Veterans Affairs Committee on Nov. 27th, 2025

[Bruno Plourde]

As Ms. Deraiche mentioned, there should be a continuum of care. Veterans have to go through bureaucracy to get their own medical files and transport them. Given the number of forms that we're made to fill out, I can't believe that Canada Post couldn't solve part of the problem by introducing a confidentiality notice so that things can move from one institution to another within the federal government and across the country. Given its prerogatives, the committee could do something.

I just don't understand why, in 2025, a medical file can't be moved from one department to another so that Veterans Affairs Canada can be proactive when there are risks. If someone is at risk in the army, the next morning, they're no longer at risk to anyone. What the…

We have to restore some common sense and humanity to the situation. We have to find a black box somewhere.

[Tatiana Auguste, Liberal, Terrebonne, QC]

Thank you very much for that.

Could you talk a bit about the community aspect and peer support, which you mentioned earlier?

[Chloé Deraiche]

The community aspect is about working together, rolling up our sleeves and working with our partners on the ground, meaning community organizations and institutions.

For me, this is really a community, and it's about working together to save lives. That's really what we do.

[The Chair, Liberal, Marie-France Lalonde]

Thank you very much.

Again, for all of the anglophone individuals, Madame Gaudreau will be asking questions in French, so make sure you have your earpieces in.

Ms. Gaudreau, you have the floor for six minutes.

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

Thank you very much, Madam Chair.

This is our tenth meeting. I know that many veterans are listening to us.

Seriously, what kind of cry from the heart will it take for people to wake up? Every piece of testimony talks about individuals being forgotten and let down. There's no transition. Seriously, know that there are people who understand you. It takes political will.

In life, as long as someone isn't directly affected by a problem, the best thing to do is ignore it. People don't want to see homelessness. People don't want to say hello to someone on the street. That someone may be a veteran. We have a long way to go.

I'm new to the committee. I'm astounded to see that the budget for national defence is going to be increased. Granted, there may be good reasons under the current circumstances, but we aren't even consolidating our base.

For my part, I understood your message, I see you, and I thank you. I'm optimistic in life. I hope there will be a turnaround, not of 180 degrees, but of 360 degrees. The current situation makes no sense.

Mr. Plourde, earlier you stopped at “What the”, but I'm going to say it: What the fuck! Seriously, this is bad.

Mr. Plourde and Ms. Deraiche, I'd like to offer you my remaining minutes. It's a good thing The Trail is there.

What do you need to prevent our veterans from spiralling and ensure that measures are put in place immediately?

I'd like to hear your comments on that.

[Chloé Deraiche]

The last call for projects by Veterans Affairs Canada had an envelope of $15 million for three years, and approximately $300,000 was invested in Quebec, the Canadian province with the second-largest number of veterans, over those three years.

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

Out of $15 million, only $300,000 was invested in Quebec. Wow!

[Chloé Deraiche]

Yes, and The Trail received $233,000, so I can say that we won the jackpot in Quebec.

It takes funding to help organizations, yes, but beyond that, we need to be allowed to take part in round tables, among other things, where we can name things, speak on behalf of veterans and talk about what we see on a daily basis. It's very important to have those spaces and make a difference. I don't think it requires action plans with 10 different colours. It's just a matter of making sure that there are fluid mechanisms in place and working in partnership with organizations.

For example, last week, we had the opportunity to go and present our services to the Quebec regional unit of the Canadian Armed Forces Transition Group. All the employees were there. That was the first time that had ever been done.

We're definitely seeing small changes, but they're so minimal compared to what's needed. We had to fill out forms just to be recognized as a community organization so that case managers had the right to refer veterans to our organization. That shows that red tape is taking up a lot more space than human beings.

I think it's important to make the process more fluid, easier, less bureaucratic and much more humane. We have to create a space for listening, work together and ensure that we have a comprehensive view of the situation.

It isn't true that veterans no longer have needs after their release, at one minute past midnight. The mission of Veterans Affairs Canada is to help veterans, and that has to extend over time. We have to give ourselves the means to make sure that this happens.

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

The truth of the matter is that the machinery of government is colossal, and it can't turn on a dime. Culture is just as hard to change. We would all like it to be otherwise, but we're stuck with what we have.

If we really wanted to act right now and gave you help—veterans may also want to contribute—and all the resources required to meet the needs, even if it meant quadrupling your funding, would you be able to quickly turn things around on a dime? After this meeting, I imagine you'll be getting calls and finding out that you're short-staffed.

[Bruno Plourde]

It's possible, but I would ask that we be given less money and that we be given a doctor instead.

