Evidence of meeting #23 for Veterans Affairs in the 45th Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was businesses.
A recording is available from Parliament.
As an Individual
After Manulife dropped me—and I didn't know that Manulife was supporting my disability benefits—a few months later, Veterans Affairs picked up my case. I did not know this was going to happen, so I continued. I did not know, for two or three months, that this was going to happen. I thought, “What do I do now?”
That was the only thing with Veterans Affairs Canada.
Liberal
Chris d'Entremont Liberal Acadie—Annapolis, NS
This is a good question for you, too. It seems that people who had the opportunity—that might be the wrong word—to be in a forward-operating situation can take a lot of stress. Is that a good thing in business, or is that actually a bad thing? Your stress level, or your capability of taking on that stress, is probably higher than what most businesses would be able to do.
As an Individual
It really depends on who you ask. If you ask me, I love that chaos and that energy. My psychologist told me that's good, because I'm optimized for that level of stress. However, if you ask my wife, she will say that it's better with no stress, to reduce the stress level. It's very much a different opportunity. It works because I'll operate on stressful things, and she'll operate on the daily stuff.
Liberal
Chris d'Entremont Liberal Acadie—Annapolis, NS
I'm sure that right now, with the grooming requirements of the Canadian Armed Forces, your products are being used by current service members.
As an Individual
Yes, we were really lucky. When we launched the company, the CANFORGENS changed for beards being allowed in the military, and we supplied CANEX right away. All the CANEXs across Canada picked up our brand. We were one of the first veteran-owned companies.
We've pushed that really hard. CANEX should have a section for veteran-owned companies to really promote those products. There is so much good talent in Canada—veterans who own companies that make fabulous products. I stand behind all of them. They should be in CANEX and be supported that way.
Liberal
Chris d'Entremont Liberal Acadie—Annapolis, NS
Thank you very much, Mr. Leboeuf.
Mr. Potapenko, I like the suggestion you made about the silver tsunami that's coming. You made me try to remember how to spell “tsunami”.
How do we match that up? When you come out of the Canadian Armed Forces as a pilot, you might not have the training to be the plumber, the mechanic or the Red Seal whatever we need in our communities. How do we match up some of those business opportunities in many communities across Canada?
As an Individual
I would suggest looking south of the border. They have taken steps in that regard, with SBA-backed loans for up to $5 million U.S. to acquire small businesses, with up to 90% LTV. At a federal level, it's basically facilitating transfer from one generation to another by making lending accessible. Also, the VA loan specifically is being used by a lot of veterans there for launching real estate businesses. Those are two methods that I know of in terms of making it financially accessible.
Also, it's not done by the government, but there are organizations in the States that put in those transitioning veterans, such as a pilot officer, as an operator in a business. It could be a CEO position. They get a bit of equity. They buy in. They maybe don't buy the whole business—there are some investors behind them—but they're capable operators. They can lead. They can build a team and be in charge of that business.
Liberal
Chris d'Entremont Liberal Acadie—Annapolis, NS
I did like your comment that entrepreneurship is hard. It's probably one of the harder opportunities.
Mr. Hennebery, can you talk quickly about non-traditional jobs? When you get into the art realm, the business plan is not as normal as buying an electrician's business.
Chief Warrant Officer, Veterans Artist Collective
Yes, in our collective, we have about 600 members. About 100 of them are professional artists who are very successful.
Jodi Miller was a major in the air force. She's a painter now. She was a rocket scientist. She has a Ph.D. in aeronautics engineering. Now she's a full-time landscape painter. Her stuff at our show sold before we even put it up on the wall. She's very successful. We also have Roger Chabot, whom many people know as well.
These are all very successful people, but they're non-traditional. None of these people would qualify. For a lot of people, it's not just.... We live in a gig economy and not everybody is looking for that full-time job. They can only do part-time. A lot of these creative jobs are part of that, non-traditional.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Marie-France Lalonde
Thank you very much, sir.
