Veterans Affairs Committee on May 8th, 2024

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

That is a more technical question. I can tell you that the vast majority of funding in our budget is indeed earmarked for direct services, such as benefits to veterans.

I don't know the percentage, but Mr. Ledwell could tell you.

[Paul Ledwell, Deputy Minister, Department of Veterans Affairs]

More than 90% of our funding goes to veterans.

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

That's great.

I asked you something quickly earlier, Madam Minister, because I was running out of time. What is your reaction to the fact that the Office of the Information Commissioner received our complaint regarding the lack of transparency, the fact that we do not have the documents requested and the fact that the documents obtained under the Access to Information Act do not match other documents from your department, and will investigate this?

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

As the minister, I am ultimately responsible. So I will be taking to my senior officials because I want to make sure that you will receive the documents requested. I am promising you that.

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

Perfect.

Do I have any time left, Mr. Chair?

[The Chair, Liberal, Emmanuel Dubourg]

You have 20 seconds, Mr. Desilets.

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

You can have them then. Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Emmanuel Dubourg]

Thank you for your generosity.

Ms. Blaney, the floor is yours. You have two and a half minutes.

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

Thank you, Chair.

For my next question, I'm really interested that the percentage of unfavourable applications of disability claims has gone up a bit. I understand, based on conversations and information digging, that VRAB usually takes those appeals, approves them and sends people back and they get the disability claims they asked for.

I'm just wondering, as we're seeing that percentage going up, is that the best plan to make veterans wait while they have to go through an appeal process to eventually get the disability claim they asked for in the first place?

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

I think, in the first part of the question, you indicated that the number of disability claims that are denied has increased, but I think we also have to recognize that we've seen a huge, substantive increase in applications. I think it's really proportional, the numbers that we're seeing of denied claims, when we look at that as a proportion of the number of claims we are receiving. I don't think there's any trend there. We have to recognize that sometimes it can fluctuate a bit, but we're not seeing a huge increase in denials—

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

I just want to make sure I get that clarifying point in, because when they do appeal the process, the vast majority of them are getting the disability claim they requested. I'm just wondering if there is a way to fix that so that the extra step is not added, which adds to the time the veteran has to wait and the stress of waiting, and it's another administrative process.

I'm just curious about how those two work together to make sure they're cleaning that up so we can have the best process possible for veterans.

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

I think it's a really great question, Ms. Blaney.

We recognize that our adjudicators have a role to play. They do the work.

In some instances—and perhaps Steven will be able to elaborate a bit as well—Veterans Affairs workers certainly tell folks what they need, the documentation they need to provide, before they can adjudicate a claim. Sometimes that information is received and sometimes it's not received. Sometimes files are incomplete.

I do think it's still important to make sure that we have that appeal process, though, because it allows the veterans to have access to a lawyer, which Veterans Affairs pays for, to make sure they are properly instructed about their rights. I think we also have to understand, Ms. Blaney, that when a veteran is denied their claim, we actually provide them with a letter indicating the reason for the denial. That is my understanding. From there, if they choose to appeal their decision, they can be sure they will have access to the documents and whatever information is needed.

Steven, I don't know if there's anything else to add there.

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

I'm out of time.

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

Okay. My apologies.

[The Chair, Liberal, Emmanuel Dubourg]

That's okay. Thank you. The time is up.

Now we have two more interventions of five minutes each, one by Mr. Tolmie and the other by Mr. May.

Mr. Fraser Tolmie, you have five minutes. Please go ahead.

[Fraser Tolmie, Conservative, Moose Jaw—Lake Centre—Lanigan, SK]

Thank you, Chair.

Through you, Chair, to the minister, I know the minister's time is precious.

Here's what I've heard from the veterans whom I have met in my stakeholder meetings. Veterans don't feel respected for their service. Their medical cases are being rejected. Dealing with Veterans Affairs is like dealing with the worst insurance company. They're dealing with housing issues such as veterans living on the streets. Veterans and service personnel are living in their cars. Veterans and service personnel can't find affordable housing. Given the cost of living or inflation, veterans and service personnel are going without meals. Veterans and service personnel are struggling to put food on the table. Veterans and service personnel are having to use food banks. In terms of care, veterans can't find family doctors. Their partners and spouses are being ignored, and the list goes on.

Did you, in your stakeholder meeting in Montreal, hear about any of those issues?

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

I did hear about some of those issues, and that's why it was very important for me to be at those stakeholder—

[Fraser Tolmie, Conservative, Moose Jaw—Lake Centre—Lanigan, SK]

Thank you.

Chair, through you, what are you going to do—

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

Mr. Chair, may I continue to respond...?

[Fraser Tolmie, Conservative, Moose Jaw—Lake Centre—Lanigan, SK]

Well, I'm asking the questions, and I'd like to ask this next question.

Thank you, Chair.

[The Chair, Liberal, Emmanuel Dubourg]

Okay, but I think if you take one or two minutes to ask a question—

[Fraser Tolmie, Conservative, Moose Jaw—Lake Centre—Lanigan, SK]

I got the answer I wanted. She said yes.

Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Emmanuel Dubourg]

—you can allow time, respectfully, to the minister to respond to you.

[Fraser Tolmie, Conservative, Moose Jaw—Lake Centre—Lanigan, SK]

I got the answer I wanted.

[The Chair, Liberal, Emmanuel Dubourg]

Okay. Go ahead, Mr. Tolmie.