Veterans Affairs Committee on Nov. 18th, 2025

[Marie-Hélène Gaudreau, Bloc, Laurentides—Labelle, QC]

Thank you, Madam Chair.

In fact, I would like to give the floor to Ms. Duhaime, if she would like. I have the feeling that she has "set the table" and she has wanted a platform for 30 years. We have time to listen to her. I have the feeling she has suffered tremendous trauma and I do not want to retraumatize her. She has chosen to be here and I think talking about all of it is important, not just for us, but also for her.

Ms. Duhaime, is there something you would like to explain to us about what you have experienced?

[Marie-Noël Duhaime]

Sandra Perron took phase 2 of her training in Gagetown in 1990. I did the same thing in 1995. If you want to know how the army treated us, go see the film. I told Chloé I needed help. It took her less than 30 seconds to buy my ticket and she said she would come see the film with me. Chloé Deraiche is the general manager of Le Sentier. Do you know what Le Sentier is?

Sandra Perron saved my life in 1996, in Kingston. She almost allowed me to commit suicide several times that year, not because she wanted to, but because her hands were tied. It's about money. It's about laws. It's about rules. It's an aberration of capitalism. Be careful, because it is a traumatizing film. People who watch the film need to make sure they have help.

I am lucky to have met with psychologists. I'm not talking about the first psychologist I had in Kingston. I had asked for help, and I was sent to see a psychologist, but she told the member of the military everything. That member of the military then told me that I should keep quiet instead of talking about suicide and rape. Even the commander of the 12th Regiment told me I was one of three or four people who have... I don't recall now; I have had electroshock treatments and my memory is not so good.

The electroshock therapy was a lifeline for me. They kept my lifeline safe, down below. It was not safe for the others. Yes, but it was my lifeline.

Do you know what this is? It's a corkscrew; it's for drinking my wine. I'm sorry, I just have to get another can out. I don't know whether it's leaking. It's still alcohol.

Do you have other questions to ask me? I have lost the thread, I'm sorry. I'm lost.

[Marie-Hélène Gaudreau, Bloc, Laurentides—Labelle, QC]

I don't want you to go into the details. You talked earlier about 30 years. What would be good for you right now, for you and the other brothers in arms? You can talk about your experience, or not, but we need to hear—

[Marie-Noël Duhaime]

Let's look forward. Let's find a common mission to save our souls.

The magic number is three. Ask my daughters. Amélia and Charlotte, I am trying to do better, for you. It's their father's birthday today. Thank you, Jean‑François.

The impact of post-traumatic stress disorder, the ultimate violence that we were all willing to give to all humans—mind, body and soul.... You paid millions to train me, and then you discarded me.

The social value of a garbage can is billions of dollars that we prefer to invest in war.

This is what happened about two weeks ago.

A good friend of mine found a lady intoxicated who had passed out in a pool of blood. The lady knew she was pregnant, but she was afraid to go to the hospital. She wasn't safe there—they would steal her kid. She gave birth on a freezing evening. She didn't have a red coat to keep her warm. She had multiple layers of dirty clothes.

Two superwomen dressed me today, with their honesty.

It's a trigger. I've been strangled before—many times—but I wanted to wear this trigger to show you about all of the money you invest in soldiers.

We invest millions of dollars. The prostitute's pay they send me every month... It's a luxury credit card for $30,000.

I've been asking for help, and people say, “What's in it for me?”

What time do we have? Is it done? I'm sorry.

Next person, please....

[The Chair, Liberal, Marie-France Lalonde]

Thank you.

We will now go to the next round of questions. Each member will have five minutes.

Next is Mr. Tolmie for five minutes, please.

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

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you to our witnesses for coming here today. Your testimonies have been extremely powerful.

Sometimes we have to face some of the things that have been ignored. I apologize for what you've experienced. When we keep hearing the term “dehumanizing the soul”, it's troubling.

I have a few questions I'd like to ask, and Mr. Simons, I'd like to start with you. In your opening statement, you mentioned that you were a base brat, which means your father served in the military, or your mother...?

[Darren Simons]

My father served for over 30 years. He did five years in Germany, two tours of Cyprus and he served across the country.

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

Okay, I'm going to ask you a question here. Did he ever deal with Veterans Affairs?

[Darren Simons]

I think he was a client shortly before I was. I don't know if he was a client until he was almost close to retirement.

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

Okay. I just want to know what kind of service he may have received compared with the service you have received as a client of Veterans Affairs.

[Darren Simons]

When he passed away, I dealt with his estate. I believe one of the issues he claimed benefits for was hearing. That was about it, that I can recall.

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

Okay. Did he get that claim for hearing?

[Darren Simons]

Yes.

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

Okay. All right.

Would you say that the service he received was better than the service you received?

[Darren Simons]

No. I would say that he was probably not informed as much as to what he could claim for, because I believe he was entitled to much more.

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

Right.

[Darren Simons]

As an army brat, moving around, you lose your social networks and you gain social networks. I saw the effect it had on my mother, and a divorce was the result. I think he probably needed some help psychologically but never applied for it. I don't know why.

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

Okay. You mentioned in your testimony as well that you met Mr. Wouters. It wasn't just that you went through his program; it was your wife too. Was there anybody else in your family who went through it?

[Darren Simons]

I was asked to bring my wife. My wife asked, “Why am I coming?” and I said, “I've been asked to bring you.” We're both glad that we went together.

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

Can you share a little bit about what you experienced?

[Darren Simons]

It was a different approach, and that's the big thing. He talked to me and talked to my wife and got us to open up. For me, there was an aha moment in it, which helped me, but the big thing is that my wife's been through a lot. When you walk through a muddy puddle and get yourself muddy, when you come home, you're still going to have mud on you, and she's going to see that. She saw a lot of what I went through. I talked to a veteran recently, and he didn't realize how much his wife knows about what he went through or how it affected her.

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

Can I ask you a quick question? Was that covered by Veterans Affairs?

[Darren Simons]

That was covered by the Royal Canadian Legion in Saskatchewan.

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

It wasn't covered by Veterans Affairs.

[Darren Simons]

No, it had nothing to do with Veterans Affairs.