Veterans Affairs Committee on Dec. 2nd, 2025

[Sean Casey, Liberal, Charlottetown, PE]

Minister, you were invited here to talk about the estimates, so why don't we do that for a couple of minutes?

In supplementary estimates (B), there's $10.5 million for the federal health claims processing services contract to ensure the continued delivery of health care authorization. Can you tell us a bit about that?

[Jill McKnight, Liberal, Delta, BC]

Thank you.

We are ensuring that we are able to deliver the supports and services that every veteran who comes forward with a request needs. This ensures that we will have the available funds to meet those needs.

[Sean Casey, Liberal, Charlottetown, PE]

As it is often the case with Veterans Affairs, these increases requested through the supplementary estimates are the result of the benefits being statutory and a right. Nobody who applies can be told, “We're out of money.” There's an obligation to pay, so we have to accurately estimate how much to pay, and sometimes that requires an adjustment.

Is that a fair summary of why we are where we are?

[Jill McKnight, Liberal, Delta, BC]

Yes, that is a fair summary.

As you mentioned, a veteran who comes forward will receive the care, whether they come forward today or 10 years from now. When a veteran comes forward with a need, we will be here to meet their needs and deliver the benefits and services.

As you said, the estimates are a best guess based on how many individuals are going to come forward, so it is necessary to make adjustments to make sure we are responding to the needs of the veterans who are coming forward.

[Sean Casey, Liberal, Charlottetown, PE]

Thank you, Minister.

The other two specific items in the estimates speak to advertising initiatives to make families and their caregivers aware of programs, as well as money specifically targeted toward peer support for victims of sexual misconduct or military sexual trauma. Can you speak to those two things that appear in supplementary estimates (B)?

[Jill McKnight, Liberal, Delta, BC]

Thank you for the question.

You mentioned the money for advertising. That is to engage with veterans and their family members on the benefits and services that are available to them. Referring back to the conversation we just had, we want to ensure that veterans who have a need for benefits or supports are accessing them and coming forward to receive them. This includes initiatives to communicate with veterans to ensure that they are aware of what's available and how they can come forward to receive it.

The second thing you referenced was the funding for peer support, specifically for victims of sexual misconduct and military sexual trauma. That support is undertaken in partnership with the Department of National Defence as we support individuals who have had experiences with military sexual trauma. We are ensuring that the peer support program is there to provide services for those individuals.

[Sean Casey, Liberal, Charlottetown, PE]

One other thing I wanted to clarify from the first round of questions is the allegation that veterans continue to overpay for long-term costs. My understanding is that the allegation is currently being tested in court. Has the court resolved that question yet?

[Jill McKnight, Liberal, Delta, BC]

I do not believe so.

[Sean Casey, Liberal, Charlottetown, PE]

I believe you are right. The very question that is asserted as a fact is still being litigated.

[Jill McKnight, Liberal, Delta, BC]

That's correct.

[Sean Casey, Liberal, Charlottetown, PE]

Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Marie-France Lalonde]

Ms. Gaudreau, you have the floor for two and a half minutes.

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

Thank you very much, Madam Chair.

What really touched me in the testimony we've heard over the past few weeks is that a number of witnesses have told us that they no longer trust Canada's promises.

You must be discouraged, Minister, when you hear this statement from veterans, right?

[Jill McKnight, Liberal, Delta, BC]

Canada is here to support our veterans. Our veterans have given an incredible amount for our country, and we are here to support them. If there is a disconnect, then there's an opportunity for us to continue the relationship to show that support to them.

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

I would so much like to ask Santa Claus to bring us a magic wand to do a complete 180°.

You will recall, Madam Chair, that the majority of witnesses said it was like a contract management department. We need a department that shows compassion for our veterans. That's my hope, and I would very much like to see it happen.

As you know, we've had a dozen or so veterans affairs ministers in 10 years. We can't perform miracles, but I'm thinking of veterans right now.