Ms. Gaudreau will have the floor for six minutes.
She will be addressing you in French, so make sure you have your earpiece on before we start. I want to make sure that you can hear her in French.
Ms. Gaudreau, you have the floor for six minutes.
Bloc
Marie-Hélène Gaudreau Bloc Laurentides—Labelle, QC
Thank you very much, Madam Chair.
Mr. Leboeuf, I don't know if you heard the previous witness's statements, but I feel like we got somewhere, that we may have put our finger on it. In the system, whether it's a politician, a public servant who fills out a document or a banker who has to manage the risk associated with the capital offered, I get the impression that, at the end of the day, people may not be interested in what they don't know. We've all seen movies, but you'll agree that seeing it in 2D and experiencing it are very different things.
We see that suffering in our studies. It's often present. I hope that this study will allow us to make a 180-degree turn, but not in the sense that we'll be applying a method or a program. Can we start from the bottom up? That means demystifying and promoting, not hiding what isn't working. I can give you a list; I think we've really identified a lot of things that aren't going well.
I'd like to hear your comments on that. That will give more weight to our recommendations.
Are we at the point of making this known and removing the label that veterans are injured, destroyed and that their lives are over?
Things have changed, but I'd like to hear your opinion on that.
As an Individual
Thank you, Madam Chair.
Actually, being labelled was really hard to swallow. I didn't want to be labelled. It's over. I will deal with my own issues with my psychologist and whatever team I have behind me.
I find that being here, seeing that many other veterans have appeared before us, and knowing that others will appear after us is helpful. It's a first step. That's what we need to demystify. It needs to be highlighted to understand what's not working behind the scenes for veterans. We shouldn't have obstacles put in our way because that doesn't help mentally either. It was really hard to see that people thought I was a fraudster because I was becoming a veteran, when in fact I'm getting better and taking care of myself.
Since that happened, I've really stepped back from my company. We still make videos, but I really don't feel like it anymore. I have a little more energy than I used to, so that's better. It's good to have this. It's really not for us, because we've lived it. We've already seen it. It will really be for future veterans. It's very important.
Bloc
Marie-Hélène Gaudreau Bloc Laurentides—Labelle, QC
Thank you very much, Mr. Leboeuf.
Mr. Potapenko, what do you think?
As an Individual
I think we definitely need to work on removing the stigma. I have not personally experienced that, luckily, but I have met many people who have. Removing the stigma would definitely help.
Again, I'm going to refer to south of the border. They elevate their veterans everywhere. I don't want to say you should put us on a pedestal, but I think there are some lessons in terms of economic recognition as well.
Bloc
Marie-Hélène Gaudreau Bloc Laurentides—Labelle, QC
It's all the more true when we talk about recruitment and pride.
Mr. Hennebury, you experience a double stigma—you're a veteran and an artist. I'm also an actor. I can imagine that it must not be easy, everything you've gone through and everything you're going through now.
I'd like to hear your thoughts on stigma.
Chief Warrant Officer, Veterans Artist Collective
I was at a young age when I was in the military, but I was also going to art school at the same time. There's a real dichotomy.
When we talk about labels, labels are not useful. At the end of the day, I speak for myself, but I also speak for the members of my collective. Nobody wants to be a burden on the state. There's not a single soldier out there, injured or otherwise, who says, “I want to be paid to sit at home.” Nobody says that. Those labels interfere with that perception.
In a lot of cases, I don't think we have to do grand things. There don't have to be massive changes to the environment and the system that has been built. I think we need to start looking at this from a standpoint that entrepreneurship or being self-sufficient—whatever you want to call the small business you have that maybe doesn't get up to $20,000—really augments you and makes you feel better, yet you're still able to contribute and create net value for your community. If we could do that and if we could free up some of the training funds to encompass that and leverage the existing programs, like the Prince's program and Helmets to Hardhats, which all have mentorship programs, it would be really meaningful.
