings continue in camera]