Minister, I'd like to know what your priorities are, because we know we're not going to be able to change everything. Even if veterans are told that everything will be fine and that there will be services, they no longer have confidence. I'm not targeting you when I say that. I'm saying that they no longer trust their system.

What would you say to them in terms of concrete short-term goals?

[Jill McKnight, Liberal, Delta, BC]

First, I would like to acknowledge the incredible individuals who are the frontline workers who work with our veterans. These are individuals who show up with compassion and care and just the most warmth on a continuing basis, working with individuals, as you've mentioned, who have faced some traumatic things, such as individuals around them who may have attempted or died by suicide.

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

Thank you, Minister.

[The Chair, Liberal, Marie-France Lalonde]

Madame Gaudreau is her own timekeeper, I have to say.

Thank you very much, Ms. Gaudreau.

Thank you, Minister.

We will now have MP Tolmie, I believe, for five minutes.

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

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Minister and witnesses, for joining us.

Through you, Madam Chair, we recently had a witness complain that every time he calls Veterans Affairs concerning his file, he gets a different caseworker and therefore has to start his process from the start every time he calls.

I've been on this committee for four years, since I was elected in 2021. You are the fifth Minister of Veterans Affairs in the four years that I have been here, and the ninth Minister of Veterans Affairs since the Liberals were voted in back in 2015.

What message does this send to the veterans who have had nine ministers in 10 years and five in the last four years? What kind of care are you giving veterans? What kind of attention and what kind of priority are you making veterans?

[Jill McKnight, Liberal, Delta, BC]

Ensuring that veterans have access to timely and compassionate care is what I am focused on every day right now.

You mentioned that there has been a turnover of ministers, and that is accurate. What has been consistent, though, are the individuals I referenced in my remarks just a moment ago, the compassionate and incredible individuals who are engaging on a day-to-day basis: the team with Veterans Affairs, the case managers who are working with the veterans one-on-one on a daily basis. That is the key, and that's part of why we are making the investments with the budget: to be able to continue that care for veterans.

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

Madam Chair, with all due respect, this feels like an I Love Lucy rerun, because I've heard this from every other minister who has sat in here.

What do you expect to accomplish in the time that you are here? You've talked about timely and compassionate care. That's the same thing I heard from the last minister and the minister before that, and we've not seen a change. We've not seen compassionate care. What we've seen are witnesses coming forward complaining that they're not getting compassionate care. How do you expect to change this after nine years—pardon me; after 10 years?

[Jill McKnight, Liberal, Delta, BC]

The experiences that I've had in my travels differ from yours. I have had numerous veterans speak to me about the engagements that they've had with Veterans Affairs and with the individuals who are working directly with them in positive experiences.

You asked about how we will continue to improve upon that. That's part of why we're investing in the modernization. It's so that we can—

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

I appreciate that answer, Minister, but with all due respect, if you're just getting the fluff from people who are saying that everything's good and you're not listening to what's going on here in this committee and what's bad, you're never going to fix the problems that the veterans are dealing with.

What are you going to do to fix the problems that the veterans who have been coming here are dealing with? Are you talking to them?

[Jill McKnight, Liberal, Delta, BC]

I am talking to veterans with a variety of experiences. I am talking to those who have had positive experiences and I'm talking to those who have faced some challenging circumstances. I am speaking with individuals on our advisory committees, who come with their lived experiences and the experiences of those around them. I'm going out and visiting locations where veterans are coming together to give feedback.

I had a recent opportunity in Calgary to meet with a number of veterans when I made a visit there, and there were both positives and opportunities for improvement—

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

Thank you.

We've had a witness who couldn't even get a ramp for a wheelchair, and she has asked for people to go and visit. I'm very happy to get her address and send you there, so that she can share the experience that she's had.

The experiences that veterans are having are not good, and we need to see a change. What kind of change are you going to bring to this table here?