I think it's going to hit a sweet spot with the veterans who are the most injured. For the ones who aren't—those who can get up in the morning and just hit it—that $80,000 is amazing, but it leaves out everybody else. That's the piece we need to look at. There's a sweet spot that we need to look at.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Marie-France Lalonde
Thank you very much. It's perfect timing.
We'll now begin our second round. It will start with five minutes for Mrs. Kronis.
February 25th, 2026 / 6:10 p.m.
Conservative
Tamara Kronis Conservative Nanaimo—Ladysmith, BC
Thank you very much, Madam Chair.
Thank you to all of you.
Thank you for your service to the country.
It's been an honour to hear your testimony today, because you clearly care immensely about Canada, about your communities and also about your colleagues. It's really heartening to see that.
You've each commented on the way government policies fall short in facilitating veteran entrepreneurship. You've outlined steps that could be taken to fix that, but every one of the activities you've described would require investment to create the kind of pathways you're describing, even when they're done on a “not as a favour” basis.
I'd like to give each of you a chance to talk and put your thoughts on the record about any concerns you might have about the $4.23 billion in cuts proposed to Veterans Affairs and spelled out in the 2025 budget. I'd also really love to hear from you about the ideas you have for how Canada can do better to facilitate the kinds of programs you're talking about.
As an Individual
That's a really good question.
I have a finance degree—I wove it into my presentation—so for me it's a capital allocation decision. We don't have that statistic in Canada, because, again, we don't measure it. However, I believe I saw statistics that, in the U.S., veteran-owned businesses have a lower failure rate than non-veteran-owned. Another statistic I saw is that Israel has an abnormally, disproportionately high degree of successful start-ups compared to the rest of the world because of their mandatory military service. On those two data points, it's basically a less risky financial capital allocation decision to invest in veterans. That's one suggestion.
Another one is that, for lack of a better term, sometimes you just need to get out of our way. To give you an example, when I was trying to jump-start this coaching program, I had a call with Veterans Affairs Canada, and they said, “We like what you do, but we cannot help you promote your stuff. We cannot endorse you.” If only they could help these grassroots initiatives that are popping up, like what Christopher is doing, and Kevin, and the Prince's Trust, and Treble Victor, and I can name a lot more.... Help us. Help us help ourselves. That doesn't necessarily require investment.
Those are my two points.
Conservative
Tamara Kronis Conservative Nanaimo—Ladysmith, BC
It's still going to require Veterans Affairs to do more with less. When they change programs and create programs, even if it doesn't require them to fund you anymore, it will still cost the department money that they're not actually going to have, which is where some of my concerns come from.
I'd love to hear what your perspectives are, Mr. Leboeuf or Mr. Hennebery.
Chief Warrant Officer, Veterans Artist Collective
I've been working in business my entire life. Some of the biggest companies.... My current customers are Amazon, Google and T-Mobile. At the end of the day, there are finance decisions being made. I get that, but I don't necessarily agree that these funds.... These funds are allocated as part of your yearly budget. I get that there are going to be pullbacks. A lot of those are probably coming from capital projects, I imagine.
Conservative
Chief Warrant Officer, Veterans Artist Collective
Right, but my point on that is that whenever they get into a situation—and I see this with companies that I work with all the time—where they have to look at their budget, and look at it aggressively, they need to be a lot smarter with their allocations and look at those things that are going to create the most value.
I don't think a lot of people here are asking for more funds. What people are asking for is a more attuned allotment of those funds, especially when we talk about retraining. That's what everybody has said, really. I think that has been very consistent from at least four of the panellists we've seen.
There needs to be a better way to allocate those funds. Throwing people into university is not necessarily going to create the most value. I have two kids in university. I can tell you that, 100%. I see lots of unemployed people with degrees. I think we need to be a lot more clever with those funds, and we need to be a lot more open—and I know I'm in the creative industry—to being creative and getting out of this little box that we've put ourselves into.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Marie-France Lalonde
Thank you very much.
Next is Mr. Clark for five minutes.
Welcome back.