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

We will mention that in our report.

[Bruno Plourde]

I'm speaking for Quebec, but also for Canada as a whole. Our doctors and our health care system are overwhelmed. Why would a doctor see a veteran rather than another citizen who is also in pain? How should they triage?

Having a doctor with administrative staff who know how to fill out the forms by writing the right words in the right boxes is priceless.

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

Your message has been understood.

[Bruno Plourde]

It takes a doctor to take care of veterans and listen to them. The doctor doesn't have to be there 365 days a year. They just have to be there to listen to them, fill out the forms, speed up the acceptance process and make sure that there's a continuum of services after their release. That could also be a mobile team in each of the regions of Canada.

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

Thank you very much.

My time is up. We'll pick this back up later.

[The Chair, Liberal, Marie-France Lalonde]

Thank you very much, Ms. Gaudreau.

We will now move on to the second round of questions.

Ms. Wagantall, you have the floor for five minutes.

[Cathay Wagantall, Conservative, Yorkton—Melville, SK]

Thank you so much, Chair.

I thank each and every one of you for being here today, and I thank you for your service.

I'm really ticked off. I'm not new here. I've been here since 2015. We have had study after study and recommendation after recommendation that deals with identifying our veterans, transferring records and dealing face to face. All of the issues that I've heard today, I've heard over and over again, but there has been no progress.

My concern is something that was said today that I have heard often, and that I refuse to believe. It has been said that we can't measure prevention.

Mr. La Salle, do you believe that? Is there no way for us to be able to identify and accept the reality that veterans who have served come out of that service with issues that need to be identified?

My father-in-law worked for a major corporation. When he retired 20 years ago, from that point on, he was connected. Why is it said we can't stay connected with veterans unless they want us to?

[Stephen La Salle]

Quite simply, I think its a bureaucracy. We built too big an animal. Then we forgot to be client based, focused on the veterans as people.

As Dr. Brend said, we need a trauma-informed approach. We need to recognize that when veterans are releasing from service, there could be some sort of trauma. We need to find that continuity of care when they're discharged so that they have the support, so that they're not falling through the cracks and so that they don't feel like they're just a file number.

[Cathay Wagantall, Conservative, Yorkton—Melville, SK]

Thank you for that.

On that issue, it seems to me that a lot of veterans come with needs to be met. Maybe they don't know what they are, but at some point in time, they know what they need, yet VAC doesn't give it to them. Veterans' choice seems to be non-existent.

Can you speak to that at all?

That question is to others, as well, if there's someone who would like to respond.

[Stephen La Salle]

I think veterans may know what they need, but they may not necessarily know how to get the services.

In my case, the Legion was able to speak out. It is unfortunate to have to use a third party to advocate and to do the paperwork, either because it's so complex to navigate the system or because it's very stressful, as the other witnesses said too.

[Cathay Wagantall, Conservative, Yorkton—Melville, SK]

I've heard that our Legion in Saskatchewan has helped 35 veterans get help from an organization that they have learned is very effective but that VAC will not fund, whereas it is what our veterans want.

Mr. Dale, or whoever would like to respond one after the other on that, I would appreciate it.

[Cst Aaron Dale]

The military is a really good system, and Veterans Affairs is a good system. Both can improve, but they're both good systems.

You lose people in the middle part, in the transition. If you overlap those pieces, you can start using military doctors to do our VAC disability claims, instead of having us try to find a doctor. That release process can't be 27 days like mine was. It has to be, maybe, six months. It has to be regimented where the person's going through all the VAC issues, all the VAC paperwork, all the claims and all the money. You have to hold on to that soldier and transition them to the veteran life but have that overlap.

On top of that, the magic question is how a person goes from great service in the military, to release, to crisis and to suicide. What's that pathway? That's something I think we need to analyze, but it's going to take getting into records of the CAF and VAC.

[Cathay Wagantall, Conservative, Yorkton—Melville, SK]

I'll just comment on that. It has been the major focus of this committee ever since I started. We've gone through pilot projects and supposed movement, but it is at a snail's pace. In the meantime, we are hearing the same things from those who are being released medically or leaving and not getting that assistance. That's where we're not looking at the recommendations and determining whether or not those recommendations are even being followed.

Sorry, we have just a few minutes. Go ahead.

[Chloé Deraiche]

What was just said is important, but we have two systems that work in completely opposite ways. The military system takes complete control of a person's life. When they're released at one minute past midnight, they have to run to get access to services. That's where the differences have to be ironed out.

[The Chair, Liberal, Marie-France Lalonde]

Thank you very much.

Ms. Hirtle, you have the floor for five minutes.